Learn how to grow your own sweet potato slips for under $15. The going price for slips purchased online is greater than $40 for a pack of slips! Here I will teach you how to grow your own slips on a budget.
Fast and Easy Way to Make Sweet Potato Slips
It is important to understand that sweet potatoes are not grown from seed or from cut up potatoes like a russet potato. Sweet potatoes are grown from slips, which are plants that start off the sweet potato. Similar to eyes on a regular potato. Sweet potatoes have “eyes” that are slips/plants which are used to grow your potatoes in the ground.
How long do I need to start my slips prior to planting?
To begin growing your own slips you should start 8-12 weeks prior your growing season.
How long does it take to grow sweet potato slips?
Each little plant also called slips takes 6-8 weeks for it to grow on the sweet potato. On an average each sweet potato can produce 5-6 slips or plants.
Saving money by growing your own slips
Sweet potato slips are very pricey to buy from a grower. This year I had the itch to grow my own sweet potatoes. When I started to price them, the cost was really not in my budget. 25 plants for my garden space were priced at $40 from an online grower. Here is how to grow sweet potato slips for under $15. I purchase 5 organic sweet potatoes for a total of $8 and my plan is to get 30 slips for my summer garden.
You can purchase wash tubs from the hardware store for less than $3 each and place potting soil to start your slips.
How to grow a slip from a store purchased sweet potato
There are several ways to grow slips. Here is my favorite way of growing slips. Most people grow their slips by suspending their sweet potato over water. The moisture provides a tropical environment, and the slips can sprout.
I am growing my slips using a super easy method and it was great! Start by filling your wash tub up with potting soil (this is best because it keeps the moisture in.) Place organic potatoes in the soil and then just wait!
An important tip is to only purchase organic sweet potatoes. Regular sweet potatoes at the store are sprayed with a chemical to prevent them from sprouting while on the shelf. Organic are not sprayed, therefore this allows them to sprout.
I keep my dirt wet to touch and then cover with either a plastic wrap or lid of some sort. I found that foil works great, and I can peal it back easily to check on it daily. After 3 weeks you can see here how the slips are starting to form on my potatoes.
My slips are ready to come off my potato
Once your slip has grown into what looks like a plant you can pull them off your potato and begin the propagation process. Simply place your slips in water and allow them to grow roots (propagation) so you can plant them into the ground.
This project is very economical, and I saved close to $26 by doing this on my own. The tubs can be used again next year so at that time I should be able to do this project for under $10.
When is it best to plant sweet potatoes
It is best to plant when the air and ground is warm. Close to 70 degrees is optimal. Sweet potatoes are by native a tropical plant, so they like a hot humid environment. This year I plan to plant my slips when my Garlic is harvested. I was looking for a succession plant and this is a perfect fit! I will be planting my slips June to July.
How long do sweet potatoes need to grow?
Typically, sweet potatoes need a 90 day growing season or longer. If you have a good hot 90 day growing season you can produce a decent crop for your winter to storage.
