http://www.durgan.org/URL/?ESWQP 3 June 2011 Sweet Potato Slips
Sweet potatoes are grown from SLIPS which are shoots grown from a mature sweet potato. The slip is broken off and planted in the garden at the appropriate time, either horizontally or vertically, but it appears the preference is horizontally about two inches deep.
The supermarket potato is half immersed in water, supported by tooth picks. The slender white roots form first under water, and after an indeterminably long time the shoots ( SLIPS) start to grow above the water. The slips can be broken off and partially submerged in water to form roots but apparently this is not necessary. The SLIPS when about six to twelve inches in length are planted in the garden. The soil must be very warm so planting must not be too early in northern climates.
This is my first attempt at growing in the home garden so it is a bit of an experiment.