Murasaki Japanese Sweet Potato Slips | 6 Count

Choose a Planting Location: Sweet potatoes prefer warm weather and well-drained soil. Choose a location that receives full sunlight and has loose, sandy soil. If your soil is heavy or clay-like, consider amending it with compost or sand to improve drainage.

Prepare the Soil: Till the soil to a depth of about 8 to 10 inches (20-25 cm) and remove any weeds or rocks. Sweet potatoes thrive in slightly acidic soil with a pH of 5.5 to 6.5.

Create Furrows or Mounds: Sweet potato plants spread horizontally as they grow, so you can plant them in furrows or mounds. If planting in rows, create furrows spaced about 3 feet apart. Alternatively, create mounds spaced about 3 feet apart in rows, with each mound being about 8 to 12 inches high.

Plant the Slips: Plant each slip into the soil, burying it up to the first set of leaves. If you're planting in rows, space the slips about 12 to 18 inches apart. If you're planting in mounds, space the slips evenly around the mound.

Water the Slips: After planting, water the slips thoroughly to help them establish roots. Keep the soil consistently moist but not waterlogged throughout the growing season.

Provide Support: If you're planting in rows, you can provide support for the vines by installing trellises or stakes along the rows. This helps keep the vines off the ground and makes it easier to harvest the sweet potatoes later.

Mulch: Apply a layer of mulch around the base of the plants to help retain moisture in the soil, suppress weeds, and regulate soil temperature.

Monitor and Maintain: Check the plants regularly for signs of pests or disease, and take appropriate action if needed. Sweet potatoes are relatively low-maintenance, but they may benefit from occasional fertilization with a balanced fertilizer.

Harvest: Sweet potatoes are typically ready to harvest about 3 to 4 months after planting, depending on the variety and growing conditions. You can carefully dig around the base of the plant to harvest the tubers, being careful not to damage them.

By following these steps, you should be able to successfully plant sweet potato slips and enjoy a bountiful harvest.

These slips were kept in water with Arber 3-2-1 liquid fertilizer to keep them healthy.

If it's too early to plant outside in your area, you can place the slips in a cup of water. Be sure to check the water level every few days. Sweet potatoes love lots of water and warmth.

Instead of placing the slips in water, you can plant them in seedling pots with soil. Make sure you keep them well watered since they are used to being in water and not soil. This will help with transplant shock.