Sweet Potato Vine Purple

What you see: Purple sprouts and stalks emerging from your sweet potato. What it is: A sprouting sweet potato. Eat or toss: Eat! A sweet potato with a small bunch of sprouts is still safe and edible to eat and will taste fine.

Do purple sweet potato vines come back every year?

In USDA Hardiness Zones 9-11, sweet potato vines can be considered perennials and they'll come back in the spring. In colder regions, the first frost will destroy the foliage above ground, but if you can protect the roots and keep them from freezing, they may come back in the spring!

How do you take care of purple sweet potato vines?

Purple sweet potatoes require little maintenance other than watering and pest control. Your potatoes won't likely need fertilizer, but if you need to treat your soil, use a low-nitrogen fertilizer. Too much nitrogen in the soil will cause potato vines to grow rather than the tubers themselves.

Is purple sweet potato vine edible?

Like the edible varieties the ornamental sweet potato vine will produce tuberous roots. The purple tuberous roots are edible but gardeners who have tried them, say they're not tasty. Some gardeners try saving the tuberous roots overwinter much like dahlias. They store them in a cool dark location.

Should I trim my sweet potato vines?

The long vines of sweet potatoes can overrun a garden. In early to mid-September, feel free to cut them back by 25%. This simply makes the plants easier to deal with when digging. Sweet potatoes with edible tubers developing below the ground.

What happens if you trim sweet potato vines?

Harvesting the greens will also help you grow larger potatoes! In fact, cutting back your sweet potato vine allows the plant to put more energy into its roots. Cut back the vines, and teach your plants to focus on growing the tubers instead.

Does sweet potato vine spread?

Sweet potato vines spread quite rapidly, so regular pruning is required. Pruning can be done at any time of year. It's most needed during the spring and summer months when the weather is warm and the plants are growing fast.

Can a sweet potato vine be a houseplant?

You can simply grow a sweet potato vine as a hanging houseplant in a smaller container where your plant with beautiful lime green foliage can spill out, and enjoy eating sweet potato leaves as well. Containers also need a trellis to help the vines move upward rather than outward as they spread all around your home.

Does sweet potato vine like sun or shade?

Does sweet potato vine like sun or shade? Plants are adaptable to varying light conditions from full sun to shade. Foliage color is richest when plants receive at least 6 hours of full sun per day. Leaves will be greener when planted in shade.

Are sweet potato vines toxic?

Sweet potato vine is known for its toxic ingredients, with similar characteristics to LSD. Ingestion of the vine may have a poisonous effect on dogs. The vines are highly toxic and can adversely affect the kidneys, brain, heart or liver.

Is purple potato vine poisonous?

The California Poison Control Organization rates the potato vine at a Level 4 toxicity. Ingesting the berries on this plant can cause serious health problems to humans and animals. The toxic chemicals in the berries can affect the liver, kidneys, heart or brain.

How do you take care of a sweet potato vine?

Sweet potato vines are drought-tolerant, though they will grow more vigorously with frequent watering. Water enough to keep the soil consistently moist but not overly wet. Its leaves will wilt when the plant is thirsty.

How long do sweet potato vine plants last?

You can store sweet potato vine tubers for 6-8 months, if done properly. However, don't try to store them much longer than that. It's best to plant them every year, otherwise they will eventually dry out and die.

Do sweet potato vines choke out other plants?

Sweet potato vines can overtake a space quickly. Don't hesitate to prune back the plant at any time so that is doesn't choke out its companions.

Can you overwater sweet potato vine?

Sweet potato vines like to grow in moist but not wet soil. Water them once a week if no natural rainfall occurs. Water more frequently during unusually hot weather or if the sweet potato vine is part of a container garden. Overwatering causes the root system to rot.

Can you cut and replant sweet potato vine?

Propagating sweet potato vines is a great way to take a single plant and multiply it into many. Rooting cuttings or dividing them can easily produce lots of new, beautiful foliage to fill your garden and summer planters.

Can you save sweet potato vine bulbs?

Yes, you can store the tubers for next spring's planting. In the fall simply remove all foliage from the tuber, wash off any soil and let the tuber dry thoroughly for about 24 hours. After it dries, store the tuber in dry peat moss and keep in a dark area that maintains a steady temperature between 50 and 60 degrees.

Can you reuse sweet potato vines?

Propagating Ornamental Sweet Potato Vines You can store them like bulbs and plant them in containers the next spring. After you've cleaned out your containers for the season, rinse off the tubers and let them dry completely. Then keep them in a cool place (like a basement) throughout the winter.

Where should I plant a sweet potato vine?

Choose a sunny site with rich, well-draining soil. They prefer hot, humid conditions similar to their native habitat and may fail to thrive in dry desert climates. In cooler regions, boost performance by planting in a warm location such as a south-facing wall or heat-absorbing patio.

What should not be planted near sweet potatoes?

3 Plants to Avoid Planting Near Sweet Potatoes

• Squash: Squashes like pumpkins compete with sweet potatoes for space and nutrients.
• Sunflowers: These flowers may increase the risk of potato blight.
• Tomatoes: Planting tomatoes near sweet potatoes can increase the chances of your plants contracting harmful diseases.