What To Know
- Sweet potatoes are a delicious and versatile vegetable that can be grown in a variety of climates.
- Use a garden fork or tiller to loosen the soil to a depth of 6-8 inches.
- If you live in an area with a cool climate, plant your slips after the last frost date.
Sweet potatoes are a delicious and versatile vegetable that can be grown in a variety of climates. If you’re looking to add this nutritious root to your garden, planting sweet potato slips is the way to go. Slips are essentially starter plants that have been grown from sweet potato tubers, giving them a head start in the garden. But how do you plant these slips and ensure a bountiful harvest? This guide will walk you through the process step-by-step, making it easy for even the most novice gardener to achieve sweet potato success.
Selecting the Right Slips
The first step in planting sweet potato slips is choosing the right ones. Look for slips that are healthy and vigorous, with dark green leaves and no signs of disease or pests. You can purchase slips from garden centers, online retailers, or even grow your own from sweet potatoes.
When buying slips, consider the variety you want to grow. Some popular varieties include:
- Beauregard: This variety is known for its high yield and sweet flavor.
- Covington: This variety is disease-resistant and produces large, smooth tubers.
- Jewel: This variety is known for its vibrant orange flesh and excellent flavor.
Preparing the Soil
Sweet potatoes thrive in well-drained, loose soil with a pH of 6.0 to 6.5. If your soil is heavy or compacted, you can improve its drainage by adding compost, peat moss, or sand.
Here’s a step-by-step guide to preparing your soil for planting:
1. Test your soil: Use a soil testing kit to determine the pH and nutrient levels of your soil.
2. Amend your soil: If your soil is acidic, add lime to raise the pH. If your soil is lacking in nutrients, add compost or fertilizer.
3. Till the soil: Use a garden fork or tiller to loosen the soil to a depth of 6-8 inches.
4. Remove weeds: Weeds compete with sweet potatoes for nutrients and water. Remove any weeds before planting.
Planting Sweet Potato Slips
Once your soil is prepared, you can start planting your sweet potato slips. Here’s how:
1. Space your slips: Plant your slips 12-18 inches apart in rows that are 3-4 feet wide.
2. Make a hole: Dig a hole about 4-6 inches deep.
3. Plant the slip: Gently place the slip in the hole, making sure the leaves are above the soil line.
4. Cover the roots: Fill the hole with soil and gently firm it around the slip.
5. Water thoroughly: Give your newly planted slips a good watering.
Providing the Right Care
After planting, you’ll need to provide your sweet potato slips with the right care to help them thrive. This includes:
- Watering: Water your sweet potato plants regularly, especially during dry periods. Aim for 1-2 inches of water per week.
- Fertilizing: You can fertilize your sweet potatoes with a balanced fertilizer every 4-6 weeks.
- Weeding: Keep your sweet potato patch weed-free by hand weeding or using a hoe.
- Mulching: Mulch around your sweet potato plants with straw, hay, or wood chips to help retain moisture and suppress weeds.
- Hilling: As your sweet potatoes grow, you can hill them by mounding soil around the base of the plants to encourage more root growth.
Harvesting Your Sweet Potatoes
Your sweet potatoes will be ready to harvest in about 4-5 months after planting. You can tell when they’re ready by the leaves turning yellow and dying back. To harvest your sweet potatoes, gently dig them up with a garden fork. Avoid damaging the tubers.
Beyond the Basics: Tips for Success
Here are some additional tips to help you achieve a bountiful sweet potato harvest:
- Choose a sunny location: Sweet potatoes need at least 6 hours of sunlight per day.
- Protect from frost: Sweet potatoes are sensitive to frost. If you live in an area with a cool climate, plant your slips after the last frost date.
- Monitor for pests and diseases: Keep an eye out for common sweet potato pests such as sweet potato weevils and whiteflies. Also, watch for diseases like sweet potato scurf and black rot.
- Consider trellising: If you have limited space, you can trellis your sweet potato plants to grow them vertically.
Sweet Potato Success: A Final Thought
Growing sweet potatoes from slips can be a rewarding experience, offering a delicious and nutritious harvest. By following these steps and incorporating these tips, you can enjoy the sweet taste of success in your own garden.
Questions We Hear a Lot
Q: Can I plant sweet potato slips in containers?
A: Yes, you can plant sweet potato slips in containers. Choose a container that is at least 12 inches wide and deep. Make sure the container has drainage holes.
Q: What happens if I plant a sweet potato slip too deep?
A: Planting a sweet potato slip too deep can prevent it from growing properly. The leaves should be above the soil line.
Q: How do I store sweet potatoes after harvesting?
A: Store sweet potatoes in a cool, dry, and dark place. They can last for several months if stored properly.
Q: Can I save seeds from sweet potatoes to plant next year?
A: Sweet potatoes are not grown from seeds. You can save slips from your harvest to plant next year.
