Sweet Potato Vine Flower Box

A vigorous annual or a tender perennial it takes off in summer heat.

Sweet potato vine flower box.

The sweet potato is also very nutritious and relatively low in calories. While you may be able to coax your plant into producing sweet potato vine seeds they aren t guaranteed to be good so it s best to propagate in other ways. Sweet potato vines enjoy a bright sunny location outdoors with similar conditions in the home. Store dormant tubers in a cool dry place and replant in spring.

This is a very undemanding crop to grow. Many gardeners reference portio rico also referred to as bush or vineless as an ideal variety for smaller gardens or containers. This beautiful easy to grow herbaceous perennial has long tendrils that tumble over the edges and down the sides of containers. Ornamental sweet potato vines ipomoea batatas are classic spiller plants for container gardens.

Sweet potato vines can be overwintered indoors from tubers or cuttings. Place your sweet potato tuber in a glass of water with the top third exposed by securing it in place with toothpicks. They also thrive in heat. Stem cuttings can also be placed in water with rooting taking place within a few weeks.

Many ornamentals are also sterile and only really viable to produce from cuttings. Typically used as spillers in containers they also make fantastic groundcovers typically spreading 4 to 6 feet. Select a variety of sweet potato that is ideal for growing in containers. Ornamental sweet potato vines don t produce many flowers which means they often don t produce seeds.

However if a sweet potato flower does occur it resembles its cousin the morning glory convolvulus spp mostly in shades of light blue to purple. Regular potatoes belong to the nightshade family. Sweet potatoes are known for their sprawling habit but this cultivar has short and compact vines. With edible sweet potatoes as with most root crops and herbs it is important to remove any flowers.

Plants can also be brought indoors and treated as houseplants. The lush foliage of sweet potato vine comes in many colors making it a surefire win for any window box. Consider getting the lime green margarita the deep purple sweetheart or the. Gardeners turn to the sweet potato vine for its ability to power through just about anything while bringing interesting shapes sizes and colors to a pot or plot.

Take cuttings several weeks before your average first frost date and place in water.