Purple sweet potatoes

[Seahorse]

I didn't know there was such a thing until Mr T*sco brought me some as a substitute for the ones I'd actually ordered. They're like ordinary 'white' potatoes on the outside but a lovely purple colour when cut open.

I know they're hard to grow in this country but I've saved one to plant. Might be an interesting experiment

[SarzWix]

What are you like?!
I've never tried them, but from what I've read, you should get a better crop undercover. Have you got your greenhouse up? More to the point, will there be any room n it?

[Seahorse]

Oi! I hope you're not implying that I'm not terribly sensible or controlled in my ambitions of what to grow

No greenhouse here yet (had to leave my old one behind when I moved) but I'm working on it

[BrideXIII]

sounds interesting, let me know how it goes, will be trying sweet potatos again myself this year hopefull, just need to sort some slips out, last lot failed.

[smallblueplanet]

...No greenhouse here yet (had to leave my old one behind when I moved) but I'm working on it

You should have moved somewhere warmer then you wouldn't need one!

Aren't sweet potatoes grown from 'slips'? Don't know what they are, but they grow like 'vines' above ground don't they? I can't believe there's a normalish veggie you haven't tried growing yet!

[BrideXIII]

You should have moved somewhere warmer then you wouldn't need one!

Aren't sweet potatoes grown from 'slips'? Don't know what they are, but they grow like 'vines' above ground don't they? I can't believe there's a normalish veggie you haven't tried growing yet!

slips are slices cut from the potato, like chitting, but you cut the shoot off and plant that rather than the whole spud.

[FionaH]

So why do slips rather than the whole thing?

[BrideXIII]

So why do slips rather than the whole thing?

no idea, must admit the best attempt i did was a whole potato chucked in a bucket

sweet potatoes do tend to rot fast though, unlike ordinary ones, so that may be why.

[smallblueplanet]

slips are slices cut from the potato, like chitting, but you cut the shoot off and plant that rather than the whole spud.

I've never seen any sweet potato slips; I think planting whole spuds is a fairly modern phenomena as my grandad used to cut his chitted spuds up and plant the sprouted eyes out seperately.

[jimbojetset]

i ate them in New Zealand, they look fantastic but sadly don't taste of much they're a bit starchy, if you are looking for flavour i would go for kumara, am sure kids would love the funny coloured ones though!