Sprouting [sweet potatoes] bought at the grocery store and growing them in a bag of soil.

Growing sweet potatoes from those bought at the grocery store and using a soil bag for cultivation is a rewarding and straightforward gardening project. Here’s how you can successfully sprout and grow sweet potatoes in a bag of soil:

Step 1: Choose Your Sweet Potatoes
Select a few healthy, organic sweet potatoes from your local grocery store. Organic is key because non-organic sweet potatoes might be treated to prevent sprouting.

Step 2: Sprouting the Sweet Potatoes
Cut the Sweet Potatoes: You can start whole sweet potatoes or cut them into large sections. Each piece should have at least one or two ‘eyes’ or buds.

Start the Sprouts: Submerge half of the sweet potato in a jar of water using toothpicks to hold it at the rim. Place the jar in a sunny window. Change the water every few days to keep it fresh.

Wait for Sprouts: In a few weeks, you should see sprouts emerging from the eyes. These sprouts are called “slips.” Once the slips grow a few inches tall and have several leaves, they are ready to be planted.

Step 3: Preparing the Slips
Remove Slips: Gently twist off or cut the slips from the sweet potato once they are about 4-6 inches tall.

Root the Slips: Place the slips in a shallow bowl of water with the bottom half submerged. In a week or so, roots will begin to form.

Step 4: Prepare the Soil Bag
Choose a Soil Bag: Purchase a large bag of high-quality potting soil. Sweet potatoes prefer well-draining, slightly acidic soil.

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