Growing Sweet Potato Vine (Ipomoea batatas) - Garden Design (2024)

FAQs

Growing Sweet Potato Vine (Ipomoea batatas) - Garden Design? ›

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.

You can grow sweet potatoes vertically to ease harvesting the leaves or for space-saving. It can be done in the garden or in large containers. Choose a sturdy trellis and weave the vines through the trellis as they grow. (Remember that sweet potatoes are naturally crawlers, but not climbers.)

With charming heart-shaped lime-green leaves and a smaller growth habit, this variety is a good choice for pots, hanging baskets or window boxes. Combine with flowering annuals such as petunias or lobelia in contrasting hues of hot pink, blue or purple for sizzling summer color.

Where to Plant Sweet Potato Vines. Sweet potato vines do best in a humid climate that's not excessively hot, similar to their native tropical weather. No matter where you are, whether it's cooler or warmer, make sure these plants get at least six hours of sun each day. Plant them in rich, well-drained soil.

Sweet potatoes are so willing to grow that plants accidentally dropped on the ground will take off and grow if the soil they land on is warm and moist. Plant sweet potatoes about 12 to 18 inches apart, and allow 3 feet between rows so the vines will have plenty of room to run.

Creeper is a type of a plant that grows along the ground. Their stems are weak. Hence, they cannot stand upright. Sweet potato, hydrocotyle and strawberry are the examples of creepers.

To keep your Sweet Potato Vine compact and bushy, focus on lateral growth. Use clean, sharp scissors or pruners to make cuts about 1/4 inch above leaf nodes. This strategic snipping encourages the plant to branch out rather than just grow long and leggy.

Squash will compete with Sweet potatoes for space: these vigorous growers like to spread out. Prevent problems by not planting any members of the Solanaceae family (potato, tomato, all peppers, ground cherries (tomatillo), and eggplant) in the same spot next year.

Sweet potato vines thrive best when receiving at least six or eight hours of daily sunlight. Some will grow in partial shade, but the foliage will be richer, more vibrant, and more vigorous when planted in full sun.

Vines are a great addition to provide some hiding spots for these sweet little birds. A favorite is the red sweet potato vine.

How to make sweet potato vine bushy? ›

If the sweet potato vine gets too long, cut it back a few inches to force the vine to get bushier. The tip of the vine that was pinched off can be rooted in water or moist soil. Your sweet potato vines can be planted outside in late May to produce sweet potatoes that can be dug and eaten in the fall.

Sweet Potato Vine ingestion can lead to a spectrum of health effects in dogs. While the plant's leaves and stems are generally considered non-toxic, the seeds contain a hallucinogenic compound that can be harmful. Dogs munching on these seeds may experience hallucinations, vomiting, and difficulty swallowing.

Sweet potato vine will also spill attractively out of window boxes and hanging planters, as well as climb trellises and walls.

The best time to plant sweet potato plants is after the ground is thawed and after the last spring frost date has passed. If the ground doesn't freeze in your location, then the best time to plant is usually a month after your last spring frost date.

When you're ready to plant in the prepared garden bed, dig holes 18 inches apart and rows 3 feet apart. Leave room for the sweet potato vines to sprawl throughout your garden. Before planting each slip, pour water into each hole. Place the slip in the hole and pull the soil around it.

For sweet potato vine, choose a taller pot or basket (hanging or otherwise) of any material so the vines have ample room to spill and trail over the edge of the container.

Sweet potatoes have a vigorous growth habit and long sprawling stems. In the greenhouse, a plant support will keep sprawling stems tidy. Outdoors you can simply spread the stems out around the plant.

Sweet potato vines thrive best when receiving at least six or eight hours of daily sunlight. Some will grow in partial shade, but the foliage will be richer, more vibrant, and more vigorous when planted in full sun.

In fact, sweet potato vines make great ground covers in the garden. Ground covers, which consists of low-growing plants, can serve as an alternative lawn, gab-fillers between pavers and weed suppressants. Plus, many only require periodic weeding and trimming.