Sweet potatoes from ornamental sweet potato vine - Ask Extension
Hello, I had ornamental sweet potato vine in containers. They all died in the frost this week, so I dumped out the containers. Are the sweet potatoes...
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Sweet potatoes from ornamental sweet potato vine #289264
Asked November 07, 2015, 6:15 PM EST
Hello,
I had ornamental sweet potato vine in containers. They all died in the frost this week, so I dumped out the containers. Are the sweet potatoes that grew in the containers edible? Could i leave them out in the yard for my chickens to peck at?
Is there a way to preserve them over the winter and grow new plants next season?
Thank you in advance,
I had ornamental sweet potato vine in containers. They all died in the frost this week, so I dumped out the containers. Are the sweet potatoes that grew in the containers edible? Could i leave them out in the yard for my chickens to peck at?
Is there a way to preserve them over the winter and grow new plants next season?
Thank you in advance,
Arapahoe County Colorado
Expert Response
The tubers from ornamental sweet potato vines are considered edible, however, they generally do not taste very good. Ornamental sweet potatoes are really bred for their beautiful foliage and not for the taste of the tubers.
One good use for them would indeed be for food for your chickens, provided pesticides were not used on your containers.
Ornamental sweet potato tubers can be treated the same as any tender bulb such as Gladiola, Dahlia, and Canna. Below is a helpful link on how to overwinter these tubers:
Additional information on tender bulbs and how to care for them. Treat ornamental sweet potatoes the same.
