Pests Eating a Sweet Potato Plant

By

yippie57

These plant pests are extremely common .I sprayed mine with dish soap and water solution. It worked, but because it is so common I no longer grow these.Too high maintinance for my large garden.Christine in SC

By

peseta

If you don't like pesticides, and who does, try diatomaceous earth.

By

Beth - MA

The most common pest for the decorative potato vine is the very tiny tortoise beetle. They're hard to catch eating the plant, since they prefer to hang out on the undersides of the leaves. They'll destroy them pretty quick if left alone. I'd give the vines a good spray with any pesticide, and be sure to get the undersides as well. This is assuming you have a bit of time left before they die for the year... The pesticide will kill the beetles for now, but I doubt your plants will have enough time to generate new, prettier leaves before a killing freeze. Just be on the lookout early for the same damage next year. Good luck!