Grow beautiful trailing, spilling sweet potato vine in pots or as ground cover plants.
They can be three-lobed, heart-shaped, or deeply cut like a Japanese maple leaf.
Plant them after all danger of frost has passed and temperatures have warmed in late spring or summer.
Credit:Hector Manuel Sanchez; Styling: Lydia Pursell
The more they get, the better they do.
These plants will grow in light shade, but their colors will be duller.
Give them moist, fertile, well-drained soil.
Fertilizing every two weeks will result in the fastest growth.
Sweet potato vines will spread rampantly as aground coverover the course of the summer if not trimmed.
Light
Sweet potato vines thrive best when receiving at least six or eight hours of daily sunlight.
Soil
Well-draining soil is essential for sweet potato vines as the tubers are prone to root rot.
These plants will tolerate most soil pHs, but slightly acidic to neutral is preferred.
Choose an all-purpose potting soil with fertilizer or organic matter if growing in containers.
Amend garden soil with compost before planting.
Water
Sweet potato vines should receive at least an inch of water weekly through rainfall or watering.
Keep the soil moist but well-draining even though these plants are relatively drought-tolerant once established.
Proper watering helps sweet potato vines to produce vibrant foliage and prevents wilting.
During the summer or extended periods of heat, water more frequently.
During prolonged periods of heat, water more frequently so the plant does not dry out.
Wait until the last frost passes before planting sweet potato vine in the spring or early summer.
Sweet potato vines require nighttime temperatures above 40F to prevent damage.
Extended periods of lower temperatures, around 55F, can slow growth.
Fertilizer
Use a well-balanced and slow-release fertilizer when planting.
For faster growth, add a water-soluble,balanced fertilizersuch as 10-10-10 every two weeks.
Fertilizer will increase sweet potato vines' naturally vigorous nature.
Some varieties have more compact growth for a tidier look.
Remove dead, damaged, or diseased vines with sterilized pruning shears.
Use pruning as a way to curtail vines from spreading beyond the plant’s boundaries.
Alternatively, pruning is one way to encourage more vines to emerge.
Use garden shears to cut about one-quarter inch above a leaf node to stimulate new growth.
Propagating Sweet Potato Vines
Sweet potato vines quickly propagate using cuttings from existing plants.
Some varieties are patented, meaning you are not allowed to propagate the plants.
Garden center varieties either don’t bloom or are sterile.
A good quality potting mix with a little compost mixed in works well.
double-check the container hasdrainage holesso the soil doesn’t become overly soggy.
Sweet potato vine is often mixed with other flowers and foliage insummer containers.
(If you are including flowers that grow large and bushy, use fewer plants.)
Place sweet potato vine about an inch from an outer edge so it can easily grow over the side.
Store the tubers in peat in a cardboard box or paper bag.
Place the tubers in a slightly cool, dark place over the winter, like in your basement.
They survive best when stored in a room that is 55oF to 65F.
Holes can be the handiwork of the sneaky golden tortoise beetle.
To control this pest, spray your plants according to label directions with neem oil or spinosad.
Aphids and caterpillars can often be removed by a strong spray of water.
Fungi like verticillium wilt or fusarium can infect the soil surrounding sweet potato vines.
With fusarium wilt, leaves eventually wilt and brown or black streaks develop inside stems.
The best treatment is prevention: Provide good drainage, don’t overwater, and avoid overcrowding in pots.
Dispose of infected plants to prevent spread.
Don’t replant sweet potato vine in soil that could be contaminated.
Sweet potato vines are known and sought after for their colorful foliage rather than their flowers.
When they do bloom, it’s during spring and summer.
Purple or pink trumpet-shaped flowers resemble the blooms of morning glories.
Keep the foliage vibrant bywatering deeplyevery time, making the soil consistently moist but not waterlogged.
Improve drainage if possible and reduce watering.
Maintain good airflow between the vines and plenty of sun exposure.
Damage from weed killers can also yellow leaves and stunt growth.
Be careful when spraying anywhere near sweet potato vine.
Some moth and butterfly larvae may also dine on the leaves.
Weave vines through a trellis or tie them to support the upright growth.
These plants are the same species (I. batatas).
However, ornamental sweet potato vines were bred for compact growth and attractive leaves.
Most sweet potato vines have small and unappealing tubers, though they are technically edible.
