The Frugal Girls

  • HOME
  • RECIPES
  • CROCKPOT
  • PARTY
  • GIFT IDEAS
  • CRAFT
  • FREEBIES
  • SAVE MONEY
  • BABY
  • TRAVEL
  • SUBSCRIBE

Sweet Potato Slips (How to Grow Sweet Potatoes!)

February 27, 2023 By Heidi 22 Comments

I may get paid for ads or purchases made through links in this post.

Did you know it’s actually really easy to grow your own sweet potatoes at home? All you’ll need are some Sweet Potato Slips to get started!

Then… have even more fun when you try this genius hack for Growing Green Onions in Water!

Sweet Potato Slips

Have you been wondering How to Grow Sweet Potato Slips for Planting?

It’s actually so easy!

All you’ll need are sweet potatoes, toothpicks, jars of water, and some patience… and in about 2 months time you’ll have loads of sweet potato slips ready to plant out in your Garden!

Trust me, growing sweet potato slips indoors is going to be so satisfying!

Simply follow my step-by-step instructions for how to grow your own sweet potato slips in water, so you can start planning for your very own abundant sweet potato harvest today…

Related: 55 Easy Gardening Tips and Tricks for Beginners!

How Do You Make Sweet Potato Slips?

It’s actually so easy!

Just like propagating, you’ll grow slips and roots in water off of your sweet potato, and then plant outside!

How Long Does It Take to Grow Sweet Potatoes from Slips?

It can take up to 2 months to have strong, healthy slips that are ready to plant outside.

It’s a bit of a slow process, but definitely worth it in the end!

How to Grow Sweet Potato Slips

What You’ll Need to Grow Sweet Potatoes

Round up these simple supplies to get started…

  • Sweet Potato (organic is preferred, as they’re the most likely to sprout)
  • 16 oz. Wide Mouth Mason Jar
  • 3 Toothpicks
  • Filtered (non-chlorinated) Water

How to Grow Sweet Potato Slips in Water

Here’s what you’ll do…

1. Insert 3 toothpicks a little less than 1/2 of the way down from the top (pointy end) of your sweet potato.

2. Make sure you place your toothpicks spread out a bit at the same level, in a circle around your sweet potato. (The toothpicks will allow the sweet potato to rest on a mason jar without being fully submerged in water.)

I like to try to root multiple sweet potatoes at the same time, because as is typical with propagation, not all will root.

3. Rest your sweet potato on the jar with the top (pointy end) facing up.

4. Now fill the jar with water. About 50% of the sweet potato should be submerged in water, and the rest will be dry at the top.

5. Place your jar in a warm, sunny windowsill.

6. Every 2 days, remove your sweet potato, discard the water, add fresh water, and place your sweet potato back into the resting position on the jar.

Typically in the first week, you’ll see roots start to grow from the bottom of the potato.

Then by week 3 or so, you should start to see some tiny little slips developing as well. As the roots stay submerged in your jar, the slips will grow up out of the jar, and will look like little plants with leaves.

7. Once your slips are about 8 inches long, you’ll want to carefully remove them from your potato, remove the lower leaves, and place in a jar filled with at least 3 inches of fresh water.

Now it’s time to root your slips in water!

Put your slips in a warm sunny window, and wait.

Once your slips develop their own substantial set of roots, they will be ready to plant outside in your garden!

You can often end up with 10+ slips to plant from just 1 sweet potato!

That’s a lot of free plants!

How to Plant Sweet Potato Slips

Are you ready to plant your new sweet potato slips? It’s so easy!

Here’s what you’ll do…

1. Sweet potatoes love the warmth, so wait until temperatures are above 70 degrees to plant.

2. Grow in well draining soil, in an area that will receive full sun.

3. Plant each slip about 4 – 6 inches deep.

4. Slips should also be planted at least 12 – 18 inches apart, with about 3 feet between rows so the vines can spread out and run.

5. Plant each slip deeply, burying most of the slip and just leaving the top leaves showing above ground.

6. Fertilize 1 month after planting with an organic fertilizer.

7. Typically within 90 – 120 days you should have mature sweet potatoes! (The vines & leaves may begin to start to turning yellow as a sign.)

8. Sweet potatoes are extraordinarily sensitive to frost, so make sure to harvest them all before your first frost.

How Many Sweet Potatoes Will You Get From One Slip?

It can vary, but typically one sweet potato slip will give you a minimum of 5 potatoes to a maximum of 10 potatoes.

That’s a pretty great return!

How To Use Sweet Potatoes

Crockpot Sweet Potatoes Recipe

This healthy recipe couldn’t be simpler, and these Crock Pot Baked Sweet Potatoes deliver so much amazing flavor.

Instant Pot Sweet Potatoes Recipe

Whether you’re looking for a cozy cold weather dinner side or a delicious holiday side dish, this Instant Pot Sweet Potatoes recipe really delivers big flavors minus the effort!

Homemade Baby Food Sweet Potato Recipe

Sweet potato is such a yummy Stage 1 First Food for Baby, and this easy recipe will show you how to make baked sweet potato puree, plus will show you how to store baby’s food!

More Easy Gardening Tips

So now that you know how to start your own Sweet Potato Slips for growing sweet potatoes in your backyard garden, finish planning your garden with some help from these creative ideas…

Growing Green Onions in Water

Did you know that Growing Green Onions in Water is the perfect frugal way to make your Green Onions really last!

Growing Green Onions at Home in Water

How to Grow Basil From Cuttings

Expand your basil garden this year with this simple trick for How to Grow Basil From Cuttings!

How to Grow Rosemary from Cuttings

Growing your own rosemary is such a smart way to save money, while also enjoying an abundant supply of herbs.

How to Grow Rosemary from Cuttings Tip

How to Grow Sage from Cuttings in Water

No more trips to the grocery store every time you need to pick up some Sage!  Now you’ll know How to Grow Sage from Cuttings in Water!

How to Grow Sage from Cuttings in Water Tutorial

DIY Mason Jar Herb Garden

Enjoy fresh herbs year round with this easy DIY Mason Jar Herb Garden!

45 Zucchini Growing Tips (How To Grow Perfect Zucchini)

Zucchini is so easy to grow and will get off to a great start with these tips.

40 Tips for Growing Perfect Tomatoes

Growing plump and delicious Tomatoes just got a lot easier!  You’ll love these tried and true tips!

55 Easy Gardening Tips and Tricks for Beginners!

You don’t have to spend a lot of money to create a fabulous garden.  So go grab your shovel, and get inspired with these helpful Gardening Tips and Tricks you’ll wish you tried sooner.

Easy Gardening Tips

Homesteading 101 (Ultimate Guide for Homesteaders Today)

Savor every moment of the simpler life and take your homesteader skills to the next level with this ultimate guide for Homesteading 101!

Grocery Money Saving Tips

How to Store Potatoes Long Term

Are you wondering How to Store Potatoes Long Term? These simple little potato storage tricks work like a charm!

How To Cut Your Grocery Bill In Half (35 Brilliant Tips)

Want to know how to cut your grocery bill in half?  Keep more cash in your wallet with these easy money saving tricks!

So have YOU ever tried starting your own Sweet Potato Slips or growing sweet potatoes at home?

Leave a comment & share!

Filed Under: Gardening Tagged With: Farm to Table

Comments

  1. Don't Miss Out... Subscribe Now!

      Built with ConvertKit
    • Adriana Leandro says

      March 2, 2023 at 5:44 pm

      This is incredible! I didn’t know about this. I really love sweet potatoes.
      Thanks for sharing.

      Reply
      • Heidi says

        March 7, 2023 at 9:22 am

        You’re very welcome, Adriana! It really is such an easy trick! 🙂

        Reply
    • CoCo says

      March 1, 2023 at 9:07 am

      Sweet potato vines are always so pretty to me, Heidi! I had no idea they were this easy to grow. We eat them all the time! I’m super excited to try your technique. Hugs, CoCo

      Reply
      • Heidi says

        March 1, 2023 at 2:17 pm

        I agree, CoCo… the vines really are beautiful! Have fun growing some of your own!

        Reply
    • Rainbow Evening says

      March 1, 2023 at 7:01 am

      love sweet potatoes….
      thank you for sharing tips to grow it.

      Reply
      • Heidi says

        March 1, 2023 at 2:17 pm

        You’re very welcome!

        Reply
    • Veronica Lee says

      February 28, 2023 at 6:10 pm

      I never knew it was so easy to grow sweet potatoes at home!

      It would be fun growing them!

      Hugs and blessings, Heidi.

      Reply
      • Heidi says

        March 1, 2023 at 1:55 pm

        Thanks, Veronica! They really are so easy to grow! 🙂

        Reply
    • Kathrine Eldridge says

      February 28, 2023 at 2:51 pm

      This is so cool! Would love to try this and make my favorite sweet potato casserole with what I produce!

      https://www.kathrineeldridge.com

      Reply
      • Heidi says

        February 28, 2023 at 4:24 pm

        Now that sounds delicious, Kathrine!!

        Reply
    • Her Digital Coffee says

      February 28, 2023 at 12:53 pm

      Wow, this is incredible! I had no idea how easy it was to grow sweet potatoes at home. I love the idea of growing your own food. Thank you for sharing HeidI!

      Reply
      • Heidi says

        February 28, 2023 at 4:24 pm

        You’re very welcome ~ nothing tastes as delicious as homegrown food. 🙂

        Reply
    • Healthy World Cuisine says

      February 28, 2023 at 10:31 am

      This is brilliant! I had no idea that you could start sweet potatoes like this. Will need to get started now to be able to plant these in the spring. Hey did you know that you can eat sweet potato leaves? They are fabulous in a stir fry with garlic.

      Reply
      • Heidi says

        February 28, 2023 at 4:23 pm

        Oh wow… I didn’t realize you could eat the leaves, too! That’s such a great tip – thanks for sharing!

        Reply
    • somewhereinireland says

      February 28, 2023 at 10:20 am

      Great tips on how to grow sweet potatoes. Never knew you could do that. We do have celery growing froma cutting and rosemary. Will have to try the sweet potatoe. Thanks for sharing and have a wonderful week.

      Reply
      • Heidi says

        February 28, 2023 at 4:21 pm

        You’re very welcome… have fun growing your sweet potatoes!

        Reply
    • delphine says

      February 28, 2023 at 2:52 am

      Oh c’est chouette il faut que j’essaye c’est tellement bon les patates douces
      Bonne journée

      Reply
      • Heidi says

        February 28, 2023 at 4:21 pm

        Le jardinage est si merveilleux 🙂 Bonne journée

        Reply
    • Lisa's Notebook says

      February 28, 2023 at 2:14 am

      Oh wow, Heidi, I didn’t know you could do this! I love sweet potato fries, much prefer them to normal chips. I’m definitely going to try this, can’t wait to harvest my own, thank you so much!

      Reply
      • Heidi says

        February 28, 2023 at 4:19 pm

        You’re very welcome, Lisa! These would be perfect for your garden! 🙂

        Reply
    • Michelle says

      February 27, 2023 at 6:52 pm

      Love all the tips you give for growing sweet potato slips! I have one for lunch everyday, so this would be super beneficial for me!

      Reply
      • Heidi says

        February 28, 2023 at 4:19 pm

        Oh that’s perfect, Michelle! Sweet potatoes really are SO delicious!

        Reply

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    About Heidi Picture
    Hi, I'm Heidi... I'm so glad you're here! I'm the Frugal Girl living here in sunny AZ with my hubby, and love sharing Easy Recipes & Frugal Living Tips!
    More About Heidi >>

    Most Popular Right Now!

    Easy Crockpot Taco Soup Recipe (The BEST!)

    Homemade Strawberry Jam Recipe Easy

    Strawberry Jam Recipe for Canning (Best Jam Ever!!)

    Cracker Barrel Menu Hacks

    17 Cracker Barrel Menu Hacks You Probably Didn’t Know!

    How to Safely Pack Plates

    101 Moving Packing Tips! (Best Hacks For a Smooth Move)



    Copyright © 2009 - 2025 | About | Press | Contact | Disclosure Policy | Privacy Policy | Subscribe | Pinterest | Facebook | Instagram | YouTube