When to Plant an Ornamental Potato
"Ornamental potato" is a common name for sweet potato vine or Ipomoea batatas. Sweet potatoes have long been a food crop, but some plants are bred specifically for decorative use. The tubers may be planted outdoors after the danger of frost has passed. Does this Spark an idea?
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Last Frost Date
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The last frost date for a specific area is the latest date in spring when frost can be expected. Gardeners use the date as a point of reference for planting seeds, bulbs and tubers. County extension agents can provide this information, which is also available on the NOAA Satellite and Information Center's "Freeze/Frost Maps" website.
Characteristics
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Ornamental sweet potato vines have distinctive palmate foliage in shades of chartreuse or purple. Some cultivars have variegated leaves. The vines can reach 8 to 10 feet in length and are best used as a ground cover or a "spiller," trailing out of containers.
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Storage
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Though ornamental sweet potato is usually treated as an annual, it is actually a tender perennial. In cold winter climates, the tubers can be lifted and stored after the first frost. Store them in a vermiculite-filled paper bag in a cool, dry place. Divide them if necessary and replant them in spring.
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