Question
I have nurtured a sweet potato so that it now has sprouts from one end. How do I change them into slips  ready for planting.

Answer
Edward, although you can plant sweet potatoes whole, I recommend cutting them into pieces (slips), making sure that each piece has 2-3 eyes. If your climate is wet, you must first dust the seeds with sulfur to prevent them from rotting.  

Potatoes are a cool season crop and should, therefore, be planted 2-3 weeks before your last expected frost. Just be sure to plant before the temperatures stay consistently above 75F.  

Space the slips 6" apart and cover them with 5" of soil. As the vines begin to grow, make sure you continually hill or mound them with soil or straw to keep the tubers completely covered. Otherwise, the potatoes will turn green and potentially toxic.  

Once the vines begin to flower, stop mounding the soil and start mulching heavily with straw to conserve moisture. Water deeply at least twice per week. Do not fertilize with a high nitrogen fertilizer. This will result in lush top growth and very small tubers.

I recommend planting the slips in well amended soil consisting of compost and/or aged manure. This will virtually eliminate the need to fertilize at all.  Once the foliage begins to brown and wither, the tubers should be fully grown. Dig them by hand to avoid puncturing them with a spade or pitchfork. Since they will keep in the ground for several weeks after maturing, you should wait until the soil dries before harvesting.  

I hope this helps.  Good luck, and if you have any other questions, please feel free to write again.  

Regards,  

Mike