If you ever walk up to someone and ask them to choose between a regular potato and a sweet potato, most will go with the former because sweet potatoes are just associated with…well…bland sadness?
In reality, there’s a side to sweet potatoes that people never see because they don’t know when and where to utilize them.
Their uniquely sweet flavor not only does wonders for certain sweet dishes but also brings great depth to savory foods.
7 Steps For Growing Sweet Potatoes From Scraps
Here’s a step-by-step guide on how you can grow your own sweet potatoes from scraps and give them the appreciation they deserve:
Step 1: Getting The Right Sweet Potatoes
To grow sweet potatoes from scraps, you’ll first need to get your hands on a few organic sweet potatoes that are firm, free of disease, and don’t exhibit signs of bacterial or fungal growth.
Because these pieces will serve as a foundation for your next batch of sweet potatoes, make sure they’re healthy and of optimal quality.
Step 2: Preparing Them
Although you don’t necessarily have to cut your sweet potatoes into smaller chunks, it may not be such a bad idea to do so if using a larger potato.
However, keep in mind that each piece should have at least one sprouting eye since that’s where the shoots will emerge from.
Step 3: Growing Shoots
In a container filled with water, place your sweet potato chunks halfway submerged, meaning the other half remains dry.
You can use toothpicks to suspend the potato chunks if the container’s opening is too wide.
Another way to get the shoots going is to bury the sweet potato chunks halfway in a well-draining potting soil mix.
Water it lightly on a daily basis to promote shoot growth.
Step 4: Wait For The Shoots To Sprout
It takes relatively long for sweet potato shoots to sprout. Expect to see some decent shoot growth in 4-6 weeks.
However, don’t intervene till the shoots get to about 6-7 inches long. That’s the general length you want them to be before harvesting.
Step 5: Harvesting The Shoots
Once the shoots have grown enough, you’ll be able to just twist them off with your bare hands. After harvesting, place them in a water container halfway submerged once again to get the roots growing this time.
Don’t forget to keep changing the water regularly to prevent rot or fungal growth!
Step 6: Transplanting
In 1-2 weeks, the small shoots will transform into meaningful roots after which they can be transplanted into garden soil or a larger pot where the development of sweet potatoes can take place.
Step 7: Aftercare & Harvesting
Plenty of sunlight, moist soil, and balanced fertilizer usage is enough to get sweet potatoes fully mature in about 3-4 months of planting.
When the tubers get visually big enough (which you can check by digging around the plant site) and leaves start turning yellow, your sweet potatoes are ready to be harvested.
Final Words
Home-grown sweet potatoes? Yes, please! They’re versatile, different, delicious, and jam-packed with nutrients that benefit you in all the amazing ways!
Surprisingly, they’re also very easy to grow at home.
In just 7 simple steps and 3-4 months, you can turn scraps into fully-grown sweet potatoes that will bring a new layer of flavor and nourishment your way!
