You can definitely grow sweet potatoes from store-bought sweet potatoes! It’s a fun and rewarding project to try. Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you get started:
1. Choose the right sweet potatoes: When purchasing sweet potatoes from the grocery store, look for ones that are organic and haven’t been treated with sprout inhibitors. These inhibitors can prevent the sweet potatoes from sprouting, so it’s best to choose organic ones to increase your chances of success.
2. Prepare the sweet potatoes: Before you can start growing sweet potatoes, you need to create “slips” from the tubers. Slips are young shoots that will eventually develop into sweet potato plants. To do this, you can follow a simple process:
A. Fill a jar or glass with water: Fill a jar or glass with water and place the sweet potato vertically in it, submerging about half of it. You can use toothpicks to hold the sweet potato in place if needed.
B. Wait for sprouts to form: Place the jar in a warm and sunny spot, and within a few weeks, you should start to see sprouts emerging from the sweet potato. These sprouts are the slips that you will eventually plant.
C. Grow the slips: Once the slips are around 4-6 inches long, you can gently twist or cut them off the sweet potato. Place the slips in a container of water, making sure that the bottom inch is submerged. After a few days, roots will start to develop.
3. Plant the slips: After the slips have developed roots, it’s time to plant them in soil. Sweet potatoes thrive in loose, well-draining soil with plenty of organic matter. Here’s what you can do:
A. Choose a sunny spot: Select a location in your garden that receives full sun, as sweet potatoes need at least 6-8 hours of direct sunlight daily.
B. Prepare the soil: Remove any weeds or rocks from the planting area and loosen the soil. Incorporate compost or well-rotted manure to improve fertility and drainage.
C. Plant the slips: Dig a hole deep enough to accommodate the roots of the slips. Place the slips in the hole, covering the roots with soil but leaving the top few leaves exposed. Space the slips about 12-18 inches apart.
D. Water and mulch: After planting, water the slips thoroughly to settle the soil. Apply a layer of organic mulch, such as straw or wood chips, to help retain moisture and suppress weeds.
4. Care for your sweet potato plants: Sweet potatoes require regular care to ensure healthy growth and a good harvest. Here are some key points to remember:
– Watering: Sweet potatoes need consistent moisture, especially during the first few weeks. Water deeply when the soil feels dry to the touch. Avoid overwatering, as it can lead to root rot.
– Fertilizing: Sweet potatoes are heavy feeders and benefit from regular fertilization. Apply a balanced organic fertilizer or compost every few weeks throughout the growing season.
– Weed control: Keep the area around your sweet potato plants free from weeds, as they can compete for nutrients and water. Regularly remove any weeds that may sprout.
– Pruning: Sweet potato vines can become quite vigorous, so it’s a good idea to prune them occasionally to control their growth. Trim back any excessive growth to maintain a manageable size.
– Harvesting: Depending on the variety, sweet potatoes can take anywhere from 90 to 150 days to mature. Harvest them when the foliage starts to yellow and die back. Gently dig up the tubers, being careful not to damage them.
Growing sweet potatoes from store-bought tubers can be a fun and rewarding experience. It’s a great way to start your own sweet potato plants and enjoy a delicious harvest. So go ahead and give it a try!
