THE GREENHOUSE SHOW

Edible varieties of the sweet potato make beautiful vines, too

Oct 8, 2022, 6:00 AM

SALT LAKE CITY — Many savvy gardeners use ornamental sweet potato vines as a trailing accent in their planters and container gardens. But did you know that edible varieties also produce a beautiful vine?

Edible varieties can provide a wonderful spiller for your summer containers, while at the same time producing a fall crop of sweet potatoes that are both delicious and high in vitamins.

Growing tips for the edible varieties of sweet potato

There are several varieties of sweet potatoes to choose from that perform well in Utah.

In a recently filmed video for the KSL Greenhouse Show, Horticulture Assistant Professor for Utah State University Extension Sheriden Hansen called it “double duty.”

She said not only are edible sweet potatoes prolific growers, “They are beautiful. They trellis, they hang.” But they can also be a part of your vegetable crop rather than just a “throwaway ornamental” at the end of the growing season.

Storing the edible sweet potato

Hansen says sweet potatoes are also a great item to plant for food storage purposes. When cured properly, these homegrown tubers can be enjoyed for months after the growing season.

Harvesting tips for the edible sweet potato

These tips will be useful if you are harvesting your sweet potato.

  • Wait until the foliage starts to turn yellow or after the first frost damages the leaves.
  • Use a spading fork or shovel and carefully dig up the swollen roots.
  • Take care not to bruise, cut or otherwise damage the roots.
  • Cure for 1-2 weeks at 80°F.
  • Store in a cool, dry location (50-55º F).

To learn more about food storage, visit Be Ready Utah.

Related reading:

We want to hear from you.

Have a story idea or tip? Send it to the KSL NewsRadio team here.

The Greenhouse Show

Because a lot of stone fruits don't completely adapt to Utah’s climate, you’ll often see Cytosp...

Michelle Lee

How to treat Cytospora canker on fruit trees

Need help treating Cytospora canker on your fruit trees? Read on to learn what the disease is, how to tell if your tree has it, and how you can help treat or prevent it.

19 days ago

One particular type of vole that tends to cause more damage in the fall and winter is the meadow vo...

Michelle Lee

Beware of voles in your lawn this time of year

Have you spotted any voles in your lawn lately? One particular type of vole that tends to cause more damage in the fall and winter is the meadow vole.

26 days ago

The very first step to prolonging your jack-o’-lanterns is to not carve them too soon. In this ca...

Michelle Lee

How to preserve your jack-o’-lanterns

Halloween is just days away, and what better way to decorate for the occasion than by carving jack-o’-lanterns?

1 month ago

Green patch of comfrey in a medicinal herb garden....

Michelle Lee

WATCH: Medicinal herb garden with the KSL Greenhouse

Sheriden Hansen from Utah State University Extension decided to grow a medicinal garden after learning about how herbs were used as medicine throughout history.

2 months ago

A light green zucchini rampicante hanging down from trellises, surrounded by green leaves...

Michelle Lee

WATCH: Beautiful trellises and vines with the KSL Greenhouse

Looking for things to grow on your trellises and vines? You will get to see Asian cucumbers, pumpkins, purple beans, and more!

2 months ago

Two red-orange, pear-shaped Goldman's Italian American tomatoes...

Michelle Lee

WATCH: Tomatoes, tomatoes, and more tomatoes with the KSL Greenhouse

From dwarf tomatoes to Amish Paste, there's so much to see and to plant! And these are just a few of the thousands of tomato varieties.

2 months ago

Sponsored Articles

front of the Butch Cassidy museum with a man in a cowboy hat standing in the doorway...

Bear Lake Convention and Visitors Bureau

Looking Back: The History of Bear Lake

The history of Bear Lake is full of fascinating stories. At over 250,000 years old, the lake has seen generations of people visit its shores.

silhouette of a family looking over a lake with a bird in the top corner flying...

Bear Lake Convention and Visitors Bureau

8 Fun Activities To Do in Bear Lake Without Getting in the Water

Bear Lake offers plenty of activities for the whole family to enjoy without having to get in the water. Catch 8 of our favorite activities.

Wellsville Mountains in the spring with a pond in the foreground...

Wasatch Property Management

Advantages of Renting Over Owning a Home

Renting allows you to enjoy luxury amenities and low maintenance without the long-term commitment and responsibilities of owning a home.

Clouds over a red rock vista in Hurricane, Utah...

Wasatch Property Management

Why Southern Utah is a Retirement Paradise

Retirement in southern Utah offers plenty of cultural and recreational opportunities. Find out all that this region has to offer.

Human hand holding a protest banner stop vaping message over a crowded street background....

Prosperous Utah Communities

Utah’s Battle to Protect Youth from Vaping Epidemic Faces New Threat as Proposed Rule Threatens Progress

Utah's strict standards of nicotine levels in vaping products are at risk, increasing health hazards associated with use. Read more about how you can advocate for a better future for Utah's youth.

Aerial photo of Bear Lake shoreline with canopies and people camped out on the beach...

Visit Bear Lake

Last-Minute Summer Vacation Planning? Check Out Bear Lake!

Bear Lake is the perfect getaway if you are last-minute summer vacation planning. Enjoy activities with your whole family at this iconic lake.

Edible varieties of the sweet potato make beautiful vines, too