How to Turn Sprouted Sweet Potatoes into Planting Slips

A gardener has a sweet potato with sprouts and wants to know how to make slips for planting.

Creating Slips

Cut the sweet potato into pieces, each with 2–3 eyes (sprouts).
If climate is wet, dust cuts with sulfur to prevent rot.
Plant slips 6 inches apart, 5 inches deep, 2–3 weeks before last frost (soil <75°F).

Hill soil or straw around vines as they grow to cover tubers (prevents greening).
When vines flower, stop hilling; mulch heavily with straw.
Water deeply twice weekly.
Use low-nitrogen fertilizer; high nitrogen reduces tuber size.
Amend soil with compost/aged manure to reduce fertilizing needs.
Harvest when foliage browns; dig by hand; cure in dry soil.

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