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Ipomoea batatas
  • Sweet Potato

a perennial woody member of the Ipomoea genus in the family Convolvulaceae.

248px
Niche
  • Climber
    Climber
    There are no details available for this niche.
Functions
  • None
    None
    There are no functions defined for this plant. Do you know of some? Click the edit button to add them!
Light
  • Full sun
    Full sun
    The amount of sun exposure that a plant prefers in ideal conditions.
    Key
  • no shade
    No shade
    The amount of shade a plant will tolerate without adverse health affects.
    Key
Water
  • Water Requirementsmoderate
    Moderate
    The amount of water a plant needs for healthy growth, relative to other plants.
    Key
Soil
  • acid,neutral
    Acid to Neutral
    The PH range (acidity or alkilinity) of the growth medium ideal for healthy nutrient absorbtion.
    Key
  • Sandy to Loamy
    The soil texture this plant prefers for optimal growth.
    Key
Cold & Heat
  • 9
    Zone 9
    The USDA Hardiness scale assigns plants a number from 1 to 12 representing the minimum temperature a plant can survive.
    Key
    0< -53.9ºC< -65ºF
    1-51.1ºC-60ºF
    2-45.6ºC-50F
    3-40ºC-40ºF
    4-34.4ºC-30ºF
    5-28.9ºC-20ºF
    6-23.3ºC-10ºF
    7-17.8ºC0ºF
    8-12.2C10ºF
    9-6.7ºC20ºF
    10-1.1ºC30ºF
    114.4ºC40ºF
    12> 10ºC> 5ºF
  • ?
    Unknown
    The AHS Heat scale assigns plants a number from 1 to 12 representing the number of days per year a plant requires a temperature exceeding 30ºC (86ºF).
    Key
    11
    21 - 7
    38 - 14
    415 - 30
    531 - 45
    646 - 60
    761 - 90
    891 - 120
    9121 - 150
    10151 - 180
    11181 - 210
    12181 - 210
Ipomoea batatas has 0 edible uses listed
Ipomoea batatas has 0 material uses listed

Uses

Edible uses

Notes

Root - cooked[1]. 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[1]. There are also less sweet cultivars, bred for industrial production of starch[1]. 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[2]. Young shoot tips[2].

Root

Unknown use

Leaves

Unknown use

Material uses

The root is a source of starch[1].

Unknown part

Biomass

Medicinal uses(Warning!)

There are no medicinal uses listed for Ipomoea batatas.

Ecology

Ecosystem niche/layer

Climber

Ecological Functions

Nothing listed.

Forage

Nothing listed.

Shelter

Nothing listed.

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[1]. Stem cuttings obtained from terminal shoots[1]. Remove the lower leaves and insert the cuttings to half their depth in individual pots.

Practical Plants is currently lacking information on propagation instructions of Ipomoea batatas. Help us fill in the blanks! Edit this page to add your knowledge.



Cultivation

An easily grown plant, it prefers a well-drained, sandy loam soil and requires a sunny position[1][2]. Ample potash in the soil is essential for a good crop[2]. Prefers a pH in the range 5.5 - 6.5[1]. A low humidity as the plants reach maturity is beneficial[1].

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[1] and can mature a crop within 2 months in tropical areas, though at least three months are required in sub-tropical regions[2]. The sweet potato was developed in cultivation, probably from the central American species Ipomoea trifida (HBK.)D.Don[2]. It is widely grown in tropical regions as a staple root crop and also as an industrial source of starch[1]. 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[1]. A scrambling or climbing plant, when the stems lay along the soil they will root and form tubers[2].

A short-day plant, it requires less than 11 hours of sunlight per day to initiate flowering[1]. However, day length variation appears to have little effect upon tuber production[1].

Crops

Problems, pests & diseases

Associations & Interactions

There are no interactions listed for Ipomoea batatas. Do you know of an interaction that should be listed here? edit this page to add it.

Polycultures & Guilds

There are no polycultures listed which include Ipomoea batatas.

Descendants

Cultivars

Varieties

None listed.

Subspecies

None listed.

Full Data

This table shows all the data stored for this plant.

Taxonomy
Binomial name
Ipomoea batatas
Genus
Ipomoea
Family
Convolvulaceae
Imported References
Edible uses
[1][2]
Medicinal uses
Material uses & Functions
[1]
Botanic
[1]
Propagation
Cultivation
Environment
Cultivation
Uses
Edible uses
None listed.
Material uses
None listed.
Medicinal uses
None listed.
Functions & Nature
Functions
Provides forage for
Provides shelter for
Environment
Hardiness Zone
9
Heat Zone
?
Water
moderate
Sun
full sun
Shade
no shade
Soil PH
acid, neutral
Soil Texture
sandy, loamy
Soil Water Retention
well drained
Environmental Tolerances
    Ecosystems
    Native Climate Zones
    None listed.
    Adapted Climate Zones
    None listed.
    Native Geographical Range
    None listed.
    Native Environment
    None listed.
    Ecosystem Niche
    Climber
    Root Zone Tendancy
    None listed.
    Life
    Deciduous or Evergreen
    ?
    Herbaceous or Woody
    woody
    Life Cycle
    perennial
    Growth Rate
    vigorous
    Mature Size
    3 x meters
    Fertility
    ?
    Pollinators
    ?
    Flower Colour
    ?
    Flower Type
    hermaphrodite

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    "image:Ipomoea batatas.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki. "image:Ipomoea batatas.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.


    "image:Ipomoea batatas.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.

    "image:Ipomoea batatas.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.

    "image:Ipomoea batatas.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki., "image:Ipomoea batatas.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki. "image:Ipomoea batatas.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki., "image:Ipomoea batatas.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki. "image:Ipomoea batatas.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki. "image:Ipomoea batatas.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.






    References

    1. ? 1.001.011.021.031.041.051.061.071.081.091.101.111.121.131.141.151.16 Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press ISBN 0-333-47494-5 (1992-00-00)
    2. ? 2.02.12.22.32.42.52.62.7 Phillips. R. & Rix. M. Vegetables Macmillan Reference Books, London. ISBN 0 333 62640 0 (1995-00-00)

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    Retrieved from "https://practicalplants.org/w/index.php?title=Ipomoea_batatas&oldid=77920"
    Facts about "Ipomoea batatas"RDF feed
    Article is incompleteYes +
    Article requires citationsNo +
    Article requires cleanupYes +
    Belongs to familyConvolvulaceae +
    Belongs to genusIpomoea +
    Has binomial nameIpomoea batatas +
    Has common nameSweet Potato +
    Has drought toleranceIntolerant +
    Has edible partRoot + and Leaves +
    Has edible useUnknown use +
    Has flowers of typeHermaphrodite +
    Has growth rateVigorous +
    Has hardiness zone9 +
    Has imageIpomoea batatas.jpg +
    Has lifecycle typePerennial +
    Has material partUnknown part +
    Has material useBiomass +
    Has mature height3 +
    Has primary imageIpomoea batatas.jpg +
    Has search nameipomoea batatas + and sweet potato +
    Has shade toleranceNo shade +
    Has soil ph preferenceAcid + and Neutral +
    Has soil texture preferenceSandy + and Loamy +
    Has soil water retention preferenceWell drained +
    Has sun preferenceFull sun +
    Has taxonomic rankSpecies +
    Has taxonomy nameIpomoea batatas +
    Has water requirementsmoderate +
    Inhabits ecosystem nicheClimber +
    Is herbaceous or woodyWoody +
    Is taxonomy typeSpecies +
    PFAF cultivation notes migratedNo +
    PFAF edible use notes migratedNo +
    PFAF material use notes migratedNo +
    PFAF medicinal use notes migratedYes +
    PFAF propagation notes migratedNo +
    PFAF toxicity notes migratedYes +
    Tolerates nutritionally poor soilNo +
    Uses mature size measurement unitMeters +
    Has subobjectThis property is a special property in this wiki.Ipomoea batatas +, Ipomoea batatas + and Ipomoea batatas +