SWEET POTATO VINE

I received some seeds in a trade labelled 'Sweet Potato Vne'...they look like teeny tiny potatoes.They have just started to germinate.Can anyone tell me what sort of plant to expect, as I have no idea at all.
Thanks in advance, Marigold.

I just read about the Sweet Potato Vine in one of my gardening mags yesterday. I'd never heard of it either, but it is evidently popular. They used it in hanging baskets as well as a boarder, as it will spread. It can be used in the shade, and has a bright green color. In hanging, it grew to be about 4 feet long. The mag didn't say how aggressive it would be in the ground, but did say that it was great in a rock garden, or any other boarder spot. The leaves were fairly large, about the size of a large fist.

I hope this helps!
Trish

Marigold, they are quite popular here in S.Louisiana. We use them in lots of landscapes. They can have different colors of foliage too. They are agressive down here (warm, humid climate) but are very pretty. As Trish stated they are best used as a border plant but with caution. If smaller flowers are planted the sweet potato vine will swallow them up. Happy gardening! LIsa

Is it just a foliage plant or does it have a flower?
Marigold.

No flower, just valued for its pretty foliage. Lisa

I am looking for Solanum crispum vine (potato) Is this a relation?

Louisa, I don't think so - if Trish and JustMeLisa are referring to the same Sweet Potato Vine that has gotten some attention lately, I'm pretty sure it's Ipomoea batatas.

Yes go vols, I think that is it! Lisa

OK - I should have known really because the vine I want has flowers. Thanks!

Marigold
I think the plant is Dioscorea batatas or Chinese Yam or Cinnamon Vine. It has heart-shaped leaves and small white cinnamon scented flowers. It is a perennial grown as an annual in many parts of the country. The above-ground tubers (seeds) form in the leaf axis. It needs full sun and will grow 7-9'. The plant will winterkill as deep as the frost line. My grandmother had these growing on a trellis. It either reseeded or came back because I don't remember her planting it.
Hope this helps.

This message was edited Friday, Mar 23rd 12:49 AM

marigold, I grow sweet potato vines ( Ipomoea) here every year. The dark purple ones seem to do best, although I like the tri-colored vines better. The other color I see is a bright chartreuse color, making great contrast to the dark purples.

These sound fun, does anyone have any seeds?

Hey Pebble,
I got some in a trade from DebinWV... I have some that I won't be able to use......
LMK,
singleyellowrose36

i recieved a like lil potato should i open it for the seeds or plant the whole lil tater thingy? its the size of a goflball....???

*singleyellowrose36 if you dont get rid of the seeds-id take some.

thanks
dori

hey notmartha, Don't open it...its the tater bulb I think, because after reading up on the one I had last year it said that the tater should be dug up for the winter(in my area zone 7) but I'm pretty sure you have a small bulb lie tater and you just need to plant the whole thing, if you are not sure which way to plant it, plant it onits side and it will find it's way up thru the dirt. good luck and happy planting!!
molly

I wonder if they're like begonia tubers, which you can cut in half if they have sprouts on each half. I do that with my begonia tubers when they've gotten to a decent size, and I dust them with anti-fungal rooting hormone. Anyone done that? I was just thinking about how potatoes have so many eyes which sprout.