A sweet potato developing roots is a completely normal biological event, confirming that the storage root is still alive and attempting to begin a new growth cycle. The sweet potato is a tuberous root, belonging to the morning glory family (Ipomoea batatas), designed to store nutrients for future plant growth. The small, fibrous roots you observe are the initial signs of revival, indicating the potato’s internal systems are exiting dormancy.
Why Sweet Potatoes Sprout
The sprouting process is the sweet potato’s natural response to favorable environmental conditions after a period of dormancy. This period of rest, which occurs after harvest, is broken primarily by warmth and humidity. Sweet potatoes are typically stored at temperatures above 50°F, but even at this temperature, a longer storage duration will naturally lead to sprouting. The initial emergence of small, delicate roots is followed by the development of “slips,” which are the stem shoots that will grow into the new vines.
During revival, complex starches stored in the root tissue begin to convert into simple sugars to fuel the growing sprouts. This conversion provides the necessary energy for new growth and subtly alters the sweet potato’s nutritional profile and flavor. The sprouting is the plant attempting to complete its natural life cycle by producing new plants.
Is a Sprouting Sweet Potato Safe to Eat
A primary concern for many people is whether a sprouted sweet potato is safe to consume, and the answer is a clear yes. Unlike white potatoes, which are in the nightshade family and produce the toxic compound solanine when they sprout, sweet potatoes do not generate any poisonous substances. The sweet potato is safe to eat even with the sprouts still attached, as the shoots themselves are non-toxic.
The quality of the tuber for eating declines the longer it sprouts. As the plant directs its energy toward growing new shoots, it draws on stored starches, sugars, and water. This nutrient drain can lead to a degraded texture, often resulting in a softer, shriveled, or pithy consistency. The conversion of starch to sugar can also make the tuber taste sweeter, but for the best flavor and texture, consume the sweet potato shortly after sprouting is first noticed.
Propagating New Plants from Sprouted Tubers
The sprouting sweet potato offers an excellent opportunity to grow new plants for your garden by producing “slips.” A slip is a vine-like stem cutting that develops roots and can be planted to grow a new sweet potato plant. You should begin this process about 8 to 12 weeks before your area’s last expected frost date.
There are two popular methods for generating these slips: the water method and the soil method.
Water Method
The water method involves suspending the sweet potato, often using toothpicks, with one end submerged in a jar of water. Place the jar in a warm, sunny location, and roots will develop in the water while slips will emerge from the top. This method is visually appealing but can take between four and eight weeks for slips to fully develop.
Soil Method
The soil method is generally faster and produces stronger, more robust slips. To use this approach, lay the sweet potato horizontally in a shallow container filled with moist potting soil, covering it about halfway. Place the container in a warm spot, possibly on a heat mat, and keep the soil consistently moist. Shoots should begin to appear within three to four weeks.
Once the slips are about six inches long, harvest them by gently twisting or snapping them off the parent sweet potato at the base. If you used the soil method, the slips will likely have small roots already and can be planted directly into the garden after the danger of frost has passed. If the slips lack roots, place the cut ends in a jar of water for a few days to a week until new roots form before transplanting them into the ground.