How to Winterize Sweet Potato Vines
Sweet potatoes are fun and easy to grow as a root crop in your personal garden, or as a decorative vine. The vegetables are highly versatile, and can be harvested and eaten at any stage of their growth. The foliage is a beautiful green color as well. As summer plants, however, sweet potatoes go dormant in the winter and can fall prey to the colder temperatures. Protect your sweet potatoes with a couple of standard overwintering steps. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
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1
Move the potted sweet potato vines into a barn or shed, if it's available. This way the plants can go dormant over the winter and be protected from wind and freezing temperatures. If you don't have a structure available, move to Step 2.
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2
Mulch your potato vines if they can't be moved indoors by spreading a 4-inch layer of hay, straw or grass cuttings over the vines. Mulch after the first freeze of the year. This timing will depend on your region's climate.
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3
Place boards or other heavy objects on the corners of the mulch to hold it in place, and down the rows between sweet potato vines.
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4
Leave the potato vines covered or inside until spring. When the plants begin to grow again, remove the mulch or take the pots back outside.
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Tips & Warnings
Before you winterize your sweet potato vines, take cuttings to maintain indoors. If your potato vines don't survive the winter, start new plants in the spring from these cuttings.
Don't use plastic alone to protect sweet potato vines over winter, as it won't be thick enough to protect the plants.
Do not use lime or fresh manure to revive your potato vines in spring, as they will cause scabs on potatoes.
