sweet potato slips?

[lickcreek]

I have a few sweet potatoes left from last year's harvest, and would like to try my hand at starting some slips instead of purchasing them this year.
I have 2 questions:

1) when would you start them for my garden (SE Iowa, almost in the corner)?

2) HOW do you get them started? I've been told "suspend them in water" or "start them in sand". I need very explicit directions, as what I tried last year failed, and I don't think I had enough information.

Thank you all for sharing your vast knowledge with this sweet potato newbie!

[Backfourty,MI.]

When I was younger we would take a peice of sweet potato & stick toothpicks around the edge with enough potatoe below the toothpicks to stay in a jar or glass of water, the toothpicks then keep the potato from sinking by sitting on the rim of the glass or jar.
I remember they make nice house plants but never planted them in the ground after that.
I usually just buy my sweet potato plants since an older man that works at the local mill said that was the only way to get sweet potatoes. I usually have pretty good luck with them & can them up at the end of the season.

[JMJones0424]

I have not tried the water suspension method, and I do not know when to start in your area.

The way I get slips is to just plant the whole sweet potato in very well draining soil with no more than one inch of soil on top. When the individual slips are at least six inches tall, i cut them off and transplant them as you would with purchased slips. It's very easy, just don't let it dry out.

[Gabriel]

http://www.oznet.ksu.edu/library/hort2/MF1110.pdf

[Paquebot]

You can start them any time now. When the sprouts get 6 or so long, snap them off and put them in water. Tubers will make more. If all else fails, order from Steele Plant Co. at www.sweetpotatoplant.com

Martin

[jnap31]

Frost will kill them.
people in your area would start them under a few inches of soil in may or under plastic in late april. Or start them indoors early.

[Rita]

I don't put the toothpicks in because I found it causes the tuber to rot. I just put the root end down in a jar or vase that will hold it up and fill with water halfway up. I have one just starting to sprout out and it has been in the water quite a while. It got roots first then started sprouting. I break them off as paquebot said and keep them in another container with water (of course) I guess you could pot them up if you have the room

[Paquebot]

I started 5 tubers this morning using the toothpick method to suspend them an inch off the bottom. Then they went on top of an aquarium where the jars will get heat from the hood lights. If all goes according to plan, there should be visual signs of success within a week.

Martin

[Mid Tn Mama]

Mine are in recycled peanut butter jars filled halfway up the tuber with water, no toothpicks. When the vines get say,six/seven inches long, I break them off (not at the node so it can keep growing more...)and root them in a vase. I have been doing this all winter so have a large amount ready for may. as the vines grow, I also cut them and root.

[lickcreek]

Thank you all for your responses. I think I am ready to try to start my own slips.

When I go through my stock of potatoes, what should I look for when selecting the most promising potato to try to get slips from?

[Paquebot]

When one sees the starting method pictured, it's usually one large tuber in a container of water. Then shoots are coming up all around the area above water. However, when voles chew the tops off mere 1" tubers in the garden, a dozen or so sprouts may quickly form. I'm going with 5 tubers between 1" and 2" to see what they do.

Martin