Arlene Wright-Correll

How to Grow Ornamental Sweet Potato Vines©



Posted: Sunday, September 21, 2008

by
http://www.learn-america.com

Ornamental Sweet Potato Vines are often overlooked by many gardeners, especially those in the north. It seems that these vines are a "southern" thing! I really enjoy their bright, light colored green leaves and violet/lavender blooms of the Margarita. These are great trailing vines for window boxes, hanging planters or perching planters. These vines are in the same family as the morning glory.

These vines fall into the category of being tropical and tender perennials, perennials, vines and climbers. Some only grow from 18 inches to 24 inches where others grow up to 36 inches. Some will only grow about 36 to 48 inches where others will grow four to six feet.

When you plant your Sweet Potato vines plant them from nine to 18 inches apart depending on the type you plant.

There are many varieties of sweet potato vines and a nice hybrid is the Ipomoea Blackie which needs to be planted in full sun to light shade. This plant requires well drained fertile soil. It is great for hanging baskets and containers as it is a really vigorous grower and will do well in a container with a trellis and you can move it indoors to a window that gets a lot of sun in the winter. This plant is an annual, but will survive if you move it inside for the winter. It has a spread of about 24 inches and grows to about six feet with wonderful purplish black leaves. Though it really doesn't have blooms that amount to anything its leaves are beauty in themselves.

Though you can buy the tubers for these at your favorite garden center each spring you can save some money each year by being a frugal gardener if you store the tuber each fall.

Rooting is easy by simply removing the lower leafs of a vine just below a leaf node at a 45 degree angle with a clean knife or scissors. The leaf node is where the leaf has grown out of the vine or stem or will grow out of the vine or stem of the sweet potato vine. Put the leaf in water in a warm spot making sure you change the water daily especially if you put your water container in direct light.

You can also dig up your tubers in the fall and store them. I do not recommend washing them off. I would let them sit and dry, then brush off the tubers and store in a box with some straw away from anywhere that mice or other rodents might decide to use them as a winter feast. They should be all set to go in the spring.

"Tread the Earth Lightly" and in the meantime May your day be filled with Peace, Light and Love,

Author's note: This article was originally written for GreenThumbArticles.com

About the Author & Artist. Arlene Wright-Correll (1935- ___), popular American award winning Artist, published author, columnist, & is the resident art instructor for Avalon Stained Glass School, at the age of 68, decided to pick up her paint brushes again after 54 years and paint.  She is a cancer and stroke survivor who is able to strive forward each and everyday to welcome the beauty of this small planet.  She also is a China & Porcelain painter, Sandblasting & Etching, Stained Glass & fused glass Artisan. She is one of the six KY Artists who worked 6 months to create the dolls for Journey Jots in 2006 and a Smithsonian Institute art exhibit in 2008. Her published books can be found here . She is also a featured writer for GreenThumbArticles.com and teaches Art Vacation Holidays at Avalon Stained Glass School and Creativity Center.

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Top-level comments on this article: (1 total)
» left by dewayne
from kansas city 3 years 70 days ago.
i planted sweet potato vines out side in my front yard on the hill and they grew wonderfully. it was my first time planting them. i left them out side and now they have wilted from the frost. will they come back in the spring? i need help getting my vines back. what do i do? 
» left by Arlene Wright-Correll from Munfordville, KY 3 years 70 days ago.
Thanks for reading my article.  The answer to your question is in the article.
Though you can buy the tubers for these at your favorite garden center each spring you can save some money each year by being a frugal gardener if you store the tuber each fall.
 
Unless you take them in you run a very definate risk of them not being any good next spring.
 
Arlene Wright-Correll
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