Overview

Embark on a rewarding gardening journey with these premium orange sweet potato slips. Each order provides 10 robust cuttings of the highly sought-after Copper Jewel variety, perfect for establishing a thriving sweet potato patch in your home garden. Sweet potatoes, scientifically known as Ipomoea batatas, are a versatile and nutritious crop, offering a rich source of vitamins and dietary fiber. These particular slips are from the Copper Jewel lineage, celebrated for their vibrant orange flesh, excellent flavor, and reliable growth. Whether you’re an experienced gardener or just starting out, these sweet potato cuttings provide a straightforward and effective way to cultivate your own supply of this beloved root vegetable. They are an excellent choice for anyone looking to grow sweet potatoes with a focus on organic practices and a delicious yield.

The Copper Jewel variety is known for its relatively quick maturity, often ready for harvest around 90 days after planting, making it a great option for regions with shorter growing seasons or for those eager to enjoy their harvest sooner. These slips are carefully prepared, ensuring they arrive in optimal condition for planting. They represent a sustainable and economical way to produce fresh, homegrown sweet potatoes, bypassing the need for seed potatoes and offering a head start on the growing season. Enjoy the satisfaction of harvesting your own organically grown sweet potatoes right from your backyard.

Key Benefits

These orange sweet potato slips offer numerous advantages for the home gardener, promising both ease of cultivation and a delicious yield. Investing in these Copper Jewel slips means you’re choosing a path to fresh, healthy produce with minimal fuss.

• High Yield Potential: The Copper Jewel variety is known for producing abundant harvests of medium to large sweet potatoes, ensuring a generous supply for your kitchen. You’ll be able to grow sweet potatoes efficiently and effectively.
• Excellent Flavor & Nutrition: Enjoy sweet, moist, orange-fleshed tubers that are packed with vitamins A and C, and essential minerals. The taste is superior to many store-bought varieties.
• Ease of Planting: These ready-to-plant sweet potato cuttings eliminate the need for sprouting whole sweet potatoes, saving you time and effort in the initial stages of cultivation.
• Organic Growing: Sourced from organically grown plants, these slips support a healthy, chemical-free garden and provide wholesome food for your family. This is an ideal option for those who prioritize organic sweet potato slips.
• Versatile Culinary Use: Perfect for baking, roasting, frying, or mashing, these sweet potatoes are a delicious addition to countless recipes, from savory dishes to sweet desserts.
• Adaptable Growth: While preferring full sun, these slips can adapt to various soil types, making them suitable for many garden environments. They are a resilient choice for home gardeners.
• Quick Maturation: With a typical harvest window of around 90 days, you can enjoy your fresh sweet potatoes relatively quickly after planting. This makes the Copper Jewel sweet potato a rewarding choice.

Plant Care & Growing Tips

Growing orange sweet potato slips is a rewarding experience, and with proper care, you can expect a bountiful harvest. Sweet potatoes thrive in warm conditions, so it’s crucial to plant them after all danger of frost has passed and soil temperatures have consistently reached at least 65°F (18°C). Choose a location that receives full sun, meaning at least 6-8 hours of direct sunlight per day. This maximizes tuber development and ensures vigorous growth. While they can tolerate partial shade, yields may be reduced. Prepare your soil by ensuring it is loose, well-draining, and rich in organic matter. A sandy loam is ideal, but amending heavy clay soils with compost can significantly improve drainage and aeration, which is vital for tuber expansion. Aim for a soil pH between 5.5 and 7.0.

When planting your sweet potato cuttings, space them about 12-18 inches apart in rows that are 3-4 feet apart. Bury the slips deep enough so that at least two nodes (where leaves were attached) are below the soil line, as roots and tubers will form from these nodes. Water thoroughly immediately after planting. During the growing season, sweet potatoes require consistent moisture, especially during dry spells. Aim for about 1 inch of water per week, either from rainfall or irrigation. Avoid waterlogging, as this can lead to rot. Fertilize sparingly; too much nitrogen can lead to excessive vine growth at the expense of tuber development. A balanced fertilizer or one slightly higher in phosphorus and potassium can be applied mid-season if soil tests indicate a deficiency. The Copper Jewel sweet potato is generally hardy, but keep an eye out for common pests like sweet potato weevils or diseases like fusarium wilt. Good crop rotation and proper sanitation can help prevent most issues. For those looking to grow sweet potatoes in a healthier way, organic pest control methods are recommended.

Sweet potatoes are typically harvested when the leaves begin to yellow, usually around 90-120 days after planting. Carefully dig up the tubers, being cautious not to bruise them. Cure the sweet potatoes in a warm, humid environment for 7-10 days to allow their skins to toughen and their sugars to develop, greatly improving their storage life and flavor. After curing, store them in a cool, dark, well-ventilated area, ideally between 55-60°F (13-16°C). These organic sweet potato slips are a fantastic start to a delicious and healthy harvest.

Size & Details

Each package contains 10 orange sweet potato slips of the Copper Jewel variety. These are live plant cuttings, typically measuring approximately 6-8 inches in length, ready for immediate planting upon arrival. The slips are carefully selected to ensure vigor and health, providing you with the best possible start for your sweet potato crop. They are shipped without soil in a manner that protects their delicate structure during transit, ensuring they arrive ready to thrive in your garden. The Copper Jewel variety is known for its medium growth rate, developing extensive vines that help shade the soil and suppress weeds. Expect tubers to mature in approximately 90-120 days under optimal growing conditions, offering a timely harvest for your efforts. These slips are perfect for gardeners aiming to grow sweet potatoes with a reliable and flavorful outcome.

Frequently Asked Questions

• Q: How big do these sweet potato plants get? A: Sweet potato vines can spread quite extensively, often covering an area of 3-4 feet per plant. The tubers themselves can vary in size, growing to be medium to large, typically 6-10 inches long depending on growing conditions and duration in the soil.
• Q: Are these orange sweet potato slips for indoor or outdoor planting? A: These slips are primarily intended for outdoor cultivation in a garden bed or large containers. They require warm temperatures and ample sunlight to produce tubers effectively.
• Q: How much sunlight do these slips need? A: Sweet potatoes are sun-loving plants and require at least 6-8 hours of direct full sun exposure daily for the best tuber development and highest yields.
• Q: Is this plant easy to care for? A: Yes, sweet potatoes are relatively easy to care for once established. They require consistent watering, especially during dry periods, and a good amount of sun. They are generally forgiving plants, making them suitable for gardeners of all experience levels who want to grow sweet potatoes.
• Q: What condition will the sweet potato cuttings arrive in? A: The slips will arrive as fresh, unrooted cuttings, carefully packaged to maintain their viability during shipping. We recommend planting them as soon as possible after arrival.
• Q: When is the best time to plant organic sweet potato slips? A: The best time to plant is after all danger of frost has passed in your area and the soil temperature has warmed consistently, typically in late spring or early summer.
• Q: What is the ideal soil type for the Copper Jewel sweet potato? A: Sweet potatoes prefer loose, well-draining, sandy loam soil. Amending heavy clay soils with organic compost will improve drainage and aeration, which is crucial for tuber formation.
• Q: Can I grow sweet potatoes in containers? A: Yes, you can grow sweet potatoes in large containers (at least 15-gallon capacity or grow bags) with good drainage. This is a great option for smaller spaces or if you want more control over soil conditions.
• Q: How long does it take for sweet potatoes to be ready for harvest? A: The Copper Jewel variety typically matures in about 90 to 120 days from planting the slips. You can often tell they are ready when the leaves begin to yellow.
• Q: Are these slips suitable for all USDA zones? A: Sweet potatoes are tender perennials typically grown as annuals. They thrive in warmer climates (USDA Zones 8-11), but can be grown in cooler zones if planted after the last frost and given a long enough warm growing season.