Easy to Grow Sweet Potatoes

It’s easy to grow sweet potatoes and extremely cost effective. To start, All you need to start is a sweet potato and some water. Sweet and delicious combined with highly beneficial antioxidants, fiber, vitamins and nutrients. Luckily it’s easy to grow sweet potatoes.

Step One

Place a sweet potato partially submerged in a glass or bowl and place in a bright window sill or under supplemental lighting. Soon you will start to see small signs of growth at the tuberous roots or “eyes” of the sweet potato. “Slips” are the offshoots of growth from the tuberous roots and they will act as your “seeds” for planting. Once your “slips” have grown a few leaves the process is quite simple. All you need to do is break or cut the “slip” off the sweet potato and place it in water back on the window sill. Keep the water level constant and within a couple days you will start to see the roots forming off of your Slips. Once a strong root system is in place it is time to plant your Sweet Potato Slips.

Step Two

Ensure your soil is warm, and plant well after last frost. Sweet potatoes mature in 90 to 170 days and they are very sensitive to frost. In your plot or bed you will want to mound your dirt into a strip. Ensure there is 6 to 8 ” of depth for your potatoes. Planting your Slips every 6-12″ apart and in loose soil. Press down on the soil firmly and water well. Here’s a quick how to video: Easy Sweet Potato

Its easy to grow sweet potatoes and easy to care for due to their large leaves and vining nature, sweet potatoes require very little weeding. Which is always a win. If planting space is an issue , you can even grow them in 5 gallon pails with success. With the added ability to protect them from any unexpected dips in temperature. Be sure to have some drainage holes drilled in the bottom of your bucket. Placing about 4-6″ of potting soil at the bottom of your pail and then add your rooted slips, topping them up to the bottom leaves with more soil.

We all know sweet potatoes are good for you. Who would have thought they were inexpensive and easy to grow and care for and ultimately growing your own reduces your impact on the planet.