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Growing sweet potato?

• Message 1. 

  Posted by Yvonne (U14381049) on Friday, 23rd July 2010

  I love sweet potato and am keen to grow them on my allotment but am looking for some advice on growing: which I am thinking is fairly simple and easy given what they are, and: where to get the slips?
  
  I've never seen the slips available but i'm sure they must be...?
  
  Anyone help me out?

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• Message 2

  , in reply to message 1.

  Posted by lotti newbi (U14455678) on Friday, 23rd July 2010

  I've got sweet poatoes growing under an old shower screen on my allotment. Never grown them before and the slips were quite expensive (on-line well known company - T&M). I did try to cultivate own from shop bought but all I ended up with was a mouldy potato.
  
  I have read that they will grow best if under glass and need a long hot summer to produce a decent crop......I'll let you know in September!
  
  

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• Message 3

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  Posted by Yvonne (U14381049) on Sunday, 25th July 2010

  Thanks lotti newbi, am pleased to hear from you. Good to know the slips are available...I am in the Gloucester area so i'll do some checking 'round for a source. Yes i've heard they grow well under something and definately don't like to compete with any weeds.
  
  Good luck with your crop and look forward to hearing about your results

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• Message 4

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  Posted by Chocolatevine (U4500531) on Tuesday, 27th July 2010

  Hi Yvonne,
  
  To make the slips, cut a piece of the potato, push toothpicks and suspend it over a glass of water. Roots will begin to form first then the slips will appear, leave them on till they ae about 3-4 inches. I found that this year it took ages before the slips developed, but they eventually did. What you have to do is keep topping up the water as it evoporates.
  
  Another way is to take a piece of the potato place it in a poly bag with soil making sure that the soil is kept very moist and there is air in the bag.
  
  I use both methods and they both work.

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• Message 5

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  Posted by JAMLEN (U14430703) on Wednesday, 28th July 2010

  I tried to grow the slips last year, but also ended up with mouldy potato and slimy water.
  I looked at buying from internet sites and they seemed very expensive.
  However, I was looking around Homebase yesterday and notice they had sweet potato plants/slips (£1.99). It suggests on the label that they need to be in a warm area and can be grown in large tubs. They grow tubers like normal potatoes, but the leaves, which they called vines can grow up to 10ft tall and will need supports. So I've bought two and will try one on my allotment and another at home in a tub. One of my books says you can leave the vines to trail along the floor.
  Fingers crossed.

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• Message 6

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  Posted by farmerSteve (U2644680) on Wednesday, 28th July 2010

  I have seen them growing commercially in New Zealandand they were were just left to run over the floor. They do take a lot of space and unfortunately as the weather here is really not warm enough the yield is normally disappointing

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