Gardening with Gary

Gardening Advice from an Expert

Sweet Potato Vines

Q. I had the beautiful sweet potato vines this summer in pots and they flourished and grew very big. They produced very large tubers - potatoes! I assume these are not edible. Am I right?

A. If you grew these from your own sweet potato which you purchased either in a grocery store or by catalog, then they are most definitely edible. That is the easy way to grow any type of potato or yam.

You merely cut old potatoes from the bin, having each portion contain an eye, which is the spot where growth emerges. Plant these portions in your garden bed as you would any bulbs or tubers. Harvest them in the fall when the tops dry up and the temperatures cool. Spade carefully away from the plant and lift up, so as not to slice into the tubers.

Mary writes~ I have been growing sweet potato plants from three sweet potatoes that sprouted (from neglect) in my cupboard, and it is so much fun to see them grow! I am otherwise not much of a plant person. My cat has been chewing up the blossoms after she eats her kitty food. Do you happen to know if this is healthy? I know that some otherwise harmless-seeming plants are actually toxic to cats.

A. Good question, as whenever you have pets or children near plants, it is best to be aware of toxicity. No, the sweet potato flowers are not toxic. Your cat is seeking natural vitamins instinctually to supplement the diet. If the cat starts to consume large amounts of the stems, not flowers, then it may lead to upset stomach and vomiting, but not toxic, unless a couple small plants are eaten. Then, anyone would not feel good after such consumption. The tubers are the edible portion for humans and animals alike. Do not worry if this case involves only a few flowers, but keep an eye on the vegetative portions.

Leah writes~
I have a sweet potato that sprouted. The potato had been in a covered basket in my kitchen, so I just placed the potato on the sill over my kitchen sink [just sitting on the sill]. It has not been in water or dirt. Now there are a few stems coming out pretty close together out of one end of the potato. I would like to grow it just as a plant - just for the vine and flowers. Do I pull out [or cut] that part and what do I plant it in? Your site says I can 'snap' off the new plants, but does not say what to do then.

A. Take the potato and with a very sharp, clean knife, slice a portion of it with one stem still attached to it. The green stem is coming from an eye. If you can, cut potato into several pieces, each with an eye and stem. Or, if you prefer, cut the entire section with all the stems coming from it and use that. Fill a 5" pot with light, fresh potting mix for house plants. You may wish to add some perlite to lighten. Water in well and allow to drain in a sink. With a trowel, make a hole in the mix to a depth of 4" and large enough for the piece to fit. Plant it, cover with more mix and water in again. Grow either in a kitchen window or outside, but be sure to watch the watering not allowing to dry out. A trellis or several strings may be used to support the vines as they grow. You can weave the stems all around to fill in and look attractive.