It is said that columbus brought the plant to europe from the new world on his expedition missouri botanical garden though the variety of sweet potato plant that produces the edible tubers can be planted for its trailing vines more recently different variations have been.
Sweet potato vine care.
Although the plant works well as a ground cover it is especially effective.
While tolerant of drought these plants prefer to be kept moist not soggy.
If you have space you can simply bring the plants indoors and grow them as houseplants until spring.
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.
It does best in full sun and warm weather temperatures should remain above 55ºf before planting outside.
The ornamental varieties are simply cultivars of the species plant.
However depending on your growing zone it can be planted at other times of year.
When to plant sweet potato vine.
The foliage lends a tropical feel to the garden and comes in a range of colors and varying forms.
Sweet potato vine does well in containers where it is a common spiller plant.
Ornamental sweet potato vines are in the same family as edible sweet potatoes and are in fact the same species.
Care of sweet potato plants.
Some of the older varieties may even grace your garden with a few sporadic lavender blooms that look like a slightly more tubular morning glory and for good.
Overwintering sweet potato tubers.
They are bred for the beauty of their leaves rather than edible tubers and the vines from these plants make them look more like a morning glory or clematis than a member of the potato family.
Though prolific growers you may fertilize monthly if desired using a general all purpose water soluble fertilizer.
The sweet potato plant or sweet potato vine has been cultivated for around 2 000 years for its sweet tasting tubers.
The one season in which it s generally not advisable to plant sweet potato vines is the winter.
In this article we will share some smart tips and information to help you grow these lively colorful plants successfully in any setting.
Otherwise there are several easy ways of overwintering a sweet potato vine.
Sweet potato vine ipomoea batatas named for its edible cousin is an ornamental warm season annual grown for its attractive leaves and vining habit.
A vigorous annual or a tender perennial it takes off in summer heat.
They can also be kept as house plants.
Ornamental sweet potato vine ipomoea batatas makes an excellent addition to any garden they do well in traditional flowerbeds in landscaping and are wonderful container plants.
Sweet potato vine winter care.
The care of sweet potato plants is similar to most other vining houseplants in the home spending summers outdoors.
Most of the time the sweet potato plant is planted in the spring.
As a tropical plant it prefers warmer temperatures.