Sweet potato slips are the young shoots that grow directly from a mature sweet potato tuber. These rooted cuttings are clones of the mother potato, ensuring they carry the same genetic characteristics rather than being grown from seed. Sprouting sweet potatoes in water is a common method used by gardeners to produce these slips for planting in the garden or for growing the vines as an attractive ornamental houseplant. This propagation method allows for the production of multiple starts from a single, healthy sweet potato. The entire process requires a few simple household items and a patient approach over several weeks to successfully generate viable planting material.
Essential Preparation Before Sprouting
Selecting the right sweet potato tuber is the foundational step for successful sprouting. Choose an organic sweet potato, as conventionally grown varieties are often treated with sprout inhibitor chemicals to prolong their shelf life. A potato that is firm, free of soft spots, mold, or significant blemishes provides the best starting material. Medium-sized tubers, around two inches in diameter, typically produce a more vigorous crop of slips than very large ones. Wash the tuber thoroughly under running water to remove surface dirt. Gather the necessary supplies, including a clean jar, non-chlorinated water, and three to four wooden toothpicks. The sweet potato has a pointed end (the root end) and a blunter end (the sprout end). If you are unsure, exposing the potato to a warm, bright area for a few days may cause small nodes or “eyes” to become visible on the sprouting end.
Setting Up the Sweet Potato in Water
Insert three to four toothpicks horizontally around the middle circumference of the potato, angling them slightly upward. These toothpicks support the potato, allowing it to rest on the rim of a jar or glass. Position the blunter, sprouting end facing upward, submerging the more pointed, rooting end in the water. Fill the glass until at least the bottom third of the sweet potato is immersed, ensuring the toothpicks prevent the entire tuber from sinking. The submerged portion will develop roots, and the exposed upper portion will produce the desired shoots, or slips. Place the setup in a location that receives bright, indirect sunlight or under a dedicated grow light. A consistently warm temperature is necessary, ideally between 70°F and 80°F, as sweet potatoes are a tropical crop. Avoid placing the jar in a drafty area or against a cold windowpane, as temperature stress can significantly delay or inhibit the sprouting process.
Ongoing Care and Troubleshooting Common Issues
Maintaining clean, fresh water is important for keeping the mother sweet potato healthy and preventing rot. Change the water every three to five days to replenish oxygen and remove microbial buildup. Over time, the submerged end will develop white, thread-like roots, indicating the process is working correctly. The shoots will begin to emerge from the eyes on the upper surface of the potato, typically within four to eight weeks. If the water becomes cloudy or develops a foul odor, change it immediately and inspect the potato for bacterial or fungal growth. A soft, mushy spot on the submerged end signals rot; while a small area can sometimes be trimmed away, extensive decay often requires discarding the entire tuber. Sufficient warmth and light must be provided, as a lack of either will result in weak, pale, and spindly growth. This weak growth, known as etiolation, produces slips that are less vigorous. Keep the water level consistent by adding non-chlorinated water as needed, ensuring the rooting end remains submerged at all times.
Harvesting and Utilizing the Sweet Potato Slips
The sweet potato slips are ready for harvest once they have grown to a length of about four to six inches and possess several mature leaves. Harvest the slips by gently twisting or snapping them off the mother potato where they attach to the tuber. Alternatively, carefully cutting the slips with a clean blade, leaving a small piece of the sweet potato attached, may reduce the risk of introducing pathogens. Once removed, immediately place the slips into a fresh jar of water, ensuring the bottom node of the stem is submerged. Over the next few days, new roots will rapidly emerge from the submerged stem tissue. The rooted slips are then ready for their final placement, either in soil for growing sweet potatoes or for use as an ornamental vine. For planting in the garden, the slips can be placed into the soil once the roots are about an inch long and all danger of frost has passed. Alternatively, the slips can be kept indefinitely in a jar of water to grow as a decorative houseplant.