Hi. Just a couple of questions. How big is the potato? I've seen some over here in Hawaii that are about 11 inches long and about 4 inches wide at its widest point. Anyway, if it is indeed a sweet potato then all parts are edible. As for skin color and flesh color--these factors are quite variable. I grow one that has a red-brown skin and a dark purple flesh. I am looking for one that I ate a few years ago that had a purple and white "swirled" flesh. I have eaten ones that have a white flesh, a yellow flesh, and of course the ones I have mentioned. Last mention--sweet potatoes taste sweeter after being cured for a few days to a week. Hope this helps.

The actual sweet potato (as opposed to yams) depending on variety can grow quite large. I did not know you could eat the leaves of sweet potato, but I work with lots of filipino's and a very good friend told me that yes, they eat the leaves and they are very good.

I live up here in alaska, and as far as I know we can't grow these up here. I'm wondering if you can also eat the leaves from Yams too?
Linda T.

I've checked out the ornamental sweet potatoes such as the lime-green one and the one called "Blackie," and the plant tags say they are "Batata edulis." "Edulis" means edible. That is the same name as the sweet potatoes offered for growing to produce a root crop. I plan to try them at the earliest opportunity. By the way, save some for spring, check out propagation(it's easy,)and you can replant next year for free!

hi muddy2shoes.. this link doesn't seem to work:
http://brevard.ifas.ufl.edu/Horticulture/sweet_potatoes.htm
I am confused bc wiki says not edible but does not say why or provide source.. looking for a reliable source that would show one way or another...

Ok, after reading all this I am going to cook up the little sweet potatoes that formed this year and re pot the huge ones that were in my neighbors potted patio arrangement. !!

My wife and I grew the sweet potatoe vines for several years and I have seen some large potatoes. This year my company planted some vines around the building , I mentioned to coworkers about the potatoes and that I've ate them and they were best served with brown sugar and butter, and look at me " I'm fine" ( wrong choice of words ) a NB d I've ate them raw --a little woody and a little sweet . I did read they're very high in fiber.

An additional thought with all the sweet potatoes I'll get this year. Halloween is coming up------they are sweet after all hmmm just a thought

leaves and tubers are edible! stir fry, steam and add to salad with tomatoes or add to soups....real good for you America! http://www.naturalnews.com/048466_sweet_potato_leaves_nutrition.html

I've been wondering why it's not commonly done.

I just set up a halved sweet potato standing in a bowl of water, to grow slips to plant in a couple of months. If I let the vines sprawl on the ground, will they root to increase the production of tubers? I was considering training them to a trellis, but maybe I'm a little over confident in my first attempt at growing these? I suspect that if I try to keep them off the ground, the potential yield will be less.

Do the tubers tend to be superficial? Should they be allowed to 'see the sun'?

Comments?

Thanks!

Rick in CT

Mr. Brown Thumb says that the ornamental ones have been bred for their lovely foliage so that's why the potato is pithy and woody, whereas the sweet potatoes bred for their potato production are tastier ... in the tuber portion. http://mrbrownthumb.blogspot.com/2010/10/ornamental-sweet-potato-vine.html.

Sooo if they're both Ipomoeas then one should grow them for what they intend to harvest and use for their tables ... either leaves or tubers?

I have Puerto Rico sweet potatoes growing and will have to try eating the young leaves and shoots. This is a very interesting discussion because I have been curious about eating the foliage for a while.

Does anyone know if all Ipomoeas (morning glories) have edible leaves?

Thanks to you all for the information in this thread.