What do with the sweet potato?

Question

My grandmother took a sweet potato and, going on what she's heard, submerged it in water to try and grow a vine. Well, the potato has rotted! Is there any truth to this submerging theory and if so, what could she do differently the next time to ensure success?

Answer 1

This one is easy, we used to do this as kids. Take a whole sweet potato, put it in a glass, and fill it half up with water. The top can't be under water, that's where the sprouts will come from. The roots will come from the water end.

If you have garden space, once you get lots of roots you can plant it it soil. If you keep it in water, eventually the sweet potato will rot and you'll need to throw the whole thing out. But you'll have lots of vines before then.

Answer 2

No, you would cut it and place it in the dirt just like a regular potato - eyes up.

Answer 3

I have heard of this, but I think you have to do something else besides that. Perhaps if you check with the local gardening center or horticulturist you can find out if you can do this or not. Sounds interesting and I am sure I've seen it

Answer 4

You can't submerge the whole potatoe...When I was a kid I remember taking a potatoe and sticking four toothpicks in the sides, then using these as supports placing it on the lip of a glass....you then add water so it is a couple inches over the bottom of the potatoe.  It will send down roots, and the eyes above the water will send out shoots...Just keep adding water as it is used up by the plant....and a little fertilizer after it is really going if you want to keep it very long.

Answer 5

I don't think so i mean she is a senior

Answer 6

yes, i have seen my mother do  it.

you need to take a slice of the sweet potato, from the end ( less than an inch thick ) AND it needs to have an eye on that part - above the surface of the water.

depending on how deep the vase-thing is, and how much water you start with, you may need to put something tiny like toothpicks in the potato to hold it at the right level.

add water as needed, and place it in a window, where it gets sun at least part of the day.