How to Grow Sweet Potatoes in Pots

Sweet potatoes come in two general forms: plant varieties created for their edible roots and varieties created for their ornamental vines.

Both types belong to the papa Ipomoea species, a perennial plant normally grown as an annual. And both ornamental and edible varieties are easy to grow in pots.

Both types grow best in sunny conditions. If you want to grow edible tubers, it will take between 100 and 140 days, depending on the variety.

In some parts of the country, this means starting growing your plants six to 12 weeks before the last projected frost date for your area in spring to have a long enough growing season.

Sweet potatoes are widely available for sale as small potted plants in spring. But they are also easy to grow, generating "strips" of tuber pieces.

Prepare the tubers

For starters, look for firm sweet potatoes without large spots. It is better that they are not refrigerated.

Use a sharp knife to cut the tubers into pieces slightly smaller than the opening of the glass container.

Then locate the center of each tuber piece and insert three or more toothpicks into it; they should penetrate 1/2 to 1 inch into the tuber.

Spread the sticks evenly around the circumference of the tuber. If the tuber is too tough, you can make a small hole with a thin nail, and then stick a toothpick into it.

Place the tubers in the water

Position each tuber so that the toothpicks are on the edge of a jar with the pointed end of the tuber facing down. Fill the jar with enough water to cover the bottom half of the tuber.

Then put the jar on a sunny window and change the water every other day. Make sure to keep the bottom of the tuber submerged in water.

It may take a few weeks or even a month before you see green growth sprouting from the top of the tuber.

The individual shoots that will sprout from the tuber are known as "shoots" and will be used to create new sweet potato plants.

Separate the wedges

After the sweet potato tuber has sprouted, carefully separate each leaf from the tuber, gently turning it. There may already be a rudimentary root structure attached to the slip.

Place each strip in a shallow dish with the bottom of the stem submerged in water and the leaves hanging over the edge of the dish. In a few days new roots will start to grow at the bottom of the slip.

When the new roots are about 1 inch long, the seedlings can be planted in potting soil. Discard any landslides that are wilting or have not taken root; these will not be viable.

Plant the wedges in containers

To plant, fill a container with high-quality potting soil until the soil reaches about 1 inch below the edge.

Do not compress the soil with force; tubers need loose soil to grow. Mix a slow-release fertilizer into the potting soil if it doesn't already contain fertilizer.

Then poke a hole in the center of the soil, deep enough to cover the slippery roots.

Gently place a wedge or two in the hole and tap the ground around it firmly. Make sure there are no air pockets near the roots. Water in abundance.

Moving plants outdoors

Sweet potatoes like warm weather, so make sure all danger of frost is past before putting your new plants outside.

It is best if the temperatures are consistently at least 65 degrees Fahrenheit. It also helps to harden new plants by gradually acclimating them outdoors before placing them in their permanent locations.

You can harvest sweet potatoes at any stage and they will be edible. Check your variety for the specific number of days it takes to fully mature.

In either case, the sweet potato should be harvested before the first frost in fall for best edibility. To get the most flavor out of your sweet potatoes and extend their shelf life, cure them in a warm, dry place for 10 to 14 days before eating.

We hope you enjoy this video about how to grow sweet potatoes in containers or pots:

Source: Self Sufficient Me

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