You can absolutely plant sweet potato slips directly in the soil without rooting them in water first. This method is often preferred by gardeners who want to skip the step of rooting the slips in water and go straight to planting them in the ground.
To start, you will need sweet potato slips, which are the young shoots that grow from a sweet potato. You can either purchase these slips from a local nursery or garden center, or you can grow your own slips from a sweet potato. If you choose to grow your own slips, simply place a sweet potato in a jar of water, making sure that about half of the potato is submerged. In a few weeks, you should start to see sprouts emerging from the top of the sweet potato. Once these sprouts are about 6-8 inches long, they are ready to be planted in the ground.
Choose a sunny spot in your garden with well-draining soil for planting your sweet potato slips. Sweet potatoes love warm temperatures, so it’s important to wait until the soil has warmed up before planting. Typically, this is when the soil temperature is consistently above 60 degrees Fahrenheit.
Before planting, prepare the soil by loosening it with a garden fork or tiller. Remove any weeds or rocks that may hinder the growth of the sweet potato slips. Sweet potatoes prefer slightly acidic soil with a pH between 5.8 and 6.2, so you may want to test your soil and amend it if necessary.
Once the soil is prepared, dig holes that are about 4-6 inches deep and spaced about 12-18 inches apart. Place the sweet potato slips into the holes, making sure to cover the roots and leave the leaves exposed above the soil surface. Gently firm the soil around the slips to ensure good contact and stability.
After planting, water the sweet potato slips thoroughly to help them settle into their new home. Keep the soil consistently moist, but not overly saturated, throughout the growing season. Mulching around the plants can help retain moisture and suppress weeds.
As the sweet potato slips grow, they will start to vine out and cover the ground. You can train them to grow on trellises or supports if you prefer to save space in your garden. However, they can also be left to sprawl on the ground, as long as you provide enough space between plants for proper airflow and prevent the vines from overcrowding each other.
Sweet potatoes are typically ready for harvest in about 90-120 days, depending on the variety and growing conditions. The vines will start to yellow and wither, indicating that the tubers are mature and ready to be dug up. Carefully dig up the sweet potatoes, being cautious not to damage the tubers with your tools.
Planting sweet potato slips directly in the soil is a viable and convenient method for growing sweet potatoes. With proper soil preparation, watering, and care, you can enjoy a bountiful harvest of delicious sweet potatoes right from your garden.
