How to Grow Ornamental Sweet Potatoes

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The colorful leaves of ornamental sweet potatoes add a major accent to gardens, landscapes, and large containers. Initially, these plants were found, accidentally, from the discards of edible sweet potato breeding programs in the U.S. The flower industry was searching for colorful plants that loved the hot temperatures of summer. Sweet potatoes are a great option because they grow best during high temperatures as long as there is enough water and nutrients. This wikiHow will guide you through the process of growing ornamental sweet potatoes!

Steps

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    Purchase them in late spring after all chances of frost have passed.
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    Ornamental sweet potatoes can grow up to ten feet wide.
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    Ornamental sweet potatoes can be grown in a container, garden, or landscape. Use high-quality commercial potting soil for the containers or good-quality soil with compost added for garden and landscape planting.
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    These potatoes require a lot of direct sunlight and heat.
    • If planting in containers, use large containers and only one or two plants.
    • Ornamental sweet potatoes will outcompete small plants, so use larger plants with them.
    • Plant sweet potatoes near the edge of a container so the plant will trail over the edge.
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    All ornamental sweet potato varieties come from cuttings. Small cuttings root easily, plus stems lying on the ground may root if the ground is wet enough.
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    Sweet potato plants will get large. 
    • Ornamental sweet potatoes produce real sweet potatoes in late summer. The tubers can be dug in the fall, but these plants were not selected for the edible quality of the tubers.
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    Sweet potatoes need 1 inch (2-3 cm) of water each week through rainfall or irrigation for best growth.
    • Apply water-soluble fertilizer to containers every 2-3 weeks.
    • Apply water-soluble fertilizer to garden or landscape locations every 4-6 weeks.
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    These plants will fill large spaces in your landscape over the summer.
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      Things You'll Need

      • Ornamental sweet potatoes in pots
      • Adequate garden space
      • Water - 1 inch (2-3cm) every week
      • Fertilizer - every 2-3 weeks if in containers, every 4-6 weeks if in garden or landscape

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      Warnings

      • Do not choose ornamental sweet potatoes if you have regular visits from deer to your property. Deer will destroy a whole planting in one night.
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