Botanic Garden >> Gardening > >> Question and Answer >> About Gardening

Growing Sweet Potato Slips: A Complete Guide for Home Gardeners

Growing Your Own Sweet Potato Slips

Finding sweet potato plants locally can be challenging, especially if your go-to nursery has closed. Fortunately, growing your own slips at home is surprisingly simple and rewarding. Sweet potato slips are the sprouts that emerge from a mature sweet potato, and they're the starting point for a bountiful harvest.

When to Start

Begin the process 6-8 weeks before your last expected frost date. In the Atlanta area, this means starting in late February or early March for planting outdoors in late April or May.

Selecting Your Sweet Potato

Choose organic, disease-free sweet potatoes from a farmers market or grocery store. Varieties like 'Beauregard', 'Georgia Jet', and 'Covington' perform well in the Southeast. Avoid potatoes treated with sprout inhibitors.

The Water Method

Suspend the sweet potato in a jar of water using toothpicks, keeping the bottom half submerged. Place in a warm, sunny spot (70-80°F). Change the water weekly. Within 2-4 weeks, slips will emerge from the top.

The Soil Method (Preferred)

Bury the sweet potato horizontally in a shallow tray of moist potting mix, covering it halfway. Keep at 75-80°F with bright light. This method produces stronger, more vigorous slips with better root systems.

Harvesting and Preparing Slips

When slips reach 6-12 inches tall with several leaves, gently twist them off the mother potato. Place slips in water for a few days to develop roots, then transplant into individual pots or directly into the garden after danger of frost has passed.

Reputable Online Sources

If you prefer to purchase slips, The Tasteful Garden offers quality varieties with early ordering. For a comprehensive list of suppliers, visit Sweet Potato Blessings which maintains an updated directory of certified slip producers.