Growing sweet potatoes

[Nicos]

OK- so I have my sweet potato...and then just wondered...is there a top or a bottom when it comes to putting it in the water??? The eyes look the same both ways round to me ( or do I need to go to specsavers???)

[snohare]

Doesn't matter, they're like tatties (and most other seedlings) - they are gravitropic. Roots head down, the shoots go up. They will twist if needs be, the individual cells know which way to shunt the next cell !
Mine has lots of nice wee roots already, I have been making up a seed bed today...
These things don't get blight do they ? Is there anything other than the general UK climate that they are particularly vulnerable to ?

[Alison]

They won't get blight as they're not the same family as normal spuds, toms etc. In fact they're not susceptable to many things (inc slugs I found) and the main problem with them (as already said above) is the climate thing ie it's not really warm enough for long enough here but that won't stop us trying I suppose.

[Nicos]

OK...so mines started rooting!
Now waiting for the shoots.

[Col Weir]

I've recently bought four s/potatoes from the supermarketand placed them in compost in a propagator at 21c, I've had about 30 slips that are now growing on in compost prior to them being planted out at the end of May. I've never grown them before so I'm unsure of what results I can expect here just north of Liverpool. I have photos of them but being new to this site I'm unsure how to post them.

[snohare]

Welcome to the Vine, Col Weir !
I think you will find the information you need if you look up at the top of the page, and click on the "FAQ" button...I seem to remember finding it somesuch place when I needed it, although getting my forgettory/butterfingers to achieve the process was another matter...
Very interesting that 21degrees was the temperature that worked so well, I will remember that, thank you...

[Ananke]

I've got 3 wee slips on my SP but they are really small, I don't know whether they will grow big enough in time to plant them up. Maybe this week of good weather will spur them on a bit.