[wellingtons]

... can you grow em here in the UK??  I've just been asked by a mate, and I've absolutely no idea.  Never even tried to grow em.

[jennyb]

i seem to recall someone posting months ago about this,  i think their tip was planting them in grow bags on their sides against the green house door.........


i remember strange things tho.......

[muntjac]

yups . one of mine  

[hotterotter]

aha a question about something I've grown before, sweet potatoes need really warm soil so if you're growing them outdoors its gotta be through black plastic. You can buy sweet potato slips which are little plants but they're quite expensive. If you're careful though they can be a one-off expense as when you pinch out the growing tips of the plants you can get them to take root, then keep them alive all winter (above 15C) and next May you have a new set of slips!

In theory you can make slips by rooting the sprout on a sweet potato, but most sweet potatoes have been sprayed with an anti-sprouting hormone so they don't sprout on the way here (usually from USA) but if you get organic ones from somewhere close like Spain when they're in season (autumn) you should be able to get more than 10 plants to take root from one single potato.

[mercury]

aha a question about something I've grown before, sweet potatoes need really warm soil so if you're growing them outdoors its gotta be through black plastic. You can buy sweet potato slips which are little plants but they're quite expensive. If you're careful though they can be a one-off expense as when you pinch out the growing tips of the plants you can get them to take root, then keep them alive all winter (above 15C) and next May you have a new set of slips!

In theory you can make slips by rooting the sprout on a sweet potato, but most sweet potatoes have been sprayed with an anti-sprouting hormone so they don't sprout on the way here (usually from USA) but if you get organic ones from somewhere close like Spain when they're in season (autumn) you should be able to get more than 10 plants to take root from one single potato.

I'm a bit worried about the anti sprouting hormone, what will the long term affects be on us, should be some words of wisdom, from muntjac, and shaun  

[Ice]

Words of wisdom from Muntjac and Shaun!  Are you out of your tiny mind?    

[mercury]

Words of wisdom from Muntjac and Shaun!  Are you out of your tiny mind?    

 oh yeh, sorry, wasn't thinking :?  :?    

[shaun]

no comment  

[muntjac]

the anti sprouting hormone is fine ............. for women it affects men only , in a way i cant really describe on here . for more details of this condition im sure shaun can elaborate  

[shaun]

no comment  

[wellingtons]

... I think I'll stick to buying mine from the market once in a blue moon.

[Trillium]

I'm with Hotterodder - sweet potatoes are VERY intolerant to any cool weather. Even in warmer Canada we grow them in black plastic mulch with polytunnels until the real heat sets in here, like 25C, then the tunnels come off - but go back on for any cold snaps. The vines spread quite a bit so it's a trick tucking them under tunnels again. A nuisance, but you get a nice tasty crop. Not for the fainthearted or short-of-time. My taters have been sitting in some water for a month now and will soon be producing slips. They are SLOW!