How to Grow Sweet Potato at Home (Shakarkandi) From Slips (Video)

2:59 min

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How to grow sweet potatoes at home sweet potato slip method balcony Learn a practical slip method that lets you grow sweet potatoes (shakarkandi) on a balcony, rooftop, or any small space. We walk you through choosing a healthy tuber, cutting it into slips, rooting them in water, and then transferring the seedlings into containers or grow bags. The process takes under four months from planting to harvest, giving you fresh, nutrient‑rich potatoes without waiting for a full season. Tips include the right soil mix, watering schedule, and how to protect the plants from pests common in urban settings. You’ll also discover how to maximize yield in limited space by using vertical planters or stacking containers. Follow the steps and enjoy home‑grown sweet potatoes for your next curry, soup, or snack. If this is persistent or affecting your daily life, see a doctor.

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Can you grow sweet potatoes on a balcony in just 90 days?

Can you grow sweet potatoes on a balcony in just 90 days?

Grow Sweet Potatoes at Home

I'll show you how to grow sweet potatoes from slips, and reveal the tiny habit that makes all the difference.

Create slips

First, find a firm, medium-sized sweet potato with no soft spots. Push three toothpicks into its middle, set it half-submerged in a jar of water, and keep it warm. Change the water weekly. In about two weeks you’ll see shoots, and when they hit fifteen centimeters you can twist them off for planting.

Planting windows

The planting window depends on your climate. In the Punjab and Delhi plains you can start slips any time from March through July, as long as nights stay warm. Drier regions like Multan or Sukkur prefer a shorter window, March to April, while coastal Karachi can grow almost year-round.

Container & soil

Sweet potatoes love space, so a wide grow bag works better than a tall pot. Aim for a 40-60 L bag for two or three slips, filled with a light mix of two parts soil, one part sand and one part compost. Give them at least six hours of full sun each day, and the vines will sprawl over the bag, spilling onto the roof if you have one.

Days to harvest

From planting to harvest, sweet potatoes need roughly ninety to one hundred twenty days. When you scratch the side of the bag and see several roots as thick as a thumb and a half, they’re ready. Harvest before the first frost to avoid damage.

Slip length to cut

Watch the shoots grow until they’re about fifteen centimeters, or six inches, long. That’s the sweet spot to twist them off at the base and plant them in your grow bag. Cutting them too early gives weak slips; waiting too long can make them root too deep.

The one habit to boost roots

The single habit that makes a big difference is to lift the trailing vines every two weeks. Gently pull them off the soil or roof, then lay them back on top of the bag. Where the nodes touch the mix they’ll sprout side roots, keeping the main plant compact and productive.

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Read the full guide

The full guide is on thecareonline.com. General information only, so check with your doctor for your own case.

Nothing on The Care Online is medical advice. Traditional practices are described as tradition, not as fact. Take a persistent or serious concern to a qualified professional. See how videos and posts are made on our methodology page.