How to Start Sweet Potato Tubers

Prepare soil in a warm, sunny location by working in compost or well-rotted manure and removing all debris. Sweet potatoes prefer light, sandy soil but will grow in any soil as long as it drains well.

Plant the sweet potato slips only after all chance of frost is gone. This varies from region to region, but they can be planted at the same time as other warm weather loving plants, such as eggplant or peppers. Place the slips in rows that are 36 inches apart and space them 12 inches from each other. Bury them in the ground with one or two leaves above ground level.

Water the slips after planting but do not allow them to get waterlogged. Water them throughout the growing season. The amount varies depending on the climate, but it is better for them to be a little dry as opposed to sopping wet, although you don't want them to dry out either. Don't water three to four weeks before harvest.

Weed the sweet potatoes frequently. They do not do well if weeds take over the garden, so keep it is as weed-free as possible.

Harvest the sweet potatoes just before the temperature starts to drop. Harvest them before the ground temperature gets below 60 degrees Fahrenheit. At this temperature the plant stops growing, and if it gets much colder the roots will be damaged. Allow them to stay in the ground as long as possible. Sweet potatoes double in size roughly every two weeks.