Growing sweet potatoes from slips is a rewarding endeavor for any gardener, whether you’re a seasoned pro or a novice. Sweet potatoes are not only a delicious addition to your kitchen but also a nutritious one. One of the key steps in cultivating these delectable tubers is planting them from slips, which are obtained from sweet potato vines. In this guide, we’ll walk you through the process step by step, from preparing the planting site to nurturing your sweet potato plants until they yield those mouthwatering tubers. So, let’s dive into how to plant sweet potatoes from slips and enjoy the satisfaction of harvesting your very own homegrown sweet potatoes.
Step-by-step guide
- Prepare the Ridges: Start by creating ridges that are approximately two feet wide and one foot high. The length of the ridges can vary based on the available space.
- Moisten the Ridges: If you’re not planting during the rainy season, it’s essential to moisten the ridges with water. However, this step may not be necessary if there is sufficient natural moisture.
- Choose the Planting Time: Sweet potatoes can be planted at any time of the year as long as you have access to an irrigation system for consistent watering.
- Prepare the Slips: Cut out a slip that is about half a foot long from the sweet potato vine. Remove a few leaves from the slip. These tiny roots will start developing in just a couple of days.
- Plant the Slips: Using a garden tool, create holes in the ridges and bury the prepared slips about two to three inches deep into the soil.
- Germination: Within approximately five days, the planted slips will begin to germinate.
- Tuber Development: Over the course of three to four months, some of the roots will develop into sweet potato tubers.
