permaculture

["Lisa Rollens" <rollens@fidnet.com>]

Antonio,

Sweet potatoes are not grown like regular potatoes.  "Slips" are planted,
and they are actually sprouts from the potato that are pulled off.  To grow
slips just plant whole sweet potatoes in loose soil, barely covered, after
the soil is warm.  In a green house, earlier, is better.  The plants will
sprout and when the sprouts are 4-6 inches long, hold the potato down with
your hand and pull the sprouts off with your other hand.  the potato will
continue growing more slips.  Plant those you have pulled about a foot apart
on the edge of your garden.  For the first few days they will wilt, since
they have very few or NO roots at all.  This is OK, just make sure you water
them frequently for a week or so.  By then they will have grown roots and
will be on their own.  Mulch thickly thru the season, and train the vines
out of the garden onto the grass.  By the time the season is over, and you
have dug your harvest, you should be able to till another whole bed fairly
easily....3-4 feet maybe???  It depends on your soil type, and you may have
to wait for fall rains to loosen up the soil.  Be careful digging the
potatoes as they will break, especially if the soil is dry and they have
gone halfway to China...which is the way they loosen the soil so well.
Where are you located?  this is the way it is in the midwest and upper
south, USA.  You can find more details in any number of books.  Happy
growing!  Lisa


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Antonio Scotti" <antonio.scotti@tiscali.es>
To: "permaculture" <permaculture@lists.ibiblio.org>
Sent: Friday, February 13, 2004 5:30 AM
Subject: RE: [permaculture] Sweet potato


> Hi Lisa and Scott,
> what is the best methos to propagate them?
> Just plant them on the ground such as ordinary potatos?
> Somebody even told me once that thye could be propagated by cuttings of
the
> germinated s. potato
>
> How long does it take to see th effects (provided one has used enough
> potatoes)?
> All the best
> Antonio