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Does anyone save/store ornamental sweet potatoes?
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Posted by maude_ia z5-SE Iowa (My Page) on Sat, Oct 14, 06 at 9:47
| I want to keep my ornamental sweet potatoes over the winter, and I think I heard or read that you can keep the tubers in the basement like cannas, etc. are kept.
Does anyone do this? or anything else?
Or should I just trim off the stems and pot them up?
Mary |
Follow-Up Postings:
RE: Does anyone save/store ornamental sweet potatoes?
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I've heard the same thing Mary. Mine had one huge tuber and 2 teeny ones, so will give it a try. Will probably write on them with a sharpie (so I won't forget which is which) and store with the Canas and Dahlias. Then pot them up in April (like Dahlias) so they will be going well by the time I put them out in May.....hope it works!
SOS |
RE: Does anyone save/store ornamental sweet potatoes?
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| Hi Mary. I have kept some over, cut them in half, put them in water, some in soiless medium, put ones with the eye showing in medium, planted the whole potato in water and some in medium. I had some luck on occasion but generally found it was not worth the effort. With your greenhouse and your green thumb, you should do well. I would suggest you try both the water method and potting method. They are horrible to eat! Good luck, Stan |
RE: Does anyone save/store ornamental sweet potatoes?
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| Thanks Stan. We'll call this a science project and see what happens. I had heard that they are ack-y eating. Mary |
RE: Does anyone save/store ornamental sweet potatoes?
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| I've only kept them over in pots. They don't look good and they're unruly but I've never lost any. In early spring I pull the tubers apart, which have multiplied, separated them and repotted. They don't get going as fast as I'd like, so planned on repotting sooner, but would really be interested in hearing how successful you are with your method and Stan's method, if you would be willing to post back in the spring. p.s. I haven't checked in here in a long time and it's really nice to see a little activity here. Hello everybody! |
RE: Does anyone save/store ornamental sweet potatoes?
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I save mine like I save my dahlias. I wrap them in saran wrap and store in the basement. Has worked for the last couple of years. It is nice to see postings here again. I attended a swap in southern Minnesota this year from people I had met on the Minnesota forum. Would be great to get some Iowans going with as much enthusiasm.
ladylavender |
RE: Does anyone save/store ornamental sweet potatoes?
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| I think I have tried every way possible and haven't had much luck except this year. While digging up a companion plant to save last fall I dug up a pencil size sm root of my potato plant and so I just potted it up. It took awhile (untill christmas) but I have sm lime green leaves now. I'll try it next year too but root cuttings does seem to work. If I had been smarter last year I would have put in more roots but...I'll have to try that next year. I find that I am using these more and more every year so it will be worth it for me. |
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