My first time growing sweet potaoes, I used a certain amount of explivitives when I went out to my garden. I have about 15 sweet potatoes planted and I saw where something maybe a critter had been digging around this one plant, the leaves were turning yellow so I decided to see the progress of my potatoes when to my dismay this is what I found. My heart sunk. Was all my effort done in vain?

Can someone tell me what tha world is happening?

Looks like oddly shaped potatoes.

Were they potted plants before going into the ground?

How do the others look? Maybe the critters were digging for larva (like June bug?) and this one plant was deformed and so targeted by the insects?

Bought them from lowes. I have 5 more that I haven't harvested. I thought that maybe this one plant was planted in a different part of my garden and maybe the soil wasn't loose enough. I'll let y'all know about the others. I harvested this one plant because the leaves were turning yellow, my first time ever planting sweet taters, hoping it's just a mishap for this guy.

I have seen this before on other sites. The answer was that the plants were root-bound when purchased.
In the future you might try starting with slips rather than plants; you should have better results.

That's what it looks like to me too, and why I'd asked if they were in a pot before being put into the ground.

Yep, great minds think alike.

greene said:I have seen this before on other sites. The answer was that the plants were root-bound when purchased.
In the future you might try starting with slips rather than plants; you should have better results.

When I think about it, the plant roots were bound. I even told myself imma break up the roots in the other plants. That may explain why why this one plants leaves turned yellow faster than the other 5 I have still in the garden.

Next time, instead of purchasing plants why not make your own slips for planting? I tried to find a good article but this little video looks easier than the boring ariticles. Start by buying one (or more) organic sweet potatoes and give it a try.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?...

greene said:Next time, instead of purchasing plants why not make your own slips for planting? I tried to find a good article but this little video looks easier than the boring ariticles. Start by buying one (or more) organic sweet potatoes and give it a try.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?...

That's a great video, and with a new harvest of sweet potaoes coming, that's exactly what I'll do. Thank you so much.

Yep, store bought potatoes (white/sweet/whatever) might be treated with an anti-sprouting chemical so home-grown or organic is the way to grow.

It's extremely easy to start your own "slips." I have a sweet potato growing on my kitchen counter right now, just because I had a sweet potato that was lying around for a little too long... I keep reading about the potatoes and sweet potatoes being treated with the anti-sprouting chemical, but I've sure never experienced that; my white potatoes sprout like crazy, and I've never had a problem getting a sweet potato to sprout, either.

Weedwhacker said:It's extremely easy to start your own "slips." I have a sweet potato growing on my kitchen counter right now, just because I had a sweet potato that was lying around for a little too long... I keep reading about the potatoes and sweet potatoes being treated with the anti-sprouting chemical, but I've sure never experienced that; my white potatoes sprout like crazy, and I've never had a problem getting a sweet potato to sprout, either.

I did take a sweet potato Moma had that had started spouting in her potato box put it her window in a mason jar .ill go take pics tomorrow. Moma thinks I'm crazy but she talks about that sweet potato all the time.lol. I forgot I put it in a mason jar until I saw this post and called Moma to ask her about it. My brain is slow sometimes..must be the blonde in me. Lol

In 8b, SP's should be hardy. You could put that back in the ground, broken up a bit if desired, to get started early on some super-size spuds for next year. Whenever I dig up ones that I consider too small, I just put them back in the ground. Cuttings should take root in 2-3 days. When frost zaps the foliage, add compost to the area to enrich/improve the soil. The speed of development is a direct result of moisture & fertility, and texture of soil. If the ground is hard, it will be more difficult for a potato to expand. Continuing to add organic matter to the soil surface periodically will, over time, turn sandy or clay dirt to rich, dark, fluffy, fertile soil.