Purple Sweet Potato Slips

Grow your own delicious, nutrient-rich sweet potatoes with our premium sweet potato slips! Sweet potato slips are young rooted plants grown from sweet potato tubers and are the preferred method for growing sweet potatoes. Unlike regular potatoes, sweet potatoes are not grown from seed potatoes but from these vigorous starter plants.

Our sweet potato slips are shipped live and ready to plant. Upon arrival, slips may appear wilted from shipping, which is completely normal. With water and proper planting, they quickly recover and begin growing.

Sweet Potato Slip Details

• When sweet potatoes arrive, wilting, browning, and general poor appearance are normal. Sweet potato slips are non-refundable.
• Live rooted plants ready for transplanting. We ship 5 live in a bundle.
• Produces sweet potato tubers in approximately 90–120 days (variety dependent)
• Thrives in full sun and warm temperatures
• Ideal for raised beds, garden rows, large containers, and grow bags
• Excellent for home gardeners and market growers
• Best planted after soil temperatures reach at least 65°F

Planting by Zone

Growing Sweet Potatoes in Zones 9 & 10 (Southern California)

Sweet potatoes thrive in Zones 9 and 10 and can often be planted over an extended season.

Planting Schedule

• Plant slips from April through July.
• Earlier plantings generally produce larger harvests.
• Soil temperatures should consistently be above 65°F.
• Full sun is essential.

Growing Conditions

• Choose a location with at least 8 hours of sunlight daily.
• Plant in loose, well-draining soil.
• Raised beds are ideal for producing large, uniform tubers.
• Avoid excessive nitrogen fertilizer, which promotes vine growth instead of tuber production.

Harvest Timing

• Most varieties are ready in late summer through fall.
• Harvest before extended periods of cool, wet weather.

Growing Sweet Potatoes in Zones 2–8

Gardeners in cooler climates can successfully grow sweet potatoes with proper timing.

Planting Schedule

• Plant slips 2–4 weeks after your last spring frost.
• Wait until soil temperatures reach at least 65°F.
• Use black plastic, landscape fabric, or low tunnels to warm soil in cooler regions.

Growing Conditions

• Select the warmest, sunniest location available.
• Raised beds help increase soil temperatures.
• Mulching with black plastic can improve yields in short-season climates.
• Consistent watering is important during establishment.

Harvest Timing

• Harvest before the first fall frost.
• Most varieties mature in 90–120 days.

How to Plant Sweet Potato Slips

Before Planting

1. Unpack slips immediately upon arrival.
2. Place roots in a container of water right away. Rehydration is essential
3. Keep slips in bright indirect light until planting. Roots will continue to develop.

Preparing the Bed

• Loosen soil 10–12 inches deep.
• Incorporate compost if needed.
• Ensure soil drains well.
• Avoid fresh manure or high-nitrogen fertilizers.

Planting

1. Space slips 12–18 inches apart.
2. Space rows 3–4 feet apart.
3. Bury the lower portion of the stem, leaving the top leaves above the soil.
4. Firm soil gently around the roots.
5. Water thoroughly after planting.

Container Growing

• Use a container at least 15–20 gallons.
• Fill with quality potting mix.
• Allow vines room to spread.

How to Grow Sweet Potato Slips

Watering

• Water deeply after planting.
• Keep soil consistently moist during the first 2–3 weeks.
• Once established, water deeply but less frequently.
• Reduce watering slightly as harvest approaches.

Fertilizing

• Apply compost before planting.
• Use a balanced organic fertilizer sparingly.
• Avoid excessive nitrogen.

Weed Management

• Keep young plants weed-free.
• Mulch around plants to suppress weeds and conserve moisture.

Vine Growth

• Sweet potato vines grow vigorously and can spread several feet.
• Allow vines room to ramble.
• Avoid repeatedly lifting vines, as they may form additional roots along the stem.

Pest Monitoring

• Watch for gophers, rodents, and occasional insect damage.
• Healthy plants generally experience few serious problems.

How to Harvest Sweet Potatoes

When to Harvest

• Harvest when leaves begin yellowing or after the variety reaches maturity.
• Harvest before frost in cooler climates.
• In Southern California, harvest before prolonged winter rains.

Harvesting Steps

1. Cut back vines if needed.
2. Carefully loosen soil with a digging fork.
3. Dig several inches away from the plant to avoid damaging tubers.
4. Lift sweet potatoes gently from the soil.

Curing for Best Flavor

Freshly harvested sweet potatoes improve dramatically with curing.

1. Brush off excess soil.
2. Do not wash immediately.
3. Cure in a warm, humid location (80–85°F) for 7–14 days.
4. Store cured sweet potatoes in a cool, dry location.
5. Properly cured sweet potatoes can store for several months.

Southern California Pro Tips

Start Early

In Zones 9 and 10, planting in April or May often results in the largest harvests before peak summer heat.

Grow in Raised Beds

Raised beds warm quickly in spring and produce straighter, cleaner tubers.

Don’t Over-Fertilize

Many Southern California soils are already fertile. Excess fertilizer often creates huge vines and small harvests.

Watch Your Irrigation

Deep, infrequent watering encourages larger sweet potatoes. Constant shallow watering can reduce yields.

Protect From Gophers

If gophers are common in your area, plant in raised beds lined with gopher wire.

Let Them Cure Naturally

Warm fall temperatures in Southern California make curing easy. A garage, shed, or covered patio often provides ideal curing conditions.

Use Sweet Potatoes as a Groundcover

Sweet potato vines create a beautiful living mulch that shades soil, reduces weeds, and helps retain moisture during hot summers.

Harvest Before Winter Rains

Extended wet conditions can cause cracking, rot, or reduced storage life. Plan to harvest before significant winter storms arrive.

Happy Growing! Sweet potatoes are one of the easiest and most rewarding crops for Southern California gardeners, producing abundant harvests from just a handful of slips.