How to Successfully Grow Sweet Potatoes from Slips Using Water Propagation
- Moss & Mardi
- May 31, 2020
- 3 min read
Growing your own sweet potatoes is a rewarding experience that combines patience with simple techniques. One of the easiest and most effective ways to start is by growing sweet potato slips in water. This method allows gardeners to produce healthy slips without needing soil at the beginning, making it ideal for anyone interested in organic gardening or growing vegetables at home.
Sweet potatoes are not only delicious but also nutritious, and growing them organically ensures you get the best quality produce. This guide will walk you through the process of water propagation for sweet potato slips, from selecting the right sweet potato to planting your slips in the garden.
Sweet potato slips, ready for planting
Choosing the Right Sweet Potato
Start with a healthy, organic sweet potato. Organic sweet potatoes are preferable because they are less likely to be treated with chemicals that could inhibit slip growth. Look for a firm sweet potato without any signs of rot or mold.
You can use a sweet potato from your local farmers market or grocery store, but organic options are best if you want to maintain an organic garden. Avoid sweet potatoes that have been refrigerated, as cold temperatures can prevent sprouting.
Preparing the Sweet Potato for Slip Growth
To grow slips, you need to encourage the sweet potato to sprout shoots. Here’s how:
Cut the sweet potato in half if it’s large, or use the whole potato if it’s small.
Insert toothpicks around the middle of the sweet potato to suspend it in a glass or jar of water. The bottom half should be submerged in water while the top half remains above the waterline.
Place the jar in a warm, sunny spot such as a windowsill. Sweet potatoes need warmth to sprout slips, ideally around 70-80°F (21-27°C).
Within 1 to 2 weeks, you will see green shoots, called slips, emerging from the sweet potato.
Growing and Harvesting Slips
Once the slips grow to about 6 inches long, they are ready to be removed and planted. You can twist them off gently or use scissors to cut them near the base.
Place the slips in a separate container of water to encourage root growth.
Change the water every few days to keep it fresh and prevent mold.
After about 1 to 2 weeks, the slips will develop roots that are a few inches long.
At this point, your slips are ready to be planted in soil.
Planting Sweet Potato Slips
Sweet potatoes thrive in loose, well-draining soil with plenty of sunlight. Here’s how to plant your slips:
Choose a sunny spot in your garden or prepare large containers with organic potting soil.
Space the slips about 12 to 18 inches apart to give them room to grow.
Plant each slip deep enough to cover the roots and about half of the stem.
Water the slips well after planting and keep the soil consistently moist but not waterlogged.
Sweet potatoes prefer warm soil, so wait until the danger of frost has passed before planting outdoors.
Caring for Your Sweet Potato Plants
Once planted, sweet potatoes require minimal care but benefit from regular attention:
Watering: Keep the soil moist, especially during dry spells. Avoid overwatering, which can cause rot.
Mulching: Apply organic mulch around the plants to retain moisture and suppress weeds.
Fertilizing: Use organic compost or a balanced fertilizer to support healthy growth.
Weeding: Keep the area free of weeds to reduce competition for nutrients.
Sweet potato vines will spread, so give them space to grow or train them along a trellis if space is limited.
Harvesting and Storing Sweet Potatoes
Sweet potatoes typically take 90 to 120 days to mature. You’ll know they are ready to harvest when the leaves start to yellow and die back.
Carefully dig around the plants to avoid damaging the tubers.
Cure the sweet potatoes by keeping them in a warm, humid place for about 10 days. This process improves their flavor and shelf life.
Store cured sweet potatoes in a cool, dry place.
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