Q&A for How to Grow Sweet Potatoes

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My sweet potatoes started to sprout in our bowl when we came back from a trip. Can I still plant them, and if so, how?

Andrew Carberry, MPH
Food Systems Expert
Andrew Carberry is a Food Systems Expert and the Senior Program Associate at the Wallace Center at Winrock International in Little Rock, Arkansas. He has worked in food systems since 2008 and has experience working on farm-to-school projects, food safety programs, and working with local and state coalitions in Arkansas. He is a graduate of the College of William and Mary and holds a Masters degree in public health and nutrition from the University of Tennessee.

Andrew Carberry, MPH

Food Systems Expert

Expert Answer

Yes, you can. Pull the slips off, and root them in water before you plant them.

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Question

How far apart should sweet potato rows be?

Andrew Carberry, MPH
Food Systems Expert
Andrew Carberry is a Food Systems Expert and the Senior Program Associate at the Wallace Center at Winrock International in Little Rock, Arkansas. He has worked in food systems since 2008 and has experience working on farm-to-school projects, food safety programs, and working with local and state coalitions in Arkansas. He is a graduate of the College of William and Mary and holds a Masters degree in public health and nutrition from the University of Tennessee.

Andrew Carberry, MPH

Food Systems Expert

Expert Answer

Sweet potato rows should be at least three feet apart.

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Question

Can sweet potato be planted in cuttings?

Community Answer

Yes. Sprout a sweet potato in a glass of water using toothpicks to suspend it halfway in the glass. Once it has sprouted, cut it in half lengthways and bury the sprout half in the ground slightly, water regularly, and with some patience you too can have nice sweet potatoes.

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Question

Why are my slip leaves purple?

Community Answer

That's normal in sweet potatoes.

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Question

Should I trim the vines on sweet potato plants?

Community Answer

Do not trim those! Let them grow free so as not to reduce production.

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Question

What are the pesticides required when growing sweet potatoes?

Community Answer

Soapy water is useful as a spay to keep sap-sucking insects away from the plant, also DiPel or snail repellent.

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Question

How about horse manure in well drained plastic tubs?

Community Answer

Don't overfeed your sweet potatoes, or you will end up with all green vine & very little potato. You would be better off with a well draining soil, rather than horse manure.

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Question

Can you grow sweet potatoes in straw like you can with other types of potatoes?

Community Answer

In my experience, no. I've had straw gardens for a few years now. Many, many things grow very well, but sweet potatoes barely survive. Regular potatoes, on the other hand, are spectacular.

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Question

Can I replant tubers?

Community Answer

Yes, but make sure to put them in similar soil, or do not replant them if they have been in the ground for a long time, because the roots grown are important.

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Question

Can I plant the tubers directly into the ground?

Community Answer

No. First, sprout them, then plant them directly in the ground partially buried so the sprout can grow.

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Question

Will sweet potatoes form where the vines root?

Community Answer

Usually they will, unless they root too late in the year.

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Question

Can they be planted in a container?

Community Answer

Yes, but make sure that you use the largest pot that you can find so that you can harvest the maximum amount of sweet potatoes.

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Question

I have vines spread out over the top of my garden, what do I do to get these to produce?

Community Answer

Nothing! They are already growing tubers under the ground where you can't see them. To cut the vine will lessen the produce of that one vine, but if you want to increase the number of vines anyway, you can do two things. Simply dig a hole and bury a jointed segment, or you can cut a tip end off and root it in water. Either way don't expect any fruit from it that season.

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Question

My potato in the jar sprouted with leaves. I planted the whole potato. Will it produce?

Community Answer

Yes it will, but there will be a gangle of roots all in one spot, just as if you had rooted the eyes first but then planted them all in the same hole. Without spread, the crowding will produce tiny potatoes, but one or two will be big enough.

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Question

Can I continue to irrigate sweet potatoes in the 2 weeks before harvesting?

Community Answer

Yes, you can still water them. In my experience, they grow bigger if you do.

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Question

If there are no potatoes growing, only leaves; does this mean I need to reseed the potatoes?

Community Answer

They do not grow potatoes immediately, and they form underground. If it's only been a month, or if they are in a small pot, the plants may not grow potatoes.

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Question

After pulling out the slips, will the same sweet potato suspended in the jar regrow new slips?

Community Answer

No, but that doesn't matter because you will have new sweet potatoes in 120 days, and you can take one of those to restart the process for the next year.

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