On Friday, October 17, 2014 11:24:50 PM UTC-4, Fran Farmer wrote:
On 11/10/2014 2:49 AM, Steve Peek wrote:

On Friday, October 10, 2014 12:50:36 AM UTC-4, Fran Farmer wrote:

On 10/10/2014 2:59 AM, Steve Peek wrote:











Very nice! Even though I live in the #1 sweet potato state it took year



for me to learn to grow them (before the internet).







So what is the secret to growing them for an abundant yield?



I have rows of about 30 feet in my garden. I apply chicken manure the length of the row and then rake from both sides into a hill of about 12 inches in height. I then apply Gardentone (an organic fertilizer) to the length of the hill. I then plant the "slips" about 12 inches apart and water well.. When the vines begin to run go through weekly and lift them back to the original slip. This puts all the plants' energy into the original roots creating large potatoes. If this lifting is not done the vines will attempt to root at every leaf creating dozens of small thin potatoes.



When I first started trying to grow them that 30' row would produce over a bushel of tiny finger sized potatoes. Following my current method I now get about 2 bushels of 6 oz. - 2+pound potatoes.



Thank you Steve. Were a bit marginal here for the growing of sweet

potatoes, but I've tired for the past couple of years and not had much

to show for my efforts. I'll try again this year and try your method

and hope the frost stays away for long enough to get a harvest.

If you have some indoor growing space you might try producing your own slips. In mid to late winter take sweet potatoes and lay on their side covering about 1/2 way with growing medium. Keep the medium warm and moist and provide bright light. The potatoes will send out running vines. Each leaf can produce a "slip" at the junction between the leaf and the vine. I usually clip the runners at 18 inches or so leaving one leaf with the potato. Section the runner cutting just past the leaves so that you have a piece of vine topped with one leaf. Dip the vine end in rooting hormone (or not) and plant in small pots again providing moisture and light. They will start to grow another vine when they are rooted. Plant them as I noted above when ALL danger of frost has passed.
Luck to you,
Steve