Sweet potatoes just won't sprout!

Bobberman · Fri Apr 15, 2011 1:11 am

I planted over a dozen sweet potatoes every way I could and not one even got a root! Iput them in water in several types of dishes plates bottles and nothing! I put a half dozen in the greenhouse in soils half burried and nothing! What is going on here everything else I lant grows??? I tried to grow them for over 2 months in even warm temp. They must be treated at the stores or what?

thanrose · Fri Apr 15, 2011 8:49 am

They probably were treated to keep them from sprouting.

I've read when trying to sprout supermarket ginger you need to soak it for a few hours in water to get rid of whatever may have been put on it to keep it from sprouting. You could try that. Are your sweets still intact in their various plantings? Maybe lift a few of them and soak them first.

Farm market sweets are less likely to have been treated post harvest.

Bobberman · Fri Apr 15, 2011 10:05 am

We had post on here saying potatoes and sweet potatoes were not treated but something seems fishy with the store bought sweet potatoes for growing!

Runningtrails · Sun Apr 17, 2011 7:27 am

They need heat to sprout. If your place is still cold at night or thye are on a cold windowsill, they won't sprout until it warms up.

Acedia · Fri Apr 29, 2011 5:08 am

about two weeks ago I planted some sweet potatoes and they grew thin roots I took a potatoe cut it in half and stuck the halves half way in the ground cut side down. I soaked them in water daily and though nothing was growing so I pulled them out and thats when I saw the roots. I also pulled them up cause I heard they spread like crazy and could easily take over a small bed, I will do this again when I find a good home for them.

I bought mine from H.E.B

gixxerific · Sun May 01, 2011 3:43 pm

THEY NEED HEAT!!!!!

I have been trying everything for a few years even this year I have tried several methods started at the same time.

I have them in water, and in soil on a window sill. But the ones that are doing the best are the ones in moist soil on top of a heating pad in my basement. I couldn't believe how much bigger they have gotten this morning since I last checked. I pulled a few sprouts last week and put them in soil on the heating pad and they are going gangbusters. These were started a month or more after my upstairs window ones and they have by far surpassed them by leaps and bounds.

THEY NEED HEAT AND LOTS OF IT!!!!! I am convinced.

P.S. the soil ones upstairs did WAY better than the cup of water ones. Last year I put a spud in the ground outside when it was warm that is where I got them from last year.

My conclusion is warmth and moist soil is the best way. At least for me.

gixxerific · Sun May 01, 2011 3:46 pm

And as far as the onions, potatoes, garlic from the stores being treated. I have grown all of the above from the store bought goodies. Just pulled ot some garlic a hour ago that was greening up on the tip. I have red potatoes on my fridge that have all kinds of eyes. So that is a wives tales if you ask me, I have proof.

SPierce · Sun May 01, 2011 4:40 pm

gixxerific wrote:THEY NEED HEAT!!!!!

I have been trying everything for a few years even this year I have tried several methods started at the same time.

I have them in water, and in soil on a window sill. But the ones that are doing the best are the ones in moist soil on top of a heating pad in my basement. I couldn't believe how much bigger they have gotten this morning since I last checked. I pulled a few sprouts last week and put them in soil on the heating pad and they are going gangbusters. These were started a month or more after my upstairs window ones and they have by far surpassed them by leaps and bounds.

THEY NEED HEAT AND LOTS OF IT!!!!! I am convinced.

P.S. the soil ones upstairs did WAY better than the cup of water ones. Last year I put a spud in the ground outside when it was warm that is where I got them from last year.

My conclusion is warmth and moist soil is the best way. At least for me.

Got a quick question for ya- just post some potatoes in a big 18gal container outside today. They're in the warmth right now (and presprouted themselves in my kitchen), so I finally planted them out.

But it;s due to rain- should I bring the container in out of the rain, or can I leave it out there?

gixxerific · Sun May 01, 2011 5:21 pm

I'm no expert but if it's cold outside I would bring them in. Than put them back out when it gets warm.

I have just noticed for myself they do nothing until it is warm out or have artificial warmth given to them.

Good luck

rainbowgardener · Sun May 01, 2011 6:29 pm

But it;s due to rain- should I bring the container in out of the rain, or can I leave it out there?

But if you are just worried about the rain, the container will be fine AS LONG AS it has plenty of drainage. If the water stays in the container your plants will be ruined.

Bobberman · Wed May 04, 2011 12:37 am

My last sweet potato on the refrig has two small red sprouts coming out. There was no water left in the dish but I guss it needs little at first! I added some water and moved it to the window and hope I get something! I sat that out over three months ago! I take it to the green house this weekend!