Sweet potatoes advice

louise_1981

just been sent an email form a gardening company advertising sweet potatoes. I am intrigued as I use quite a few in place of normal potatoes, but the price puts me off.

Could I use shop bought sweet potaoes and chit like you do normal potatoes, or do I have to do something special?

Thanks

Louise

Jayar

Now there's an interesting thought. I did a quick google and came up with this
http://www.barfoots.co.uk/page63.html
Think I may give it a go myself. thanks.

katskorner

Hmm. Always wanted to grow sweet potatoes as we eat lots of them. didn't think they would grow well in the UK. Wonder if the ones you buy to eat will serve well enough as seed?

ajaxgeezer

Only one way to find out KK..... I'll be having a go :dance:

louise_1981

to answer my own question, I must have googled the wrong word earlier, as I have now found loads.

This has much more detail and advice

http://www.urbanext.uiuc.edu/veggies/sweetpotato1.html

nodwah

Thanks , I never thought to grow these, I guess if you had a polytunnel it'd be fairly easy. Any one found suppliers in th euk?

nodwah

Just had a quick look and you can get them at T&M and organic catalogue for about£12 for 10. I couldn't really cope with that many!

louise_1981

yeah I thought T&M were a bit expensive. I was going to try with supermarket bought ones. nothing ventured nothing gained.

Louise

pboae

I found this article on growing them, if you scroll down a few posts there is a really comprehensive article on them, with loads of pictures.

I am wondering how big a container they would need. I have a huge greenhouse that I don't make enough use of, and these would be ideal, but I would have to container grow them.

I have rubble sacks that I am using for new potatoes but I don't think they will be big enough, so maybe black rubbish bins would be better. It sounds from that thread like the tubers tend to grow downwards rather than spread outwards.

teapot2

Would LOVE to try growing sweet potatoes, have read all thread and articles linked but still a bit unclear as to whether its ok to use a sweet potato from the supermarket to try and get 'slips'? I know you can chit ordinary tatties from the shops but not sure re sweet ones. Wouldn't want to spend that much on buying them ie over the £10 quoted as I live north of the border and weather can be tricky but we are in a sunny spot so will give it a go if shop ones can be used - don't want to encourage pest/disease though. Anyone know the answer?

Thanks

Teapot

tomterm8

teapot2 wrote: »

Would LOVE to try growing sweet potatoes, have read all thread and articles linked but still a bit unclear as to whether its ok to use a sweet potato from the supermarket to try and get 'slips'? I know you can chit ordinary tatties from the shops but not sure re sweet ones. Wouldn't want to spend that much on buying them ie over the £10 quoted as I live north of the border and weather can be tricky but we are in a sunny spot so will give it a go if shop ones can be used - don't want to encourage pest/disease though. Anyone know the answer?

Thanks

Teapot

If you are going to grow it in a large container, it is fine. If you are going to grow it in your soil, I'd go for a commercial slip.

If you live in the north, you will need to grow them in a greenhouse / polytunnel.