Sprouting store-bought, treated sweet potato
 

A couple of times I tried to get purple sweet potatoes from the local Chinese supermarket to sprout with negative result, treated sweet potatoes just rot. I preordered super early some purple sweet potato slips from Sand Hill Preservation Center last year, but got a refund because of a crop failure. I preordered slips again for this year. Couldn't just sit and wait to get a refund again, searched internet for a possible solution and found this awesome blog. The lady says to soak the sweet potato in vitamin c solution for 15 minutes, rinse and sprout as usual. I tried it and my purple sweet potato is growing roots now. I tried to root another one from the same batch without soaking and of course it got slimy. Now I know this vitamin c soak works. Here's the link to the original blog:
[url]http://duckweedgardening.com/2013/02/24/sprouting-store-bought-sweet-potatoes-win/[/url]

Had to share

quote from the blog:
...." soak for fifteen minutes in an Ascorbic Acid “dip” of tap water and two crushed Vitamin C tablets. After fifteen minutes, I rinsed the potato lightly with fresh tap water and placed in a glass of tap water."

This looks like very helpful knowledge to have. In the past, I've tried to sprout some interesting colored sweet potatoes I got from the store and they always go slimy.

Thanks! I wish I could find white and purple sweets. Our stores only have orange ones. I did start and orange one in sand outdoors one year without any trouble.

[QUOTE=Darren Abbey;468382]This looks like very helpful knowledge to have. In the past, I've tried to sprout some interesting colored sweet potatoes I got from the store and they always go slimy.[/QUOTE]

Darren, do try it yourself and spread the word! Have a great season!

[QUOTE=Tracydr;468383]Thanks! I wish I could find white and purple sweets. Our stores only have orange ones. I did start and orange one in sand outdoors one year without any trouble.[/QUOTE]
Hi Tracy, if the sweet potatoes sprouted without trouble, they were not treated with potato sprout retardant. Good luck finding colorful varieties. I still hope to get my order of SP slips from San Hill Preservation Center. They list a lots of colorful varieties.

[url]http://www.sandhillpreservation.com/catalog/sweet_potatoes.html[/url]

[QUOTE=Tracydr;468383]Thanks! I wish I could find white and purple sweets. Our stores only have orange ones. I did start and orange one in sand outdoors one year without any trouble.[/QUOTE]

Tracy, Scott Farms carries O'Henry. Its a white sport of Beauregard.
[url]http://www.scottfarms.com/OurVarieties.html[/url]

They are in Lucama, NC. Dont know if thats anywhere near you.

We (SESE) carry white and purple ones -- [url]http://www.southernexposure.com/sweet-potatoes-c-229.html?zenid=c701uolshv5gq5ikcs6t11lv95[/url] -- though nowhere near as many as Sand Hill does!

The cool weather's been slowing down our slips sprouting, but we'll start shipping in a few weeks.

Thanks Stvrob! And Ken!

I'd like to choose a dry, fluffy white sweet for baked "fries". A purple sweet for interesting Asian and savory dishes. Also, a regular old orange sweet for eating baked with cinnamon and butter. Any recommendations on varieties?
I live in south-central Sandhills of NC with very sandy, slightly acidic soil in my garden.

Thank you for sharing this Karr Luda!!! I had tried unsuccessfully to sprout a delicious Asian sweet potato from my local farmer's market this past winter. I never knew such potatoes were treated, I thought only store-bought ones were. Now wonder none sprouted. The next time they are in season I will be sure to try this great idea. :yes:

[QUOTE=peebee;469969]Thank you for sharing this Karr Luda!!! I had tried unsuccessfully to sprout a delicious Asian sweet potato from my local farmer's market this past winter. I never knew such potatoes were treated, I thought only store-bought ones were. Now wonder none sprouted. The next time they are in season I will be sure to try this great idea. :yes:[/QUOTE]
Peebee, my purple tuber has grown lots of roots and i can see a single tiny slip just starting to come out:cute:. It has been a while, probably three weeks or more now. It is slow, but works. Happy I found this myself, and that it could be useful to others as well!

[URL="http://www.tomatoville.com//www.pinterest.com/pin/create/extension/"][/URL]

I sprouted Beuregard sweet potatoes last year that I had bought from a grocery store with great results. They had the boxes there, so I googled the company and found the variety and that they don't treat them, all from their website. I don't know about purple ones, as these were the standard type potatoes.

Karrr, is there a reason for the 15 minutes soak specifically? I'm just wondering if soaking for a bit longer might get the tubers to sprout quicker--have you tried it?
Thanks!

[QUOTE=peebee;470165]Karrr, is there a reason for the 15 minutes soak specifically? I'm just wondering if soaking for a bit longer might get the tubers to sprout quicker--have you tried it?
Thanks![/QUOTE]

Hi Peebee, I guess 15 min. enough for the vitamin c to neutralize the chemical. I think i kept mine in the solution longer then that. There were bubbles popping up from the tuber surface, and after about 12 minutes the bubbles stopped. Some varieties, according to sand hill preservation center, are taking very long time to sprout. The one I ordered they ship in June because of that. I have a cool house with temp 65 during the day and lower at night. SP like it warm, and I see growth activity increased since it became warmer. I am patient, slips will come.

Tracy,

Go here. [URL]http://www.ncsweetpotatoes.com/sweet-potato-industry/seed-producers/[/URL]
You should be able to find a local supplier from this list. I believe most of these are for commercial growers, but some look to have sizes for home gardeners.

NC is the #1 producer of sweet potatoes in the country. You should have no problems growing good ones here.

[QUOTE=Tracydr;468704]I'd like to choose a dry, fluffy white sweet for baked "fries". A purple sweet for interesting Asian and savory dishes. Also, a regular old orange sweet for eating baked with cinnamon and butter. Any recommendations on varieties?
I live in south-central Sandhills of NC with very sandy, slightly acidic soil in my garden.[/QUOTE]


OP. The 15 min soak tip is great! Thanks for sharing.

Lee