Ipomoea batatas
Sweet Potato
Photo of Ipomoea batatas - Sweet Potato
No photo for the moment for Ipomoea batatas - Sweet Potato
Please note: You must be the owner of the posted photo and it must not be copyrighted.
Things You Must Knows cannot be held responsible for photos posted in violation of this rule
Common Name:
Foliage color:
GreenSun (From 0 to 5):
Water (From 0 to 5):
Maximum temperature:
Minimum temperature:
Maximum height:
Sweet Potato (Ipomoea batatas) - Description
The sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas) is a dicotyledonous plant that belongs to the family Convolvulaceae. Its large, starchy, sweet-tasting, tuberous roots are a root vegetable. The young leaves and shoots are sometimes eaten as greens. Of the approximately 50 genera and more than 1,000 species of Convolvulaceae, I. batatas is the only crop plant of major importance—some others are used locally, but many are actually poisonous.
Sweet Potato (Ipomoea batatas) - Blooming
The flowers of Morning Glories usually last a single day, unfurling in the morning and fading later in the day. Moonflowers (I. alba) however bloom in the late evening. The blooms of Ipomoea may attract butterflies, moths, and occasionally hummingbirds.
Sweet Potato (Ipomoea batatas) - Growth
Morning Glories do best with full sun. They are good candidates for growing up a trellis or fence, and may even require support.
Sweet Potato (Ipomoea batatas) - Planting
Sow Morning Glory seeds after threat of frost has passed. Nick the seed coat and soak overnight. Plant sweet potato slips (6-8" tall sprouts) in ridges with a height of 8". Place the slips be 12-18" apart, and space the ridges 3-4' apart, as the plants will need plenty of room to grow.
Sweet Potato (Ipomoea batatas) - Interesting facts
The common name for the genus Ipomoea is Morning Glory, even though this genus also has very famous and popular members such as I. batatas and I. indica. Those species are commonly known as the sweet potato and Blue Dawn Flower, respectively.The sweet potato was first cultivated between four and five thousand years ago in South America.
Sweet Potato (Ipomoea batatas) - Soil and irrigation
Water regularly during the growing season for best results, but it only needs moderate water at other times.
