Grow a Sweet Potato Vine

Photo: Grow a Sweet Potato Vine Right in Your Home!

Here's an interesting and fun indoor project, that can be shared with your children/grandchildren!

At the supermarket, select a sweet potato that will fit in a see-through container. (A canning jar works nicely.)

Position the potato, so about two-thirds of it is down in the jar. You may need to insert 2-3 round toothpicks into the potato at the jar rim level, so the potato can "sit" in place. (See Photo).

Fill the jar halfway or more, with water. Now, everyone can watch as within a matter of weeks, the potato roots in the water. Keep adding water, as needed, and then vine sprouts will appear on top. Once the vine begins to grow, it is fascinating to see it daily. And it is pretty, too!

By Maggie from Park Hills, MO

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RE: Grow A Sweet Potato Vine Right In Your Home!

A neat project but remember sweet potato leaves are poisonous so be sure to teach kids not to eat them. If the kids are very young, err on the side of safety and wait until they can understand that sometimes plants can have dangerous parts as well as safe parts. (07/03/2008)

By zoodad

RE: Grow a Sweet Potato Vine Right in Your Home!

Potato leaves may be toxic, but sweet potato leaves (Ipomoea batatas) are not. The tender leaves are eaten as delicacies in Indonesia and the Philippines, and are sold in Asian stores. They are in the USDA food database. For nutritional information, raw are #11505. Bon appetit! (07/07/2008)

By peseta

RE: Grow a Sweet Potato Vine Right in Your Home!

After the vines have grown, can they be planted in the ground to grow some sweet potatoes? Editor's Note: I don't see why not. (07/07/2008)

By suzin

RE: Grow a Sweet Potato Vine Right in Your Home!

Hi Maggie; Just yesterday I was looking at a sweet potato in my cupboard that has sprouted eyes. I was thinking of planting it in a large flower pot to see what comes up, but after seeing your post have decided differently. I will place it in the water as you posted and both my daughter and I can enjoy watching it grow. Thanks for the post. Karyn (07/07/2008)

By Karyn01

RE: Grow a Sweet Potato Vine Right in Your Home!

We did this as a kid, thought it was "cool" to grow something from a jar. Thanks for the memories! (07/17/2008)

By badwater

RE: Grow a Sweet Potato Vine Right in Your Home!

The leaves are NOT toxic and are very edible. Stir fried is an excellent way to cook them. It is a common dish in Taiwan, with olive oil, garlic, and salt, yum. (12/03/2008)

By Dennis

Request: Grow a Sweet Potato Vine

Perk up that bare kitchen window with a sweet potato vine. Place a sweet potato in a vase or glass, holding it up with three toothpicks so it doesn't fall to the bottom of the vase. When it sprouts, the sprouts will grow straight up until their weight causes them to fall over. You will have to fasten them with string or yarn to get the runners to go where you want them to grow. Be sure to keep it watered.

They will grow wherever you direct them. I had one in my office and it went up in the corner and around the side of the room, and then I directed it back the way it came. I've been told the runners could be planted so you could grow your own sweet potatoes, but I've never tried that. Also, it is educational for little children to see it grow.

Source: My mother had a sweet potato vine in our kitchen window in 1939, and many times after that.

By Clynnaltemus from Inglis, FL

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