growing sweet potatoes and the like

[KONASDAD]

I have always wanted to grow sweat p., yams and potatoes, but never had the room. Now i do. I was rumaging around the frig and found a swet potatoe w/ leaf growth. Can i grow this into a sweet potatoe in my yard? Know nothing about this family of veggies and any info is appreciated so i can plan for the future garden.

[Scadsobees]

Sure, why not?
Yams and potatoes are different plants.  But you'll never know if you don't try.  And you only risk one yam.

http://www.urbanext.uiuc.edu/veggies/sweetpotato1.html

Doesn't sound like the growing season will quite be long enough, but what is the loss of one yam?  If nothing else it will be interesting....

[abejaruco]

Here in Spain are common. The red ones are called "californias" and the white "batatas".
I put a sweet potato in a glass of water. When you see good sprouts, cut and plant.

But I am reading the system written in the link sent by scadsobees and could be better.

[Cindi]

Konasdad.  I have never grown a sweet potato.  But I would imagine it would be similar to potatoes.  Yeah!!!  Give it a whirl, why not, you got nothing to lose.  Experimentation in the garden is the most wonderful thing on earth.

I have been swamped with stuff since our return from Toronto, but I am excited cause soon I am going to be putting lots of pics on our forum about stuff blooming around my place.  Summer is coming on in a big and beautiful way here.  Can't believe it is the middle of July already, where has the time gone?

Have a wonderful day all, great life, love this life we're livin'.  Cindi

[reinbeau]

Actually they're nothing like growing regular potatoes, those are fairly easy.  I found sweet potatoes to be a real pain to grow, mainly due to the clay soil out in the backyard.  I'll try them again someday when I get the soil into better shape.  Real potatoes are very easy to dig - sweet potatoes twist and turn, and you really shouldn't bruise or break them, they won't keep, so digging them can be a challenge.  I do love to eat them, though!

[Cindi]

Ooooh, Ann, that was quite a good sum of information, whooda thunk?  Have a wonderful day, Cindi