Sweet Potato -  Ipomoea batatas - €6 per plant

Many people think sweet potato can only be successfully grown in the tropics, but our cultivar has been found to successfully produce reasonable yields in the temperate zone although will not tolerate winters outside.  The soft, orange flesh of the sweet potato is delicious and nutritionally valuable.  The plant can be grown by a south or west facing wall. The vines grow rapidly, making great ground cover if not trained to grow vertically.  To order this plant please contact us [email protected].  

Context

  • native region: Pantropical
  • native habitat: This species is not known in a truly wild situation.
  • family: Convolvulaceae

Predators

  • None known 

Needs, tolerances 

light: Semi-shade or Full sun
  • soil pH:  Acid and neutral soil
  • USDA Hardiness Zone: 10-12
  • Prefers a pH in the range 5.5 - 6.5
  • Prefers well drained soil 
  • Prefers moist soil  
  • Plants are not frost hardy and can only be grown in areas where there are at least 3 months of frost-free conditions
  • Divide every 3 yrs for better production 

Known hazards 

  • None known 

Overview

  • Herbaceous perennial vine growing to 3 m ​
  • In flower mid-late summer
  • The flowers are hermaphrodite (have both male and female organs).
  • Suitable for: light (sandy) and medium (loamy) soils and prefers moist, well-drained soil. 
  • Suitable pH: acid and neutral soils
  • Ample potash in the soil is essential for a good crop
  • Prefers moist soil

Characteristics

  • form: herbaceous perennial climber
  • layer :
  • habit: Bearing alternate heart-shaped and medium-sized pink/purple flowers. but it rarely flowers in the temperate zone. The edible tuberous root is long and tapered, with a smooth skin
  • height x width (m): 3m
  • years to bearing yield: tuberous roots mature in 3 - 6 months 

Products 

  • The edible tuberous root is long and tapered.  Sweet and fleshy, it is a delicious and very nutritious, providing a rich source of vitamins and minerals

Functions, behaviours

  • A fairly easily grown plant
  • It prefers well-drained soil
  • Prefers a pH in the range 5.5 - 6.5
  • Can produce reasonable yields in the temperate zone
  • A climbing plant, when the stems lay along the soil they will root and form tubers​
  • A short-day plant, requiring less than 11 hours of sunlight per day to initiate flowering.  However, day length variation appears to have little effect upon tubers
If you would like this plant  please send an email to [email protected] with your order. 
Balkan Ecology Project