HELP! Sweet Potato Plant!

countrynaturals 7/22/2017, 11:47 am

A few weeks ago I was frustrated by the heat and "planted" a sweet potato in water. It didn't seem to be doing much, but I took the top off and checked it anyway. affraid

Now what, coaches? bounce

countrynaturals 7/22/2017, 12:33 pm

I looked it up online and got most of what I needed, but it didn't tell me how big the containers need to be. Is 3 gallons big enough for these?

SwampTroll 7/22/2017, 3:01 pm

I'd probably aim for closer to 5 gal pots. If sweet potatoes grow anything like regular potatoes, then you'll need/want the larger pot.

countrynaturals 7/22/2017, 6:14 pm

SwampTroll wrote:I'd probably aim for closer to 5 gal pots. If sweet potatoes grow anything like regular potatoes, then you'll need/want the larger pot.

thanks, SW. I'm all out of 5 gal. pots and these puppies want loose dirt, so I can't put them into my rock-hard ground. I don't want to tie up space in the Salad Bar or I won't have any place for my regular fall root garden. I guess they'll just have to make do in the smaller pots. It will be a learning experience.

Another question: After I pull off and plant all the slips, can I plant the original potato or is it finished, now?

**sanderson** 7/22/2017, 7:28 pm

All the slips? Just one per 3-gallon bucket. I would toss the potato unless you just want to grow it like a green ornamental annual plant. Also, those white slips could use a gradual exposure to the sun so the turn green.

countrynaturals 7/23/2017, 11:26 am

sanderson wrote: All the slips? Just one per 3-gallon bucket. I would toss the potato unless you just want to grow it like a green ornamental annual plant. Also, those white slips could use a gradual exposure to the sun so the turn green.

Toss it? After she gave me all these beautiful babies, she deserves better. I think I will leave the sprouts that are coming directly from her, above the water line, and plant her in a nice container that can come in the house, later. Cool

Good idea about getting the under water ones used to the light, gradually. thanks

It's too hot to mess with them today, so this will be my project for tomorrow.

MrBooker 7/28/2017, 6:40 am

countrynaturals wrote:I looked it up online and got most of what I needed, but it didn't tell me how big the containers need to be. Is 3 gallons big enough for these?

You can buy 18 gallon totes "Plastic tubs" at Wal-Mart for about $4.00 and just add the MM and you're good to go.
I have two of the totes just for sweet potato's and I have good luck with them.

I don't think you'll get much of a harvest with the 3 gallon containers. You can't constrict the sweet potato's or you'll get an ugly, crooked harvest. I put 5 slips in each tote. One toward each corner and one in the center.
Good luck.

countrynaturals 7/28/2017, 9:54 am

MrBooker wrote:
countrynaturals wrote:I looked it up online and got most of what I needed, but it didn't tell me how big the containers need to be. Is 3 gallons big enough for these?
You can buy 18 gallon totes "Plastic tubs" at Wal-Mart for about $4.00 and just add the MM and you're good to go.
I have two of the totes just for sweet potato's and I have good luck with them.

I don't think you'll get much of a harvest with the 3 gallon containers. You can't constrict the sweet potato's or you'll get an ugly, crooked harvest. I put 5 slips in each tote. One toward each corner and one in the center.
Good luck.

Thanks MrB. It's amazing how many slips one sweet potato will produce. I have babies all over the place. I love you

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HELP! Sweet Potato Plant!

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