These container garden favorite have tuber that look like angelic potatoes from the store . But that does n’t mean they taste the same .
democratic in container garden and as groundcovers , ornamental sweet potato vinesbrighten up planting with their coloured leave , and they ’re related to thesweet potatoesyou’d grow inyour vegetable gardenor find in a grocery store . Both of these flora produce thick , root - similar Tuber underground . If you dig up the chartreuse - leaved decorative variety ‘ Marguerite ’ , you ’ll see it has little , round tuber . And dark - leave ‘ Blackie ’ normally has longer , narrow genus Tuber .
While you cancook and run through these sweet potato , you might not inevitably enjoy them on your dinner collection plate . But you still may require to hang on to the genus Tuber alternatively of throwing them out at the end of the growing time of year .
Credit:Kelli Jo Emanuel
Kelli Jo Emanuel
Are tubers from ornamental sweet potato vines edible?
If you wantsweet spud to eat , the tubers from your decorative sweet potato vine are indeed eatable . However , you ’re better off choosing a variety specifically develop as a intellectual nourishment crop . That ’s becausesweet potato variety for eatinghave a much better flavour and texture than decorative type , which can taste bitter .
rather , give the showy leaves of your ornamental sweet potatoes a try . They ’re full of vitamins and antioxidants , plus they ’re a good source of fiber . unsanded sweet potato foliage have a slightly acerb taste perception ( likespinach ) but willlose their sharp flavor when seethe or steam .
Test Garden Tip : Avoid using pesticides on or around the plants if you want to eat them .
Propagating Ornamental Sweet Potato Vines
Whether you want to eat them or not , it ’s worth economize the tubers to grow new plants for next class . you may store them like bulbs andplant them in containersthe following spring . After you ’ve clean out your containers for the time of year , rinse off the genus Tuber and countenance them dry out completely . Then keep them in a nerveless blank space ( like a basement ) throughout the wintertime . Once temperature stay above freezing in spring , plant your genus Tuber inmoist potting intermixture in your containers . They should sprout in a hebdomad or two .
BHG / Kelli Jo Emanuel
Another way you could grow more plant for a new arise time of year is with cuttings , have a go at it assweet potato slips . To bulge out , determine one end of an ornamental sweet tater genus Tuber in a jar of piddle to submerge one-half of it . leave behind it in a tender , gay smirch . It will get off out roots and staunch within two week . Once the stalk pass on a few inch long , snip them offthe tuber andplace these cuttings in another jarof weewee . Wait another 1 - 2 weeks for them to settle , then they ’ll be quick to embed . This works for comestible sweet potatoes as well .
Credit:BHG / Kelli Jo Emanuel
