What is a Potato Bug? – Potato bugs ( Leptinotarsa decemlineata) are a common pest in garden beds. Colorado potato beetles, in both adult and larval forms, chew the leaves on garden plants and can defoliate entire crops if you don’t get rid of them quickly.
- Potato bugs can also reduce the yield that you have in your garden beds.
- In some cases, they can kill your entire plants and destroy any potential harvest you might have in your garden.
- The Colorado potato beetle can be found in most parts of the United States except for California, Alaska, Nevada, and Hawaii.
This pest also can be found in parts of Europe and Asia.
Is a potato vine potato edible?
To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Pretty to look at, safe to eat, but not real tasty! This describes the ornamental sweet potato vine, You may know it as Marguerite, Sweet Caroline, Blackie or one of the other popular cultivars of this plant.
Garden varieties of the edible sweet potato have been selected for their flavor while the ornamental varieties were selected for their colorful foliage and trailing nature. Like the edible varieties the ornamental sweet potato vine will produce tuberous roots. The purple tuberous roots are edible but gardeners who have tried them, say they’re not tasty.
Growing Ornamental Sweet Potato Vines
Some gardeners try saving the tuberous roots overwinter much like dahlias. They store them in a cool dark location. Most gardeners report having limited success and poor growth on the second year plants. You may want to start new plants from cuttings, Those in cold climates will need to move these in for winter and grow them as houseplants in a sunny window.
Why is it called potato vine?
Ladybugs can eat pests infesting potato vines. A potato vine, or Solanum laxum, is a climbing evergreen plant often grown in the U.S. and Australia. It is characterized by dark green leaves and white, star-shaped flowers. The name of this perennial is somewhat deceiving as it does not actually produce a potato. 
Potatoes. This plant produces light-colored flowers that have five petals, which may be arranged in the shape of a star. They also have a red or orange anther, or area where the pollen is produced. These anthers are said to resemble small potatoes, hence the name.
- They are not edible, but often drop off the plant in order to sprout new vines.
- The flowers of a potato vine bloom nearly year-round in many warm areas of the U.S., such as Hawaii.
- While they are normally white, they might also be light blue or cream-colored.
- Each petal is somewhat oval-shaped, with a point at the end.
They can appear to have a vein running down the center of them as well. A potato vine is a climbing or trailing plant that can grow to be quite long. In many instances, this plant can grow to be up to 20 feet (6.05 m) in length. It might also spread anywhere from one to two feet (.3 to,6 m) wide.
- For this reason, a gardener may want to place this vine near a fence or building, or use a trellis for support.
- Many people like to cut this plant back, close to the ground, in late winter.
- It is sometimes believed that doing so increases the number of blooms in the following growing season.
- Gardeners who choose to trim a potato vine in this manner might want to make sure it is not flowering first.
This lack of blooms can indicate that the climber is dormant and will not be harmed by pruning. Although it does not produce a crop, the potato vine nonetheless can add beauty and fragrance to a patio or garden. It is sometimes believed to attract beneficial insects, such as ladybugs, to a backyard.
What kind of plant is potato vine?
Learn more about potato vine – The potato vine, also called nightshade jasmine, is a beautiful shrub native to Brazil. Its flowers do look very similar to those of jasmine, but their scent is clearly different. It has the advantage of climbing when latticed and it offers very beautiful flowers that smell like jasmine, too.
What is name of potato vine?
Jasmine Nightshade Info Also known as jasmine nightshade, potato vine (Solanum laxum) is suitable for growing in USDA plant hardiness zone 8 through 11.
Is potato vine poisonous to humans?
Flowering potato vine (Solanum jasminoides) is a tropical plant with fragrant blooms that last throughout the summer. This showy plant with elegant white or blue-tinged flowers adds interest to a garden space but is also toxic to pets and humans if ingested.
Can you eat the sweet potatoes from a sweet potato vine?
Are ornamental sweet potatoes edible? – If you want sweet potatoes to eat, the tubers from your ornamental sweet potato vines are indeed edible. However, you’re better off choosing a variety that’s specifically developed as a food crop. That’s because sweet potato varieties for eating have a much better flavor and texture than ornamental types, which can taste bitter. PHOTO: Marty Baldwin PHOTO: Marty Baldwin
How long do potato vines last?
How long can you store sweet potato vine tubers? – You can store sweet potato vine tubers for 6-8 months, if done properly. However, don’t try to store them much longer than that. It’s best to plant them every year, otherwise they will eventually dry out and die.
Does potato vine smell?
The potato vine, also called nightshade jasmine, is a beautiful shrub native to Brazil. Its flowers do look very similar to those of jasmine. It has the advantage of climbing when latticed and it offers very beautiful flowers that smell like jasmine.
Is wild potato vine poisonous?
This plant has low severity poison characteristics. This plant is a native, perennial, deciduous, vine similar to Morning glory and Sweet potato vine.
How big do potato vines get?
Ornamental sweet potato vines are a classic “spiller” plant perfect for container gardening. They are cultivars of the same species as edible sweet potatoes but are only ornamental, not edible, as they are very bitter. This beautiful, fast-growing tender herbaceous perennial is native to tropical regions of the Americas and best planted in the spring once temperatures consistently stay about 50 degrees Fahrenheit.
| Botanical Name | Ipomoea batatas |
| Common Name | Sweet potato vine, ornamental sweet potato vine |
| Family | Convolvulaceae |
| Plant Type | Herbaceous perennial |
| Mature Size | 8–10 ft. long, 5–12 in. wide |
| Sun Exposure | Full sun |
| Soil Type | Moist, well-drained |
| Soil pH | Neutral to acidic |
| Bloom Time | Spring, summer |
| Flower Color | Rarely flower but may produce pink to purple-lavender |
| Hardiness Zones | 9–11 (USDA) |
| Native Area | Tropical regions of the Americas |
Can potato vine grow in pots?
Planting Sweet Potato Vines in Pots – Sweet potato vines are sensitive to the cold. Do not plant them outside until the temperature is not predicted to drop below 45 degrees F. Grow them in a location that receives 6 hours of sun for best results. They can tolerate shadier conditions but will not grow as vigorously.
Does potato vine grow fast?
Potato Vine, botanically known as Solanum jasminoides or Solanum laxum, is a fast-growing and easy to care for an evergreen vine. If the clusters of white flowers look familiar that’s because this plant is in the Nightshade family alongside potatoes and tomatoes. This is my neighbor’s Potato Vine (which you’ll see in the video below) growing on a 4′ high fence – a pruner’s delight! I have one of these vines growing on my side fence which I keep pruned to a very small scale. It looks very different than my neighbor’s.
- In my years as a professional gardener I maintained quite a few of these.
- Here’s are a few other things you need to know about this plant if you have one or plan to buy one: *This vine grows to 25′.
- It needs full or part sun.
- Water it regularly when establishing.
- After that, it’s fairly drought tolerant.
* The best time to give it a major prune is after the major bloom (late Spring). Here it can be nipped all year long because we rarely get a freeze. *Pay attention to how big it gets & how fast it grows. It is best planted on a tall,long fence or large arbor.
- My neighbor planted 4 plants on a low, short expanse of fence which is major overkill.
- I know we all want instant gratification but those 1 gallon plants grow like beanstalks! * It can take a range of environmental conditions but does need a means of support and needs training.
- It’s not fussy as to fertilizer.
Amend with a good organic compost when planting and then apply more once a year. As with most plants, it likes good drainage. * It’s hardy to 20-25 degrees. This is a dense growing plant. Some of that new growth grows back on the old growth. That’s why a few prunes a year are recommended to keep it from becoming the man eating vine it wants to be.
Where do potato vines grow?
Where to plant: – Choose a sunny site with rich, well-draining soil. They prefer hot, humid conditions similar to their native habitat and may fail to thrive in dry desert climates. In cooler regions, boost performance by planting in a warm location such as a south-facing wall or heat-absorbing patio.
How do you trim a potato vine?
How to Trim Potato Plants – To trim your edible potato plants, pinch off the blossoms as soon as they appear on the plant, or snip them off with shears. Blossoms are an indicator that the plant is mature and small tubers are formed. Removing the flowers removes the competition and fosters larger, healthier potatoes.
- Prune the potatoes when the foliage has wilted.
- Prune the plant down to ground level, 1 inch (2.54 cm.) above the soil surface.
- Don’t cut them any lower than this, as you may expose the tips of shallow potatoes.
- Wait two weeks to dig the tubers out to allow the potato skin to thicken.
- Pruning of ornamental potatoes, such as Ipomoea, can occur any time the plant has outgrown its surroundings.
Generally, at this point the tuber is mature. These ornamentals can be aggressively pruned with no ill effects. In fact, the plant will branch out and rapidly begin filling in the space. Unlike edible potatoes, ornamentals can be pruned right down to the ground, if needed.
Cut back the ornamental potato vines from spring through fall, as needed, to contain the size or shape of the plant. Pruning will also increase the bushiness of the plant, as it encourages branching at the cut sites. Prune judiciously or not at all if you prefer longer, vine-like foliage. If you live in a mild climate, some potato vines will grow year round and need continuous pruning.
Trim back any foliage that has been killed back or damaged after the first frost, down to the soil line or one inch (2.5 cm.) above it. When the weather warms up, you will likely have another chance at seeing the glory of your ornamental potato vine.
Are potato plants poisonous?
Where Found – The poison is found throughout the plant, but particularly in green potatoes and new sprouts. Never eat potatoes that are spoiled or green below the skin. Always throw away the sprouts. Potatoes that are not green and have had any sprouts removed are safe to eat.
Are air potatoes edible?
Description – Air potato ( Dioscorea bulbifera ) is a member of the yam family (Dioscoreaceae). It is a vine that can be up to 70 feet in length with heart shaped alternating leaves. Air potato has inconspicuous flowers that don’t usually appear because they aren’t necessary for propagation. Air potato does produce a species of yam, but is recommended to never eat as it can be toxic to humans.
Are all varieties of sweet potato leaves edible?
Are They Edible? – In short, yes! But we wouldn’t recommend sampling the roots, unless you are desperate, or perhaps particularly curious. Because they are the same species as the sweet potatoes sold and grown as a food crop, the tubers can be eaten. 
Keep in mind, however, that “ornamental” varieties have been bred for their visually appealing foliage, whereas “edible” types in the US have been bred to have flavorful and satisfying roots. And there are also some types that have been bred specifically for their delicious and healthful leaves – a bit more on that later.
- Ornamental sweet potatoes, though they are not poisonous, have roots that are much more bitter in flavor than their food crop counterparts, bordering on unpleasant.
- They also tend to mature to a much smaller size than the roots you’re used to finding at the grocery store, or digging out of the earth.
If sweet flesh is what you’re after, choosing a variety specifically selected for eating is recommended. The leaves and stems of the vine are also edible, with a slightly tangy flavor and a texture somewhat similar to spinach. In fact, they’re popular and enjoyed as a vegetable around the world, throughout many parts of Asia and Africa as well as in Spain.
Some find the leaves to be more appealing when they are boiled or sauteed, since this gives them a more tender texture and removes some of their bitterness, while others like to enjoy them raw in salads, or deep fried in fritters. The young leaves are the most tender, and some prefer to skip the leaves altogether and just enjoy the stems.
Called kamote (or sometimes camote) tops, the foliage of this species is a common vegetable enjoyed in the Philippines. In Korea, you might enjoy goguma julgi bokkeum or goguma julki namul, stir fried sweet potato vine banchan made with fresh or dried and reconstituted stems.
Can you eat sweet potato vine roots?
Ornamental sweet potato tuberous roots Photo credit: Rosie Lerner Q. I grew beautiful sweet potato vines in my flower garden this year. They looked great all summer, though they grew quite a bit larger than I expected so I had to cut them back to keep them from growing over my other plants.
When I was cleaning up the garden last week, I noticed that the sweet potatoes had some fairly large potatoes underground. Are these safe to eat and do they taste like the sweet potatoes that I buy at the grocery? Am thinking about saving these for Thanksgiving dinner.A. Ornamental sweet potatoes are quite popular as trailing plants for containers and as annual ground cover in the landscape.
Breeders select ornamental cultivars based on attractive foliage and not for edible quality. So while the tuberous roots of the ornamental cultivars are edible, their flavor and texture are not likely to be of the same quality as those selected for eating. 
Burning bush fruit Photo credit: Rosie Lerner Q. I heard recently that burning bush is considered invasive and should not be planted.
What is ornamental sweet potato?
The ornamental sweet potato is a bold tropical plant that grows as a perennial in Florida. The foliage is much more colorful than that of edible sweet potatoes. This unique plant is popular for containers and borders. In a container, the vines will quickly flow over the edges.
In beds, it’ll behave as a groundcover. It can easily be trimmed when it gets too wild, and the cuttings can be used to create new plants. Other than an occasional trimming, ornamental sweet potato is an undemanding plant. The vines will let you know when they need water by wilting, and the foliage quickly springs back from a frost or freeze.
It prefers full sun, but will grow in partial shade. This hardy, drought-tolerant climber comes in a wide array of attractive foliage colors, from bright chartreuse green to a purple so dark it’s almost black.