Farmgal,

How many chicks do you brood at one time? The matts don't look all that big though I wish I had had one for my old dog last year. I don't have time for seed starts as the other farm chores are swamping me, but way back I used to start a ping pong table full of seedlings. Don't have room for that here, so eventually I need to get a greenhouse going with a mass rocket heater. I like the idea of the matts but not too sure they will work for me as I need to conserve electrical use.

My biggest is around 2 foot by 3 foot, the most chicks I have done in one go was 50, but you are only using that infloor heating under their area, it does keep the air warmer in the broodier, I tend to keep the sleeping area at the back, with the front being more the food/water etc. I have used the system so far for chicks, ducklings, pullets and quail and I rarely have a loss.

I am only raising for our own use so I don't do hundreds at one time, mine are typically stagger out as well over the season's so I can do smaller batches that way as well.

Typically I do a dozen to two dozen of each breed.

As for the matts, I only use them to start the seeds that need the heat, and then they get moved over into the growing bedroom, I know that I save money on the chicks by using the matts vs the lights, I have tracked it, but I have never done the same for the bought plant matts as I have never bought them.

The dog bed matts get used in for my old dog, weaker lambs that need a little extra warm up, the chicksn and the plants, they earn their keep in a big way as they are so flexable, they do cold if nothing is sitting on them, like a holding, its only when the weight goes on that area turns on, which certianly saves in costs.

For me I'm trying to get Sweet Potatoes to sprout. Not having a lot of luck so far, only about 8 small sprouts on one spud. The 2nd one rotted on the bottom so I cut that off to try and save it and decided to start a third. I'm told they don't do well if they've been chilled so might be my problem. Oh well, had to try it just in case.

How many plants did you want, sounds like you have at least 8 slips , that's pretty good, I normally only get four per sweet potato, but I typically only let that many grow as well.. Don't know where you are located but are you hoping to tranplant twice, once into a pot and then into the ground? or are you putting each one into a massive pot and put along side a wall to get the needed heat to get them to produce?

I have had much better luck with things if I buy organic, as they are not to be sprayed with the chemicals that will stop them from sprouting, just something to consider if you are looking to start more.

Are your sweet potatoes in water to sprout slips? I find store bought ones don't sprout that well but I just do extra.

I am aiming for somewhere in the neighbourhood of 20-25 plants this year and likely more next if I am successful. Next years will sprout for sure as I'll keep some I grew. I'll root the sprouts once they are big enough and pray for the other plants to give me a few more as well. I have a couple of fair sized gardens with lots of extra space so thought I'd give them a shot this year.
I'm trying this way as I am too frigging cheap to buy a bunch from the seed company and will only get a dew if I absolutely need to this year.
I'm up in Temiskaming and have a fairly short frost free growing time so I expect it will be a crap shoot whether I am successful or not. I will do the black plastic mulch as well to help get soit temp up as well. This planting year is going to be tight anyway as work will keep me away until first of June so figured a late starting crop might be the thing.
I

Siberios, FYI: a great book about growing Sweet potatoes in Canada Sweet Potatoes for the Home Garden, With Special Techniques for Northern Growers By Allan, Ken . Our local library has a copy.
And a good article about growing sweet potatoes in Ontario is - http://www.cammather.com/food/hoping-for-prettier-sweet-potatoes
Hope this helps.

Thanks PrepHer.
I'll look for the book. Pretty much all I know about them is what I've been able to find on the net and fortunately it's been enough to get me going on them. This is more or less a try out year for them to see how they will do. Hoping to get some to eat and some to hold over for planting the following year.

Looking at the web site, I am amazed that the transplants don't look like very much. I guess because of their origin, they have lots of time to grow. On the other hand, my sprouting potatoes are looking not too bad. I actually thought my sprouts were looking puny. I guess they'll all get a shot at growing.

Anyone have advice on how to harden them off? pretty much like other plants?
Thanks!!

My Sweet Potato sprouts. All a learning curve. Lost a few when I removed them from "momma" too soon but think I have it figured out now

well, they are looking very well indeed, good job, love it when folks share photos..

Thanks! Bad news is I still have about 2 months before I can get them in the ground! 😥

Can you do it sooner if you make a hoop tunnel for them to start under? and to warm the earth before putting them out?

I'm sort of between a rock and a hard place on that. I have my gardens ready (under the snow) and just need to wait until snow is gone and things dry up. But the fly in the ointment is my new job will have me heading to the Arctic just as normal planting time arrives. But that is a thought. I have enough pipe that I could make some hoops.

Thanks Farmgal! That's what I like about this site. Sometimes a person gets wrapped up in something and fails to see solutions and then presto! A member comes along, thinking outside the box and problem is solved!

Welcome, if you can drive the metal rods in the earth, then you can put your hoops over them with the cover and it will melt out the snow right fast, and then just stick a in ground temp taker and I bet you will be shocked at how fast that soil warms up for you, do keep us posted how it worked out for you..

Ps, in a round about way for a answer, whatcha doing up north? (lived in NWT and NU for a number of years)