potato vine problems

However, a number of different pests and diseases can befall a potato vine and cause plant death.

Aphids. Potato vine foliage is a temptation for insect infestation, especially for aphids. ...
Glasshouse Red Spider Mite. ...
Tomato Spotted Wilt. ...
Grey Mold.

Why is my potato vine dying?

What is Potato Wilt? Verticillium wilt, also known as potato wilt, is a fungal disease that can be caused by either Verticillium dahliae or Verticillium alboratrum. Both of these fungi can survive in the soil, in infected plant parts and seed pieces for a long time. ... Wilted potato plants eventually die.

Do potato vines need sun or shade?

Sweet Potato Vine Growing Instructions. Sweet potato vine grows practically anywhere, from full sun to full shade. ... The plant grows best in moist, well-drained soil; if the ground stays too wet for too long, sweet potato vine may rot and die.

What kills potato vines?

The University of Florida IFAS Extension recommends using herbicides containing the active ingredient glyphosate (such as Roundup) or triclopyr (Garlon). The best time to apply an herbicide is in the spring and summer when air potato is actively growing.

What is wrong with my sweet potato vine?

Root rot and fusarium wilt may cause sweet potato vines to develop yellow or brown leaves that wither and drop. These diseases are more common in edible sweet potato crops than in ornamental sweet potato vines. There is no cure for these diseases. Pull diseased plants to prevent spreading the disease.

How often do you water potato vine?

Water your plants once a week to a one-inch depth. Be sure that the soil is completely dry before re-watering to avoid the growth of bacteria or fungus.

Do potato vines grow back?

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.

Is potato vine poisonous?

Flowering potato vine (Solanum jasminoides) is a tropical plant with fragrant blooms that last throughout the summer. This showy plant with elegant white or blue-tinged flowers adds interest to a garden space but is also toxic to pets and humans if ingested.

Does sweet potato vine produce potatoes?

Can You Eat Ornamental Sweet Potato Vines? Here's What You Need to Know. These popular container garden plants form thick, rootlike tubers similar to edible sweet potatoes (but not quite as tasty) and have edible leaves, too. ... However, you can use the tubers you find in your container garden to grow new plants.

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.

Can potato vine grow in shade?

Sweet potato vines love the sun but will also grow in part shade and sometimes in full shade.

Will Roundup kill air potato vine?

2. Herbicides like Roundup will control it. Herbicides containing the active ingredient glyphosate (such as Roundup) are effective for controlling air potato when sprayed onto the foliage. ... It is important to cover the foliage as thoroughly with herbicide as possible.

What eats potato vine?

Voles (Microtus spp.), ground squirrels (Spermophilus beecheyi), and gophers (Thomomys spp.) have a common taste for sweet potato vines. Voles look similar to mice and are about 6 inches long. ... Their vine damage is generally concentrated at the plant crown right above the soil, as they eat their way up from the tubers.

How do you revive a sweet potato vine?

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.

How do you treat sweet potato vine bugs?

If you feel you must control these pests, try hand picking the beetles off the plant and dropping them into a can of soapy water. A bit more information: Aphids may also be a problem, especially in hot dry weather.

Can sweet potato vines be cut back?

Can I trim them to keep them in bounds? 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.

When should I stop watering my potato plants?

Water the potatoes as evenly as possible. This helps the tubers to have uniform shape and helps make a better yield. Stop watering about 2 weeks before harvest or when the vines turn yellow and naturally die after 90 to 120 days. This will help cure the potatoes for harvest.

Do potato plants need a lot of sun?

Potatoes always do best in full sun. They are aggressively rooting plants, and we find that they will produce the best crop when planted in a light, loose, well-drained soil. Potatoes prefer a slightly acid soil with a PH of 5.0 to 7.0.

Is potato vine drought tolerant?

How often you water your sweet potato vine depends on your conditions. Although it can handle occasional dry soil, the plant grows most vigorously if its soil stays consistently moist. ... Only established plants show tolerance of dry soil, so make certain any newly planted vines are not allowed to dry out.

Are potato vine potatoes edible?

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.

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.

Can potato vine grow indoors?

Potted sweet potato vine plants can be brought indoors and grown as houseplants. The plants can be allowed to go dormant, and you can overwinter the tubers. You can grow sweet potato vine from cuttings, and overwinter the cuttings indoors.