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Saving ornamental sweet potato tubers
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Posted by linnea56 z5 IL (My Page) on Sun, Nov 15, 09 at 21:16
| While ferreting around in the garden I dug up one of my ornamental sweet potatoes. These were killed by frost a couple of weeks ago so the tops were all shriveled. I found a cute little skinny zigzag potato on the end which was still nice and firm. So I dug up the others to check. Some are whole potatoes, but half did not form a potato, but were just thickened roots.
In the past I tried taking cuttings from them. They all rooted quickly but died not long after potting up. I tried many different variations and decided it just doesn’t work for me.
I remember some saying here they had better luck saving the tubers, like dahlias. Can anyone give me more details? Does it work to save the ones that are just roots? Or does it need to be a potato?
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Follow-Up Postings:
RE: Saving ornamental sweet potato tubers
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| I've had reasonably good luck saving the tubers in a cool, dark, DRY place like a basement. Do not put them in plastic containers or touching other roots, plants, etc. They will begin to sprout in the spring at which time, you can cut them into pieces and plant. Amazing how big they get, isn't it? |
RE: Saving ornamental sweet potato tubers
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I have similarly had good results saving them in a bag of dry peat moss in the basement over winter, then potting them up in the spring. I have never cut them into pieces though. Last year, after drying them off and dusting off all the dirt, I wrapped them in Saran wrap until January, then in planted them in pots of dry seed starter mix andkep them in the basement. In spring I wet the mix and brought them into the light and they sprouted. It took longer this way though.
I don't think it matters if they're roots or potatoes. I think potatoes are just thickened roots? |
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