permaculture

[George Anna Clark <esac@laneta.apc.org>]

Hi,

This is the way I have grown sweet potatos here in south-central Mexico 
(zone 10? I forget) as well (harvesting in 4.5 -5 months), but neighboring 
farmers insist that they have seen sweet potatos plants started by just 
cutting off the vine of an existing plant and planting it (same size of 
vine and technique as if it were a slip). They certainly start rooting and 
spreading, my question is if anyone has done it this way and will I 
actually harvest sweet potatos?

thanks,
george anna


  At 10:10 a.m. 13/02/2004, you wrote:
> 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
>
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