[dig4victory]

Sorry, many thanks 

[dig4victory]

Thanks mumofstig, I read last years thread and am encouraged!  If we started now with the spud suspended in water, would we have enough time to get going with hopefully a crop?

[Trillium]

I'd say you have a good chance if the tuber is started now. It does take a bit of time for the bottom roots to first show up, which is then followed by the top shoots which you'll eventually pinch off and pot up, ready for planting out when warmer. It all takes time.

[JayG]

I have no idea why I've decided to give sweet potatoes a go because I'm not sure I've eaten them more than once and can't actually remember whether I actually liked them!

I have however invested a whole 50p in a decently sized mum-to-be from Tescos and a week later it now has roots. 

I'm obviously not in a position to offer any advice but I did soak the tuber in a bucket of cold water for 24 hours hoping that would remove any anti-sprouting chemicals it may have been sprayed with.

So far, so good!   

[mumofstig]

that's funny Jay, as I've put an extra one on my delivery for tomorrow 

I resisted last year but just ran out of willpower 

[JayG]

that's funny Jay, as I've put an extra one on my delivery for tomorrow 

I resisted last year but just ran out of willpower 

You obviously like them Mum; that's good enough for me! 

[JayG]

Roots after 1 week, another week later about 8 tiny purple chits showing (not sure whether that's a good thing or a bad thing given that it's only just stopped snowing today!) 

[Trillium]

Purple chits is good - those are your future slips (plants)

[rainie]

Would you be able show us your work so far please. It would help me know what I'm looking for.

[JayG]

Would you be able show us your work so far please. It would help me know what I'm looking for.

I'll post a picture tomorrow; it'll either be entitled "Beginner's luck" or "Beginner's totally misplaced optimism", probably depending on what Trillium says when she's seen it! 

[sarah-king]

mine is just getting tiny roots (Been suspended in water over 3 weeks now)

[JayG]

OK, here's what my sweet potato looks like today (obviously taken out of its water-bath and standing proudly and unaided on its cocktail-stick tripod looking like a vegetarian moon-landing probe!)

(Oi! I already warned you the chits were tiny!!    )

[Trillium]

It's looking good, Jay. Those chits will need a month of more to get to a decent size but they're on their way. What you want as a 'slip' is about 2-3" of leafy stem.

[rubyrose]

hi this was started in december

[dig4victory]

I'm doing my pots today but - JayG has the pointy end upwards and on  this site the guy has the pointy end down in the water - does it matter?  does it depend on how many nodes are around each end?

http://grandbobsgarden.blogspot.com/2009/05/how-to-grow-beautiful-sweet-potato-vine.html

Thanks again