Q.If I Pull The Slip Will It Not Pull Up The Sweet Potato?
I have a raised bed about 2′ off the ground. I planted 2 sweet potatoes about 18″ apart and let them grow. Produced tons of green leaves *can you eat the leaves? but after 130 days I pulled them up and there were tubers but they were only pencil thick. I also had a ton of little clear/white bugs in the soil. I didn’t do the slips right now that I read your article. Help? Thank you for your time and efforts. Site rocks!

Certified GKH Gardening Expert
Please do not eat sweet potato leaves. They are very toxic.
Now, the sweet potatoes can be left in the soil after the whole plant gets pulled up. You may have to dig around to find them. Unfortunately, Your photos did not come through. I am unable to say what the insects are, unfortunately.
This collection of articles will give you more information on proper sweet potato growth:
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/edible/vegetables/sweet-potato