ok,, have a tater "soaking" for over a month now,,its S L O W L Y getting sprouts, 3 of them,, about a 16th of an inch,, HOW long does it take for things things???? At what length should I plant it?

-- Stan (sopal@net-pert.com), April 22, 2002

Answers

Stan how warm is it in Michigan? Could you plant it outside yet? Hold onto it awhile until it gets warm enough. Maybe you could plant it in a pot in the house. I bet that's what you had in mind anyway. Never Mind!

Susan, being stupid, I'll let Jay handle this one

-- Susan in MN (nanaboo@ paulbunyan.net), April 22, 2002.

Susan, A big chuckle after reading your posting......Woke up this morning to a fresh 5" dumping of snow! And talk of record low teens tonight!!....How much snow did you get Stan?

-- Jim-mi (hartalteng@voyager.net), April 22, 2002.

yesterday,,woke up to an inch of fresh snow,, then it turned to rain,, and its all gone,, still cold,, this morning, its the low 20's, I plan on putting the sweet tater outside to grow,, (just to see if it works)

-- Stan (sopal@net-pert.com), April 23, 2002.

It will work. I usually start mine way earlier though, about mid January. They are very slow to start, but once they do, they take of quickly. Once they get about 5-6 inches long, I break them off and put them into a mason jar full of water and they start growing roots. Then when I plant them into the soil, I make a little mound of dirt, about a foot high and plant the plant in the middle. I water it very well when I plant it, and mulch it with a layer of newspaper and then some straw. Wait until after the first frost and then dig them. If you wait until after the frost, you will not have to worry baout them having ends that are not "healed" over. If you dig them earlier, you will have to leave them out in the sun and dry air for a few days. Weather here is similiar to yours, and I generally don't set them out until the end of May. The Amish never put their plants out until June 1st...

-- abc (abc@xyz.com), April 23, 2002.

Dumb question #2 coming, I know guys this is hard to believe from me but for some reason my brain has turned itself off the past few days. I'm running on basic survival instincts/auto-pilot so bare with me please.

Here goes, hemmm, hemm, Do sweet potatos grow above ground and hang from the vine like squash? I have never grown them but I know they have a vine. If Stan is growning it in a pot and they grow under ground like other potatos, why do they have a vining top? Stan do youhave a pot big enough? I know a lot of people just have them in their house as a house plant.

Susan, being a dumb girl again :)

-- Susan in MN (nanaboo@pauilbunyan.net), April 23, 2002.

Feed the nasty thing to the criters!!!And eat real potatoes!!!

-- Grizz workin near D.C. (southerneagle@yahoo.com), April 23, 2002.

Naw, Suz; they grow underground like normal 'taters. Stan doesn't need to pot them to get them ready to plant outside, he can root 'em in water, like abc said. Given his climate, I don't think I'd be looking to put them out too soon! I don't put mine out til mid May here in central Illinois. They do make a pretty houseplant, if you want to pot one up for a hanging basket or something. I'm not sure, but I don't think those vining plants they sell at the nursery in with the asparagus fern and spikes are real sweet 'taters.

-- Polly (tigger@moultrie.com), April 23, 2002.