How do you make conventional (non-organic) Okinawan sweet potatoes sprout?

Question

Organic

I've got no trouble sprouting organic sweet potatoes. Just place them in a cup of water and put them in front of a window sill. Nearly every variety of sweet potato is available as organic for a little extra price.

Conventional

However, I have trouble growing conventional sweet potatoes not labeled as organic. In particular, I have never been able to sprout the Okinawan purple sweet potato, because the only place that sells it in California is 99 Ranch and they don't carry an organic version. I have been told that the conventional sweet potatoes are laced with growth inhibitors to increase shelf life. I have washed the outside of this potato before and it still does not sprout. Is there anything else I can do?

I am aware Whole Foods sells an organic Purple Stokes sweet potato. I have indeed sprouted this one easily, but I don't want this variety. I want to the Okinawan variety which is much sweeter and smoother.

Answer 1

I'm in Hawaii and Okinawan sweet potato is quite common here. Due to this we don't always gobble them up right away and often tend to leave them in a basket for a longer time than most other areas. From what I've experienced, and I do know that most root veggies are treated with an inhibitor, but if you plan a little bit ahead (1 or 2 months), the inhibitor does wear off and the potatoes will start sprouting, even without ever being watered.

Same thing with ginger and turmeric. Onions and garlic start to sprout too without water. Just thought I'd tell you from my own personal experience with root veggies. If we don't eat them fast enough they all start growing and I put them in the ground randomly throughout the year. Plus we are almost always within 20° of 70° F.