Sweet Potato.

En un coup d'œil

Niveau d'entretien

Facile

Type de plante

Perennial vegetable

Lumière

Full sun

Lumière en intérieur

Soleil direct

Arrosage

Tous les 2 à 4 jours

Taille adulte

6 to 10 feet long

Croissance

Rapide

Rusticité

USDA 9 à 11

Floraison

Mid to late summer

Entretien

Keep the soil consistently moist but not soggy to encourage healthy tuber development. Watch for yellowing leaves which often signal overwatering or poor drainage. Provide plenty of space for the vines to sprawl or climb.

Arrosage

Water deeply whenever the top inch of soil feels dry to the touch.

Engrais

Use a balanced fertilizer once a month during the active growing season.

Taille

Trim back long vines if they start to overtake your garden space.

Rempotage

Repot only if you are growing them in containers and the roots become crowded.

Sol

Well draining sandy loam

pH du sol

5.5 to 6.5

Température

15 à 35°C

Humidité

40 à 70%

Résistance à la sécheresse

Moyenne

Durée de vie

Tender perennial, often grown as an annual.

Résistance aux chevreuils et lapins

Faible

Sécurité

Humains

The plant is generally considered non toxic, but ingestion of large amounts of raw foliage is not recommended.

Enfants

The tubers are firm and could pose a choking hazard if eaten raw by small children.

Allergènes de contact

Some individuals may experience mild skin irritation from the milky sap.

Allergènes aéroportés

There are no notable airborne allergy risks associated with this plant.

Comestibilité

Only specific cultivars are bred for edible tubers, while ornamental varieties may not taste good or could be treated with chemicals.

Comment l'identifier

• Heart shaped or lobed green leaves
• Vining stems that spread quickly
• Edible starchy tubers underground
• Trumpet shaped flowers in some varieties

Hauteur

0,15 à 0,3m

Envergure

0,6 à 2m

Feuilles

green, purple, bronze, variegated, deciduous

Fleurs

pink, white, lavender, 4 à 6cm

Fruits

brown, tan, red, purple, Autumn

Problèmes courants

• Sweet potato weevil — Small beetles that tunnel into the tubers and stems.
• Fungal leaf spot — Dark spots appearing on leaves often due to high humidity.

La cultiver

Multiplication

cuttings, division

Quand planter

Spring

Hivernage

In cold climates, lift the tubers in autumn after the foliage dies back. Store them in a box with peat moss in a cool, frost free location until spring.

En pot

They grow exceptionally well in containers, requiring at least a 30 centimeter wide pot for healthy root development.

Plant them in mounds to ensure good drainage for the developing tubers.

Bonnes associations

• Maïs — The tall stalks provide a structure for the vines to climb if desired.
• Souci — They help deter soil pests that might bother the roots.

Espèces similaires

• Common morning glory — A close relative grown primarily for its showy flowers.

Science

Famille

Convolvulaceae

Genre

Ipomoea

Ordre

Solanales

Classe

Magnoliopsida

Région d'origine

Tropical regions of the Americas.

Préservation

This plant is widely cultivated and is not of conservation concern.

It thrives in warm, sunny environments and spreads rapidly across the ground to outcompete weeds.

Intérêt pour la faune

nectar source

Pollinisateurs

abeilles, papillons, papillons de nuit

Utilisations

ground cover, container plant, edible tuber, hanging basket

Taxonomie vérifiée avec le GBIF.

Ce qu'on demande souvent

Can I eat the tubers of ornamental sweet potato vines?

While technically edible, they are often bred for leaf color rather than flavor and may be bitter.

How do I overwinter them?

Dig up the tubers before the first frost, clean them, and store them in a cool, dark place.

D'où vient le nom

The genus name Ipomoea comes from the Greek words for worm and likeness, referring to the twining habit of the stems.

Bon à savoir

• Sweet potatoes are not related to true yams.
• The leaves are edible and often used in stir fries.
• They grow very quickly in warm weather.
• They were domesticated in Central and South America thousands of years ago.