Kitchen Garden Forum

I'm considering buying some sweet potato slips (again)

The planting information says to plant them in a sunny site, in rich soil up a trellis. I've grown them before in the greenhouse border with mixed results. Some were a usable size but a lot were little straggly things. I haven't really got a sunny sheltered place in the garden that would be cosy enough.

Has anyone had a worthwhile crop of sweet potatoes outdoors or in the greenhouse and what did you do to get the best results?

I've looked at previous posts about growing them but none seem very successful.

Put me in the unsuccessful camp.
All have been small size and very few of them.
Our climate just does not seem right for them.

Hi PP!

I've had no luck from bought slips, but had a reasonable year from growing my own slips a wee while ago. This year I did the old toothpick thing early on a warm window sill to get an early start, but absolutely nothing and it's been pampered for 2 months or so. Started another one beginning of last week & fine roots already showing - both were supposed to be organic but I think the first one wasn't & had some growth inhibitor sprayed on it. I have started building my hot bed just to see if I can get a good crop from these, but think it will be a lost cause, but will see!

They actually aren't expensive to buy so not too angsty, just a personal challenge! And will be growing a melon with them so not a wasted hotbed- well if someone drops off fresh manure soon it won't be!

Yes Westi, I grew mine from a shop bought one last time but this year's effort didn't sprout. There were some interesting looking purple ones on the Marshall's website which I thought about trying but it would be more an interesting challenge than anything else.

I tried them in the polytunnel from commercial plants that I was given and declared them a waste of time not to try again.

I don't think I'll bother again then. I was hoping someone might have had some luck with them. I'll save my money and time and buy them from the supermarket☺

Oops - ordered some slips a few weeks ago and waiting for a delivery. Doesn't sound as though they are worth bothering with. I'll give them a try as I've spent the money. Always like to try one or two new things each year.
John

On number 3 sweet potato & finally have a strong root growth, no slips yet & likely to be too little, too late but maybe another Indian Summer might get me a few wee ones for stews.

I think I am about to post another on it's side pic - but I've got slips! Well excited as will get a crop of some sort -hopefully! Haven't got a clue about how to turn pic right side up so bear with me, phone knows it's right way up so won't let me rotate it!



OK they are tiny but they are real!

Looks promising Westi. They grow quite fast when the weather warms up don't they. I was wondering how the water stayed in the jar when I first saw the pictures, thought you'd got a new method

Most sweet potato varieties need not less than 90 days of summer, ideally temperature should not fall below 15 °C. Some others need not lass than 110-120 days. It grows best when temperature is higher than 20 °C and completly stops when it's colder than 15 °C. In theory, that should be possible to get some results in some regions of Holland/UK if you grow your plants indoor and move them outdoor when they're mature, although don't expect any impressive crop.

Worst thing, you never know which variety you are buying in the market if you want to grow slips by yourself, most bulbs look the same or similar and also it's hard to get them sprout (it takes very long time to start)