How to Grow Sweet Potatoes from Tubers for High Yields and Abundant Harvests

Sweet potatoes are one of the easiest and most rewarding crops to grow at home. Known for their delicious taste and rich nutritional value, sweet potatoes thrive in warm climates and don’t require much space to yield a large crop. With the right method, you can grow sweet potatoes from tubers and achieve an abundant harvest—even in containers or raised beds.

In this guide, we’ll explore effective tips and techniques for growing sweet potatoes from tubers to produce many healthy bulbs with a high yield. Whether you have a backyard or a small patio, you can enjoy homegrown sweet potatoes with minimal investment.

Why Grow Sweet Potatoes at Home?
Sweet potatoes are highly nutritious, offering a good source of vitamins A, C, fiber, and antioxidants. They store well, are versatile in the kitchen, and can be grown organically for a healthier alternative to store-bought varieties.

Plus, they’re relatively low-maintenance and can be grown in containers, sacks, or directly in the ground, making them accessible for most gardeners.

Starting from Tubers: Preparing Slips
Unlike regular potatoes, sweet potatoes are not grown from seed or from planting whole tubers. Instead, they are propagated through “slips,” which are sprouts that grow from mature sweet potatoes.

Here’s how to grow slips from a sweet potato tuber:
Choose a healthy sweet potato tuber. Organic, untreated tubers work best since some store-bought varieties may be chemically treated to prevent sprouting.

Cut the tuber in half or leave it whole, and place it in a container of water with half of the tuber submerged. Use toothpicks to suspend it in the water if needed.

Place the container in a warm, sunny spot, such as a windowsill.
Within 1–2 weeks, green sprouts (slips) will begin to grow from the tuber.
Once slips are 6–8 inches long, gently twist them off and place them in a glass of water to develop roots.
After 4–7 days, the slips will produce strong roots and be ready to transplant.
You’ll get multiple slips from one tuber, making this an efficient and economical way to start your crop.

Choosing the Right Growing Space
Sweet potatoes need plenty of space for their roots to develop, so the growing medium should be loose and deep. You can grow them in:

Raised beds
Large containers or grow bags (at least 12 inches deep)
Directly in the ground, if you have garden space
Ensure the location gets at least 6–8 hours of sunlight per day.

Soil Preparation
Sweet potatoes thrive in well-draining, loose, sandy or loamy soil. The key is to avoid heavy, compacted soil, which can stunt tuber growth.

To prepare the soil:
Mix garden soil with compost, sand, and coconut coir for improved drainage.
Avoid high-nitrogen fertilizers, as they promote leaf growth over tuber development.
Maintain a slightly acidic to neutral pH level (around 5.5–6.5).

Planting the Slips
Once your slips have rooted, they’re ready for planting.
Space each slip about 12–18 inches apart, with rows at least 2–3 feet apart.
Bury the slips so that at least half of the stem is underground and the leaves are above the surface.
Water well after planting.
Sweet potato vines will spread across the surface, so allow space for them to run or consider vertical training if space is limited.