sweet potato vine

Watch Reply
More
Mark unread Print Skip to new
CrabbyLady Cape Coral, FL Jun 17, 2007

I have a sweet potato vine that I bought in a store. It has literally taken over my SW Florida front yard. I pulled some of the vines out and there are huge tubers underground. Are these actually sweet potato's and are they edible?

Crabby Lady from Cape Coral Florida

Post #3625455
Quote
flowerprincess Ogden, UT Jun 17, 2007

I was thinking the same thing! I guess that's why they are called Sweet Potato Vine because they actually are sprouting from a potato. I found this info:

Unlike their agricultural counterparts, Ipomoea batatas ‘Marguerite’ and ‘Blackie’ are bred for ornamental properties rather than edible roots. ‘Marguerite’ is grown for its broad, heart-shaped, chartreuse foliage on trailing vines, and ‘Blackie’ is becoming a favorite in the garden for its dark purple, deeply lobed foliage that makes a great companion for plants with brightly colored flowers or foliage.

According to Janet Bohac at the USDA’s Vegetable Laboratory in Charleston, South Carolina, ‘Marguerite’ seldom produces a "usable" edible root and ‘Blackie’ almost never does. If, by chance, such a root is produced, there is no reason it could not be eaten."

Post #3625787
Quote
ecrane3 Dublin, CA(Zone 9a) Jun 17, 2007

It probably won't taste as good as the sweet potatoes that are bred for their flavor rather than the looks of their foliage though.

Post #3626071
Quote
CrabbyLady Cape Coral, FL Jun 19, 2007

This produced a potato a big as a human head and a bunch of smaller one. I guess now that I know I won't die, I think I will boil it up and try it.

Crabby Lady
PS Thanks for the info everyone!

Post #3633559
Quote

Post a Reply to this Thread

Please or sign up to post.
Back to Forum Homepage

More Beginner Gardening Threads

Go to all Beginner Gardening threads
BACK TO TOP