is potato vine a perennial

After a hard frost, a sweet potato vine (Ipomoea batatas) usually look like something the cat left out in the rain, limp, rotten and dead, but as long as the roots survive it will come back in the spring. Sweet potato vine grows as a perennial in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 9 through 11.

How do you overwinter potato vines?

To overwinter the tubers, cut the vines to ground level, then dig them up before the first frost in autumn. Dig carefully and be careful not to slice into the tubers. Brush the soil lightly off the tubers, then store them, not touching, in a cardboard box filled with peat moss, sand or vermiculite.

Do sweet potato vines die in the winter?

Native to the tropical regions of the Americas, sweet potato vines are hardy in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 8 through 11, depending on the variety. While the vines die back in cold weather, in frost-free climates the tubers should survive the winter and sprout new vines in the spring.

How do you take care of a potato vine plant?

The sweet potato vine needs to be in a well-draining soil so that any excess water from rainfall or watering has the opportunity to drain away. This plant doesn't like sitting in wet soil, so if you have this as a houseplant make sure you remove any standing water from around the base after you water it.

Does sweet potato vine spread?

Sweet potato vines spread quite rapidly, so regular pruning is required. Pruning can be done at any time of year. It's most needed during the spring and summer months when the weather is warm and the plants are growing fast.

Do potato vines come back every year?

A Warm Season Annual

To grow a sweet potato vine as an annual, allow it to die back in the winter and then replant in the spring after the last frost date. If you prefer to save the tubers for replanting next season, cut back the stems at the soil line in the fall and dig up the roots.

Can you leave potatoes in the ground over winter?

Generally speaking, storing potatoes in the ground is not the most recommended method, especially for any long term storage. Leaving the tubers in the ground under a heavy layer of dirt that may eventually become wet will most certainly create conditions that will either rot the potato or encourage sprouting.

Should sweet potato vines be cut back?

The vines of sweet potatoes tend to ramble far and wide, which is why many home gardeners don't raise them. If vines are wandering out of bounds, try turning them back into the vegetable garden. It's best not to trim vines; they help feed the potatoes.

Does sweet potato vine like sun or shade?

Sweet potato vine grows practically anywhere, from full sun to full shade. In hot-summer climates such as Southern Florida, it can struggle in full sun during the hottest months, especially if the soil dries out.

Is sweet potato vine poisonous to cats?

Although the sweet potato itself is not toxic to felines, the vines of the sweet potato plant contain the toxic principle LSD. Consuming a small portion of the sweet potato vine can cause a dermatitis-type reaction, causing the cat’s skin, mouth or throat to blister and swell upon contact.

Is potato vine poisonous to dogs?

Sweet potato vine is known for its toxic ingredients, with similar characteristics to LSD. Ingestion of the vine may have a poisonous effect on dogs. The vines are highly toxic and can adversely affect the kidneys, brain, heart or liver. ... There are several symptoms associated with sweet potato vine poisoning in animals.

Does potato vine grow from cuttings?

Ornamental sweet potato vine never goes out of style. It's bright, beautiful, fast-growing, and adds a punch of cheer to any garden container. And better yet, it's easy to grow more from cuttings. This easy-going plant can grow in soil or water so your options are wide open.

Does potato vine climb?

Sweet potato vines aren't vivacious climbers, preferring instead to crawl along the ground. As they crawl, the vines set down roots along the length of the stem. ... Although you can use any pot or planter, try planting sweet potato slips on the top of a vertical flowerpot container garden.

Can sweet potato vine grow in water?

The sweet potato vines will continue growing in water for months or even years, whether from cuttings or from a tuber. Keep the water level constant, and empty the water and refill the jar with clean water every few weeks to discourage bacteria from growing.

Do sweet potato vines grow fast?

Sweet potato vine is fast-growing reaching heights of six to twelve inches with a spread of one to three feet. It has dark green or deep purple, heart-shape, lobed leaves.

Do sweet potato vines need full sun?

Sweet potato vines love the sun but will also grow in part shade and sometimes in full shade. The more sun the plant gets, the more vibrant its leaf color will typically be.

Can you eat potatoes from sweet potato vines?

Yes, ornamental sweet potatoes are edible! Ornamental sweet potato tubers are, indeed, sweet potatoes (Ipomoea batatas). ... You can either try eating the ornamental sweet potatoes or dig them up and store them in a cool, dry area and then use them in the spring to propagate new ornamental potato vines.

Is potato vine invasive?

Air potato is one such non-native, invasive plant. This vine can grow eight inches a day and produces large numbers of potato-like growths that sprout new plants.

Is sweet potato vine drought tolerant?

Although established plants can handle brief periods with dry soil, sweet potato vine is a tropical plant that prefers humid conditions and is not a good choice if your gardening goal is to reduce water use.

Can you eat potatoes left in the ground?

A: If the potatoes are still firm and the skin is not green, yes, then you may certainly eat them. When you harvest them, inspect them for diseased looking tubers. If the potatoes appear fine, then yes, you can also use them to start new potatoes.

Do potatoes keep growing after the plant dies?

The health of a potato's foliage has a direct impact on its unseen tubers hidden deep within the soil. A potato plant that dies back cannot continue to produce potatoes, and if any potatoes are produced, they are likely stunted and immature or outright diseased.

What happens if you don't harvest potatoes?

If you don't harvest potatoes when the plant dies back, a couple things could happen. Most likely they will rot if the soil is wet, or they'll die once the ground freezes. But if you live in a warm and dry enough climate, any tubers that survive over the winter will sprout again in the spring.