Sweet potatoes aren’t grown from seed like many other vegetables, they are started from slips – rooted sweet potato shoots grown from a mature sweet potato. Grow your own slips from sweet potatoes or purchase slips.
Most varieties do well in the long growing season of the low desert. In higher elevations or places with shorter growing seasons, choose from quickly maturing varieties such as ‘Beauregard’ and ‘O’Henry’.
Plant rooted slips 12-18 inches apart and 4 inches deep. Water well and feed with a starter solution high in phosphorus to ensure the plants root well.
Thank you very much I didn’t know you could grow sweet potatoes in the AZ. desert. I thought the climate had to be humid.So again thank you.
Can you grow sweet potatoes the way you do regular potatoes in those 40 gallon grow bags?
Potatoes and sweet potatoes grow differently. It may need a larger growing area, but you could give it a try. Use the largest size bag you can and fill it completely before planting the slips, rather than adding soil as the potatoes grow (as you would with regular potatoes).
My neighbor grows the bush variety in grow bags. The bush variety yield has been smaller than the vining variety in her experience.
That’s great to know that you can grow some types in grow bags. Thanks for the feedback.
So when do I start doing the slips process ?? I have to have them ready around may to June to transferred them??
It can take 2-3 months. So count back from the best time to plant for your area.
My first try didn’t work out so well I planted too late. They are tiny more like green beans fat green beans. Can I still eat them?
Sure. They are edible at any stage.
Hi! Where do you typically cure your sweet potatoes in AZ? In a closet or pantry if you keep your house at 80? Any other ideas if there is limited space? Our pantry is typically open and exposed to light with myself and kids going in and out during the day. Thanks!!
I typically pick a shady spot outside to cure them in.
Can you eat the sweet potato you used to make starts when you’re done getting sprouts?
Maybe? Usually it’s pretty shriveled up by the time it’s finished, but it’s probably still edible.