Starting Sweet Potatoes

Lately, George Washington Carver has become one of my heroes. He is a person worth getting to know. I stumbled across one of his writings and found it most informative on sweet potatoes. Here in the South a plant that has few pests and is drought resistant is a big deal.


1. I purchased 4 sweet potatoes (only one is necessary). I cut them in half. We put some cut side up and some cut side down. The cut side down worked better (Thank you daughter).


2. We pushed 4 toothpicks into the sides of the potato to keep it suspended in a cup of water. After 2 weeks of maintaining the water level, little sprouts came from the potatoes called slips.


3. Pull the slips off the potato when they are at least 6 inches long and plant and put in dirt.


4. Water daily for the first 2 weeks.


After they are established they are virtually drought resistant. It takes 120-140 days till harvest and they must be cured before eating. This can be a deterrent for gardeners. I have successfully cured one potato in my own kitchen. It was not difficult. I only had to let it sit on my counter for 14 days before eating it. Amazingly, the starches are transferred to sugars giving the sweet potato it's name.


Gardening is fast becoming more than a hobby. With the cost of every thing on the rise the necessity for home gardens is catapulted to font page news. The problem is that most Americans have lost the knowledge. The natural transfer of 'how tos' was lost in the generation gap. Do not despair however. Despite popular trend, a few have taken the time to learn from their parents and grandparents.

Thankfully, I still have both sets of grandparents and I knew all but one of my great grands. Here in this 'crisis' I can call any one of them and hear practical money saving ways to live. From growing vine crops on the fence to using wood ashes to prohibit bad organisms from gaining a foot hold. (Wood ashes also force a bloom.) Seek out the practical hands on advice of the elderly in you community. Yes, we can learn so much by reading on the Internet, but hands on learning is the best.