Starting sweet potatoes

[IDemo]

I have been attempting to get some sweet potato slips using the method described here. My shoots have grown 9 to 11" high, yet show no sign of developing the small red nodules with roots at the base between shoot and potato. It is getting a bit late in the season to let them continue for too much longer if they are going to need a 4 month growing season, so I'm wondering if I can just carefully cut out sections of potato containing a shoot and plant them directly, or even just plant the entire potato half - or would that result in too dense a thicket of potatoes in the ground?

[dmosh42]

1. It's good when you can get the slips on the edge of the potato, but most times I just go to...

the base and do a 'V' cut down into the potato. Then I take that slip and plant the whole plant, leaves and all, underground, with just the last leaf on top sticking above ground. I usually put mine in the ground around tomato planting time in early May here in NC. Good luck!

[IDemo]

2. I will probably do that

I'm not sure if the lack of the red buds at the base of the stems was due to being a different breed of potato, or what.

Thanks for the advice!

[mopinko]

3. as long as you have roots you are good.

get them going. it is late. they will be fine.
i bought slips after failing to get sprouts, and they mostly barely even had roots.
all doing great now.

[IDemo]

4. I planted them and they look happy to be in the soil

Hopefully they will have enough of a growing season before the October frost to produce some decent sized tubers.