Dear Amor: Raising sweet potatoes

Dear Amor
Sweet potatoes provide nutrious food below and above ground.

DEAR AMOR: Sometimes, I impulse-buy plants without prior research. So, I bought two cells of sweet potato starters. Can I break this plant up into multiple slips and plant or is this one plant? I'm going to plant this in a half-cut 55-gallon barrel. Any concerns with that, or any other information and tips? — Steve

DEAR STEVE: Through the years, I have raised sweet potatoes. In my case, I raised them specifically for their leaves. A single new sprout, also called slip, can be planted separately with or without roots as long as the slip has at least three mature/hard nodes. Roots will grow from those nodes and will become a healthy food-bearing plant below- and above-ground. 

Although sweet potato is a common food in this part of the globe, I wonder why its tender shoots or tops (leaves and stems) are not used as food, like spinach kale, and other nutrient-laden, leafy green vegetables. 

Blanching/steaming sweet potato leaves for salad, sautéed or as addition to soup, has been done by other countries through the ages. 

Since sweet potatoes may be harvested from 85 to 120 days, locations that provide sunshine throughout its growing season is good enough location to grow them. Otherwise, this plant is easily killed by frost.  

Sweet potatoes can be productive with pH of 5.8 to 6.0. 

In barrel planters

Use a good potting soil with the right kind of pH and enough drainage. Harvesting root crops is easier when the soil is not compacted, eliminating bruises or cuts. 

Starter cells with multiple slips means many prospective plants. Plant them separately to spread out the soon-to-be root bounty under the vines, so they can grow their potential size. 

Because of a limited area and overcrowding possibilities in a barrel planter, a smaller root crop may be expected.

Provide enough drainage. It is important that roots are not soaked in water. That can cause root rot or cracks on sweet potatoes. 

In ground gardens 

Plant rooted slip separately and equally distanced from other slips. Because of its vining/spreading habit, one foot apart is ideal. More than that will result in hard-fleshed, very large roots. If that happens, nothing to panic. This hard-fleshed sweet potato is then perfect for french fries, drizzled with caramelized sugar.

A rootless twig or stem also may be planted. It should have at least three nodes for it to successfully grow roots. 

Sweet potato plants will become vigorous growers when watered adequately. 

Toward the end of its growing season and Jack Frost comes nipping by with temperatures below 55 degrees, harvest sweet potatoes all at once and store them properly. 

Crop rotation must be considered to avoid or minimize plant disease that could overwinter in the soil. 

Amor Chamness Cook is a graduate of Brigham Young University-Idaho. Email your garden questions for “Dear Amor” to

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