You grow sweet potatoes from "slips". I have mine started already inside (I
live in Kansas). Down in Arkansas or zones 7 or above, they will be started
outside within another month or so. I started mine by putting the potatoes
that were starting to sprout, in a plastic tray that will hold water. I
then poured about a quart of water in it and put it on top of the freezer
where it would stay warm.

The sprouts have become plants ("slips") that are 2 to 6 inches tall. When
they get three or four more inches taller, or when it is safe to put them
outside, I will pull them off the sweet potatoes, and put them into water.
Make sure that the leaves aren't in the water, even if you have to strip off
some of them. I leave mine for two days or longer, until they have sprouted
a nice set of roots. Then I take them out and plant them.

About 20 potatoes should produce 60 to 120 slips, but not all at once. If
you are down in area 7 or warmer, put some manure on the ground and cover it
with about an inch of sand. Lay the sweet potatoes on the sand and cover
them with about an inch of sand. Then water them every few days until the
slips have reached 6 to 10 inches tall.

You can contact me direct if you need to.

Dwayne




"FarmerDill" wrote in message
...

I want to plant a few sweet potato plants this year. I understand
that I have to start them from shoots. How far in advance do I have
to start with the sweet potato to get the shoots? Can I plant cut
sweet potatos instead, as you would plant irish potatos?Thanks for any
input.


The easiest way fro just a few plants is to take a sweet potato,
preferably one
that that sprouted and placed the root in down in a jar of water. The
potato
needs to be a bout half submerged. Tooth picks can be used to stabilize
the
potato. Allow about 4 weeks for the plant to reach transplant size. Placed
in a
warm sunny window, sweet potatoes need heat.