While looking for something to make for my hungry family, I opened the pantry and discovered my sweet potatoes sprouting! Apparently, they say spring is here!! So I figured if they are trying so hard to grow, I better let them.
I've been told starting sweet potatoes is easy. I know that in the greenhouse the ornamental sweet potato vines are easy as long as you keep them warm. We'll see about editable sweet potatoes!
Naturally, I like to experiment and after looking online on how to grow sweet potatoes I tried a couple of ways.
I put 2 sweet potatoes in water. 1/3 in - 2/3 above water held with toothpicks.
I put 3 in potting soil. One I buried completely and the other two I half-buried. It'll be interesting to see what works better.
I started on March 26. Being I have a greenhouse and a germination room, I used it, but you can use a sunny window. Give yourself about 60 days before you are ready to plant outside. I hope to plant by mid-June because Sweet Potatoes should not go below 60 degrees at night.
Once the sweet potatoes sprout, take cuttings. I put the cuttings directly into potting soil for them to root out. Remember, sweet potatoes really like it warm so don't plant them too early. Make sure where you are planting has loose soil, then mulch. I'll be using straw or old hay, but use your favorite...
To sum up
Organic sweet potatoes will give you the most success, as they have not been sprayed to keep from sprouting. Even better, get a few sweet potatoes from your local Farmer's market or a friend who grows them. Sprouting may take a while and sometimes they may not sprout at all.
Take cuttings from the sprouted sweet potatoes and plant in moist potting soil until rooted.
When rooted and it's at least 60 degrees at night, plant in loose garden soil.
Be sure to harvest before the first frost as waiting could ruin your crop. Sweet potatoes need to be cured before eating. To cure, wipe off all dirt and keep at 85 degrees with 80 to 90% humidity for a minimum of 1-2 weeks, per the Minnesota State Horticulture Society.
I will keep you posted as to how my sweet potatoes grow and produce. Let me know if you give it a try or if you have any tips for me as this is my first time growing editable sweet potatoes.
"For as the earth brings forth its sprouts,
And as a garden causes the things sown in it to spring up,
So the Lord God will cause righteousness and praise
To spring up before all the nations." Isaiah 61:11