The sweet potato belongs to the family Convolvulaceae, originated in Central America, and is considered a significant plant in the whole world. Sweet potato is a warm-season ornamental plant, that requires moist, and well-drained soil. It is vegetatively propagated from the cuttings and tubers. Purple sweet potato looks like sweet potato but it has dusty brown color skin and red-purple flesh. The mature vines spread up to 8 feet long and 5 to 10 inches wide. You can plant purple sweet potato vine in your home but it takes little care and maintenance. Keep reading the article, you will learn about how to grow a purple sweet potato vine?.
Growing Purple Sweet Potato Vine
People grow sweet potatoes from the cuttings, but you can also grow plants from the tubers. The plants are susceptible to pests and diseases. Therefore requires a lot of care and maintenance. Sweet potatoes take a long period for production but proper care of tubers growth and development of the plant. People cherish it in fries, chips, steamed purple sweet potatoes, canned purple sweet potatoes.
Overview of Purple sweet potato vine
| Common Name | Sweet potato vine or ornamental potato |
| Botanical Name | Ipomoea batatas |
| Family | Convolvulaceae |
| Kingdom | Plantae |
| Plant Type | Perennial |
| Soil | Moist, well-drained |
| Sun exposure | Full sun |
| Native | Central America |
| Bloom time | Spring, summer |
| Mature size | 8 to 10 feet long, 5 to 10 inch wide |
Nutritional value of Purple sweet potatoes
Nutrients in purple sweet potatoes vary depending on the variety and consumption; these are a rich source of antioxidants, potassium, fiber, vitamin A in the form of Beta-carotene, vitamin C, and calories. Purple sweet potato is very beneficial for your health. It clears your vision and maintains your blood pressure. Moreover, sweet potatoes also help to control diabetes and constipation. Antioxidants in sweet potatoes also reduce the risk of cancer. One sweet potato contains 400% of the vitamins. It improves your eye’s health and immune system.
Light
The plants require an average temperature of 75 °F and do not tolerate frost. Sweet potatoes love the sun. Therefore, choose a planting site that receives direct sunlight for at least 6 hours per day. While they can also thrive in partial shade.
Soil
The plants required moist, well-drained loamy soil to grow well. Hence, amend organic compost into the soil to increase its fertility and drainage.
Water
Purple sweet potatoes vines do not require a large amount of water. They are drought-tolerant vines. Keep the soil moist consistently to promote its vigorous growth.
Varieties of Purple Sweet Potato
- Sweet Carolina
- Blackie
- Marguerite
- Tricolor
Propagation Methods
Sweet potatoes vine can be propagated through small tubers or cuttings rather than seeds. You can cut the tubers into several parts and can grow them to make a new plant. The easiest way to propagate sweet potatoes vines is through plant cuttings. If you want to grow sweet potato vines through cuttings, just take a look at the steps
Propagation Through Cuttings
- Use a sharp shear or pruner to cut off the branch of the plant in the autumn. Ensure that, the branch has several nodes. Moreover, remove the leaves from the branch of the bottom of a few inches.
- Fill a jar with tap water and submerge the cuttings in water. Change the water after 3 days to prevent bacterial growth.
- After some days, cuttings will produce the roots.
- The plants can survive in water throughout the winter. Check the water level consistently.
- Replant the plants in the spring after the frost has gone.
Propagation through Tubers
Sweet potatoes vines produce tuberous roots. You can save tubers for the next growing season. Prepare rows or raised beds in the soil. Dig a hole in the soil about 5 to 8 inches deep and 4 to 5 inches wide plant the tubers in the hole. Moreover, cover the tubers with a thick layer of soil and water them thoroughly to keep the soil moist. keep distance between the plants about 2 feet. 
On the other hand, you can grow sweet potato vine in a pot. Choose a large size pot and fill it with potting mix or soil. Dig a large hole in potting mix and add tubers in the hole. Cover the tubers with soil and add water to keep the soil moist. Place the pot in a sunny location near the wall. Vines take a lot of space in the ground or pot. Therefore, train your vines to grow upward and use a trellis or wall to support the vines.
Care
- Purple sweet potato vines are easy to grow but they take a lot of care and maintenance.
- They are susceptible to disease and pests. Therefore, use proper pesticides to control the pest and Diseases.
- Avoid over-watering, otherwise plants reduce their growth due to charcoal rot and wilt.
- Purple Sweet potato vines do not require fertilizers. You can use low nitrogen fertilizers during the initial stages.
- Regular pruning is necessary because the purple sweet potato vine grows rapidly.
Harvesting
When the purple sweet potato vines turn yellow or die back, it is the best time to harvest the sweet potato. Usually, purple sweet potato will be ready to harvest after 90 to 120 days of planting. Always use a pitchfork or digging fork to loosen up the soil. moreover, get sweet potatoes carefully from the soil without damaging them.
Related Articles