Can You Eat Ornamental Sweet Potatoes

Ornamental sweet potatoes, though they are not poisonous, have roots that are much more bitter in flavor than their food crop counterparts, bordering on unpleasant. They also tend to mature to a much smaller size than the roots you're used to finding at the grocery store, or digging out of the earth.

Are ornamental sweet potato plants edible?

The roots of ornamental sweet potatoes can be eaten. However, the ornamental varieties were selected for their attractive foliage, not their culinary qualities. The culinary qualities of the ornamental sweet potato roots may not measure up to their vegetable counterparts.

Can you eat potatoes from a decorative potato vine?

While you can eat the potatoes from a decorative potato or sweet potato vine, they likely won't taste as good as the more common varieties you'd find at the grocery store or farmer's market.

Are the roots of ornamental sweet potatoes edible?

Breeders select ornamental cultivars based on attractive foliage and not for edible quality. So while the tuberous roots of the ornamental cultivars are edible, their flavor and texture are not likely to be of the same quality as those selected for eating.

Can you eat flowering sweet potato?

The bottom line is that ornamental sweet potatoes are bred specifically for their foliage, whether it be bright purple or vivid green. They produce fleshy, tuberous roots like their edible counterparts, but the quality of the tubers is generally not suitable for eating.

Are sweet potato plants poisonous to humans?

The leaves, stems, and tubers of sweet potato vine are not toxic. The tubers are edible, but ornamental varieties were bred to produce lovely foliage, not a delicious crop. If you want to eat the tubers, it's better to plant a variety specifically meant for food production.

Can you eat sweet potatoes from ornamental sweet potato vines?

Are ornamental sweet potatoes edible? If you want sweet potatoes to eat, the tubers from your ornamental sweet potato vines are indeed edible. However, you're better off choosing a variety that's specifically developed as a food crop.

Are all sweet potato vines edible?

In the United States, most gardeners grow sweet potatoes for the big, sweet tubers. However, the leafy green tops are edible too. If you've never tried eating potato vine leaves, you're missing out on a tasty, highly nutritious veggie.

What is ornamental sweet potato?

The ornamental sweet potato is a bold tropical plant that grows as a perennial in Florida. The foliage is much more colorful than that of edible sweet potatoes. This unique plant is popular for containers and borders. In a container, the vines will quickly flow over the edges.

Do ornamental sweet potatoes make potatoes?

Like the edible versions, ornamental sweet potatoes are vining plants related to morning glories, but the ornamental types are grown strictly for their attractive foliage. A common question is, "Do they produce edible sweet potatoes?" The answer is no.

How do you store ornamental sweet potato tubers?

Overwintering Ornamental Sweet Potatoes as Tubers Take off any greenery that still remains. Pack the tubers in some well-moistened peat moss or newspaper and place them in a cool, dark place. Check the tubers every week to ensure they stay moist and mist them if necessary.

Can you start a sweet potato plant from a sweet potato?

Place the sweet potato in a container of water. Keep the top 1/3 of the potato exposed by placing toothpicks into the sides. The pointed end should be down in the water. In a few weeks a vine with several stems will begin to sprout.

Can you eat a sprouting and flowering sweet potato?

The short answer is yes. Potatoes that have sprouted are still OK to eat, but only once you've removed the sprouts. Here's a guide on how to remove them, how to properly store potatoes and when it's not alright to eat them.

Do sweet potatoes have to cure before eating?

While it's tempting to eat your newly harvested sweet potatoes immediately, it's important to let them cure first. During the curing process, the starches inside the sweet potatoes convert to sugars, and that takes about two to three weeks with proper storage.

Who should not eat sweet potato?

04/7​Diabetes Being high in dietary fiber and low glycemic index content, sweet potatoes can help to manage blood sugar in the body. But one should not take it in excess, else it can lead to a spike in the blood sugar level.

How can you tell if a sweet potato is edible?

If your sweet potato is oozing, soft and squishy, discolored, smelly, or have a bunch of sprouts, it's time to toss. If there are only a few sprouts and the sweet potato is still firm you can cut the sprouted portion off, cook and eat right away, or you can plant it!

Are all varieties of sweet potato leaves edible?

Yes. Sweet potato plants are typically grown for their sweet tubers, but the leaves are great too. These edible leaves – scientifically called Ipomoea Batatas – contain high dietary fibre and can be absolutely delicious.

Is there cyanide in sweet potato?

Foods containing these cyanide compounds that are generally consumed by humans include cassava, sweet potato and yam; maize and millet; bamboo and sugar cane; peas and beans, and especially lima or butter bean; kernels of almond, lemon lime, apple, pear, cherry, apricot and plum, including the prune.

Does ornamental sweet potato vine come back every year?

Ornamental sweet potato vines will come back every year if you live in a warm enough climate (zones 9+). However, they will not survive outside through the winter in colder climates.

Can I grow a sweet potato vine from a store bought sweet potato?

If you have a sweet potato sprouting in the cupboard, it might be too far gone for dinner. However, if you plant the sprouting section, called a slip, you can grow your own sweet potatoes in just a few months time. Store-bought sweet potatoes work perfectly well and growing them is simple.