[Trillium]

crh75, it depends on your box size, but I believe the box in the video had about 5 slips planted. Normally this would be a bit crowded, but as they were eating the leaves and the tubers were growing in a deep box, they managed to get a good cropping.

Normally, most of us would not eat the leaves, which means the individual plants need enough space for the leaves to sprawl, otherwise, they cover one another over and it suspends growth.

Capt Zero, are you talking spoilage to the sprouting tuber or to your storage sweet potatoes?

[crh75]

So, I have two planters which are about 50cm in diameter and maybe 40cm high, do you think three in each would be sensible?

[Trillium]

Personally, I'd put only two per planter.

[crh75]

That's great, thanks.

[rawrecruit]

This thread has inspired me to try sprouting my own slips too, thank you! I'd already ordered some by post (a nice bushy variety as we like to eat the leaves) but am keen to try it from scratch too so thanks posters for giving a newbie like me the confidence to have a go... the photos were especially helpful!

[Trillium]

Glad to have you onboard, rawrecruit. It might take a year or two of fine tuning for your area's growing conditions, but sweet potatoes can be grown in the UK. You'll just need to find different ways to keep the plants warm for the longish (4 months) needed growing season. Creativity is what gardening is all about   

[rawrecruit]

btw all - I think I read somewhere that sweet potatoes don't like manure. is that true? what should I feeding them instead? thanks for any replies!

[Trillium]

Can't imagine why someone would think that, because they adore rotted manure. I planted mine in manure and they did well, same as this person did: LINK

[rawrecruit]

Can't imagine why someone would think that, because they adore rotted manure. I planted mine in manure and they did well, same as this person did: LINK

ok I went back to see what I've been reading and I think it was comments in this about them not liking too much nitrogen http://www.tropicalpermaculture.com/growing-sweet-potatoes.html - all our manure is a bit fresh so I might have to try without this year and get some well rotted for next year!

[Capt Zero]

Capt Zero, are you talking spoilage to the sprouting tuber or to your storage sweet potatoes?

It was the 2 tubers  that we had in our glass, they just went rotten. We have one tuber left in a cup and we think we can see tiny white hair like roots today, so fingers crossed.

[Trillium]

Yes, that happens. My first tuber this year rotted on me, mostly because I'd stuck the usual toothpicks in it as supports in the jar, but the toothpicks snapped and the tuber sat in water before I noticed the wood bits were soaked. Fortunately I have 2 more on the go.

[Trillium]

Talk about the perversity of nature. Last night I checked my 2 tubers. One still has no sprouts but getting more white rootlets. The other hasn't a single white rootlet but the sprouts are getting more pronounced and I estimate in a month I can start pulling sprouts for replanting. 

[rawrecruit]

My slips have arrived! V exciting. But the sweet potato I'm trying to sprout, a bit less successful, two teeny tiny roots but also lots looking like it'll go mouldy any minute so am wondering whether there's time to start again... How is everyone else doing?

[Trillium]

The one tuber with white rootlets still has only white rootlets  The other tuber with no rootlets but lots of teeny buds still has only teeny buds Don't know what's wrong with these tubers. Didn't they go to school and learn they're supposed to sprout?!

[rawrecruit]

Roots! we definitely have roots. Sweet potato is probably my most exciting project so far