How to grow sweet potatoes in a pot?

Hey urban gardener here! I grow sweet potatoes in fabric pots on my apartment balcony - they work great! Here's my method:

I use 15-gallon fabric pots with a mix of potting soil, compost, and a little sand for drainage. I make my own slips from store-bought organic sweet potatoes - suspend them in water with toothpicks until they sprout, then twist off sprouts when 6 inches tall.

The key is warmth - sweet potatoes are tropical plants. I wait until nighttime temperatures are consistently above 60°F. They're drought tolerant once established, but consistent watering gives better yields.

Harvesting is the fun part - it's like digging for treasure! Wait until just before first frost, or when vines start yellowing. The leaves are edible too - taste like spinach when cooked. Nothing beats homegrown roasted sweet potatoes!

Growing sweet potatoes in containers is absolutely possible and quite rewarding! I've been doing this on my patio for 5 years:

Choose the right container - at least 12-15 inches deep and wide. Sweet potatoes need space for tubers to develop. Use well-draining potting mix with extra compost for nutrients. Don't use soil from your garden which might contain diseases.

You start with "slips" (small plants) rather than seeds. Plant slips 4-6 inches deep, spacing 12 inches apart if multiple in one container. They love heat and sun - at least 6-8 hours daily. Water consistently but don't keep soil soggy.

Harvest in 3-4 months when leaves start yellowing. Cure harvested potatoes in warm, humid place for 10-14 days before storage - this converts starch to sugar and heals skins.

The Spruce container growing guide has excellent variety recommendations!