Loose, friable soil of moderate fertility. In spring, cut back the dead vines. They thrive in our heat and can take the full sun, but they also do well in light shade or bright filtered light. Allow the vines to die back naturally. They look absolutely gorgeous spilling over a tall container. Son Steve Bartholomew from the Square Foot Gardening Foundation explains why his dad developed the concept, easy steps to make one, and how its global impact conquers hunger. The larvae of the latter two beetles feed on the swollen tuberous roots, while the larvae of the sweet potato leaf miner, the morning-glory plume moth and the sweetpotato hornworm feed on the foliage. This variant of the sweet potato vine comes in a selection of colors, including kiwi, lime, purple, and even jet black. The stamens form a white boss in the middle of the throat. “I cut the vine off to get rid of it because it was brown and dying,” said Spears. Cut basil to freeze in oil in ice cube trays to use this winter in soups and stews, Collect seeds from summer annuals to dry and store indoors until next spring, Take cuttings of tender annuals to propagate in warmth to plant next spring, Rake leaves into beds to mulch over winter and return nutrients to the soil, Mow leaves on grass (if not raking to beds or compost) to break them down. [4], Long-tongued bees such as honey bees, bumblebees and digger bees visit I. pandurata seeking nectar, as do various butterflies and moths. And the cultivars of this plant that have been deemed ornamental are related to the sweet potatoes we love to put on our dinner plates. Sweet potatoes bred as edible vegetables have much larger, sweeter tuberous roots, and their foliage is less attractive. Mammalian herbivorous animals avoid this plant which tastes bitter and is toxic to some extent. For another, the tubers left in the ground may rot in cold, rainy winters. [1] Habitats include upland woods, the edges of prairies bordering woodlands, thickets, rocky gullies and stream-sides, disturbed ground, and railway and highway verges. Get that row cover ready! Data related to Ipomoea pandurata at Wikispecies, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Ipomoea_pandurata&oldid=845975810, Taxonbars with automatically added basionyms, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, This page was last edited on 15 June 2018, at 12:31. You can also allow the vines to cover the ground and fill in large areas. Mulches help protect the roots and insulate the soil. It’s really not a good idea to overseed with rye unless you have new, muddy construction and a dog! While both varieties are technically edible, those sold as ornamental sweet potato vine are sometimes described as "barely edible" since the roots are smaller and much less sweet (bordering on bitter); these have been bred primarily for their attractive trailing foliage. Best known for their colorful green or purple leaves, this vining plant works well indoors and out. For a brighter look, the lime colored leaves give a vibrant tropical feel. In spring, cut back the dead vines. In Leander, Ellen and Rick Bickling turned the kids’ old basketball court into square foot | watch episode →, Let’s get growing native fruit trees! Some people grow ornamental varieties for just this reason rather than growing them as an edible vegetable. It is a twining plant of woodland verges and rough places with heart-shaped leaves and funnel-shaped white flowers with a … Sweet potatoes are most likely to become reliable perennial vines in USDA Zones 9 through 11. The long-season sweet potato originated in the tropical climates typical of South America and India, two places where it may have developed. The Sweet Caroline vine grows less aggressively than some of the other vine variants, making it ideally suited to planting in container pots. Bring the plant indoors to a greenhouse or sunroom where the minimum temperature is 55°F (13°C). Collect leaves from neighbors to add to compost pile! Allow the vines to die back naturally. A container makes the sweet potato plant more vulnerable to freezing weather. Horticulturist Karen Beaty from the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center plucks a few for big and small gardens to feed us, the birds, and beneficial pollinators. A hard frost will kill the top growth of a sweet potato vine. Sweet potatoes need certain environmental characteristics to grow and thrive. Soil and nighttime temperatures of 60°F (16°C) at planting time. [3], I. pandurata is a twining and scrambling vine that can reach 30 ft (9 m). The black variety features heart-shaped leaves, which make quite a statement in the black color. The stems are usually hairless and bear alternate, olive-green, cordate leaves, about 6 in (15 cm) long, with long, purple-tinged petioles. In your garden, you may be able to get it to become a perennial that reappears as the weather warms. The flowers are tubular, white with a pinkish or purplish throat. Also, non-native poppies, larkspurs, hollyhocks, Cilantro transplants, parsley, dill, fennel , chervil, summer savory, borage, chives, rue, Be prepared to cover in case of deep freeze, Keep planting winter crops for successive harvest, Spray cabbage loopers on broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cauliflower, cabbage with, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Vegetable Planting Guides (Central Texas), Avoid pruning shrubs right now unless you see damage, Okay to prune live oak and red oaks through January, Shrubs, roses, trees, evergreen spring-blooming perennials, Mulch cold tender plants like gingers, Esperanza and semi-tropicals, Select spots where you want fruit trees, grapes, or berries to plant in January; for now, prep with compost.