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Summary
Main Bloom Time: Late summer, Mid summer. Form: Spreading or horizontal.
Physical Characteristics

Ipomoea batatas is a PERENNIAL CLIMBER growing to 3 m (9ft 10in) at a fast rate.
It is hardy to zone (UK) 9 and is frost tender. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs).
Suitable for: light (sandy) and medium (loamy) soils and prefers well-drained soil. Suitable pH: acid and neutral soils. It cannot grow in the shade. It prefers moist soil.
UK Hardiness Map
US Hardiness Map
Synonyms
Habitats
Cultivated Beds; South Wall. By. West Wall. By.
Edible Uses
Edible Parts: Leaves Root
Edible Uses:
Root - cooked[200]. Sweet and fleshy, it is a delicious staple food and is also very nutritious providing a rich source of vitamins and minerals[200, K]. There are cultivars with soft, moist flesh and also forms with a more dry flesh[200]. There are also less sweet cultivars, bred for industrial production of starch[200]. In order for the roots to store through the winter, they need to be cured in the sunshine at temperatures around 25°c fr about a week before being stored at around 14°c[264]. Young shoot tips[264].
References
Medicinal Uses
Plants For A Future can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.
None known
References
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Other Uses
Biomass
The root is a source of starch[200].
Special Uses
References
Cultivation details
Landscape Uses:Alpine garden, Arbor, Container, Ground cover, Specimen. An easily grown plant, it prefers a well-drained, sandy loam soil and requires a sunny position[200, 264]. Ample potash in the soil is essential for a good crop[264]. Prefers a pH in the range 5.5 - 6.5[200]. A low humidity as the plants reach maturity is beneficial[200]. Plants are not frost hardy and can only be grown in areas where at least 3 months of frost-free conditions can be supplied. They grow best in a temperature range of 22 - 25°c[200] and can mature a crop within 2 months in tropical areas, though at least three months are required in sub-tropical regions[264]. The sweet potato was developed in cultivation, probably from the central American species Ipomoea trifida (HBK.)D.Don[264]. It is widely grown in tropical regions as a staple root crop and also as an industrial source of starch[200]. It can also be grown in sub-tropical areas, but is not generally suited for temperate regions. However, a cultivar 'Beauregard' has been introduced than can produce reasonable yields in the temperate zone, though even this cultivar will require the extra warmth prvided by a cold frame or cold greenhouse if it is to produce well[200]. A scrambling or climbing plant, when the stems lay along the soil they will root and form tubers[264]. A short-day plant, it requires less than 11 hours of sunlight per day to initiate flowering[200]. However, day length variation appears to have little effect upon tuber production[200]. Special Features:
Attractive foliage, Edible.
References
Temperature Converter
Type a value in the Celsius field to convert the value to Fahrenheit:
Fahrenheit:
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Propagation
Pre-soak the seed for 12 hours in warm water, or scarify the seed, and sow in individual pots in a greenhouse in early spring. The seed usually germinates in 1 - 3 weeks at 22°c. Plants are extremely resentful of root disturbance, even when they are quite small, and should be potted up almost as soon as they germinate. Grow them on in the greenhouse for at least their first winter then plant them out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts. Seedlings can be very variable and are likely to be less productive than vegetatively produced plants[200]. Stem cuttings obtained from terminal shoots[200]. Remove the lower leaves and insert the cuttings to half their depth in individual pots.
Other Names
If available other names are mentioned here
Sweet Potato, Agietu, Anago-te, Anamo, Atomo anago, Bambaira, Bath-ala, Blofo atomo, Boniato, Buteta, Camote, Chakarakilangu, Chelagada, Chokeh, Damloong chhvie, Dankali, Dinkale, Dukuma, Ekomeko, E-muna, Faan shu, Fanshu, Genasu, Hila, Hongshu, Huwi boled, Huwi matang, Imbambaila, Ji-oyibo, Kalembula wa lungu, Kamote, Kanangi, Kanda, Kaukau, Kawai-ni-vulagi, Keladi, Keledek, Ketela, Khoai lang, Klawang, Kudaku, Kukunduku, Kumala, Kumara, Lal alu, Luzu vaka, Man-thet, Mitha alu, N jowo, Ntommo, Odunkum, Petete, Phan-karo, Pilau katelo, Pot-ecok, Ranga alu, Ratalu, Sakaria, Sakarkenda, Sakarkhand, Sakkareivelleikilangu, Satsuma inno, Setilo, Shakar-kandi, Shakarkand, apichu, batat, batata, batata-da-terra, batata-doce, batate, boniato, bíme mábi, goguma, kkumara, kuumara, papa dulce, patate douce, sweet-potato, süßkartoffel, tuktuka, wild potato vine, wild potato wit, yam, zoete aardappel.
Found In
Countries where the plant has been found are listed here if the information is available
Africa, Andes, Asia, Australia, Bangladesh, Barbados, Benin, Brazil, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Caribbean, Central Africa, Central America, China, Colombia, Congo DR, Congo R, Cook Islands, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, East Africa, East Timor, Ecuador, Ethiopia, Fiji, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guatemala, Guiana, Guinea, Guinée, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Hawaii, Honduras, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Ivory Coast, Japan, Kenya, Kiribati, Korea, Laos, Liberia, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mediterranean, Mexico, Mozambique, Nauru, Nepal, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, North America, Northeastern India, Pacific, Panama, Papua New Guinea, PNG, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Polynesia, Samoa, SE Asia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Southern Africa, South America, South Sudan
Weed Potential
Right plant wrong place. We are currently updating this section.
Please note that a plant may be invasive in one area but may not in your area so it’s worth checking.
Conservation Status
IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants Status : This taxon has not yet been assessed
Growth: S = slow M = medium F = fast. Soil: L = light (sandy) M = medium H = heavy (clay). pH: A = acid N = neutral B = basic (alkaline). Shade: F = full shade S = semi-shade N = no shade. Moisture: D = dry M = Moist We = wet Wa = water.
Expert comment
Author
(L.)Poir.
Botanical References
200
Links / References
For a list of references used on this page please go here
A special thanks to Ken Fern for some of the information used on this page.
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