Non Growing Sweet potatoes

[vancheese]

Hi People

Sweet potatoes are damm expensive here in Hungary, So I've been attempting to grow some from a few potatoes
The only problem is that they don't seem to be spouting(unlike my potatoes in the pantry)

I've put them in water and there are few roots but not real sign of shoots/etc. What should I do? Should I just plant them? Would pig manure help(I've lots from a piggy :) )? The current weather is 32°C sunshine and only will get hotter

Thanks for any suggestions

Andy

[safronsue]

i've had mine with their bottoms in water for 2 months now. lots of roots but only 3 and 4 slips on each spud and only 2 cm long at longest. i'm keeping them in full sun now under plastic to keep humidity. did you scrub them to remove any anti-sprouting gunk?

[demi]

sweet potatoes take ages to grow. how long have they been in water for?
iv had mine in from the beginning of February and i only have 1 shoot so far thats nearly big enough to cut.
im the same with lots of roots but only a few shoots on each one.
next year im going to start them off much earlier as they are taking so long to grow.

i would just keep them in clear jars of water, 3/4 full, change the water once a week or so and keep them warm and in full sun.
they are tropical plants so the need lots of light and heat to grow properly.

mine are on the east facing window sill in the livingroom over night to keep warm and get the morning sun, then i move them outside into full sun once its warmed up. its around 30 degrees here just now but still cold at night so i have to bring them in.

[safronsue]

sweet potato race is in order here i think. mine have their own mini cloche in full sun, 28 yesterday, but i'm not bringing them in at night.
(btw demi, i must thank you for the tim minchin vid link, just brilliant. i've been watching a load of his stuff now)

[vancheese]

Thanks for the all the replies - I didn't scrub them. It seems mine are doing fine cmp with everyone else! I'll keep the faith and see what happens
Next year they are starting sooner!

The Race is On!!!

Andy
p.s when do you plant them ?

[demi]

when you get shoots 15cm long they are ready to cut. only cut the longest shoot and leave the others to mature further.
pull off the bottom leaves only leaving the new leaves on the tip.
then your supposed to bury the the whole shoot in the ground, in earthed up ridges, just leaving the leaves at the tip sticking out the ground.
but we have put ours into a glass of water first to root it ( on my husbands advice, i hope he knows what hes doing!)
you can see pictures of what im doing on my thread: '1st time growing sweet potatoes from shop-bought tubers'
iv just posted a pic of the first cutting.


@ safronsue: tim minchin is god! i would marry him if i wasnt already spoken for