Ipomoea batatas
(L.)Poir.
Convolvulaceae
The Temperate Database is in the process of being updated, with new records being added and old ones being checked and brought up to date where necessary. This record has not yet been checked and updated.
Common Name: Sweet Potato
White and red forms of the roots
Photograph by: CostaPPPR

General Information
Ipomoea batatas is a Perennial Climber up to 3.00 metres tall.
It is harvested from the wild for local use as a food and source of materials.
Known Hazards
None known
Botanical References
200- Title
- The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Huxley. A.
- Publisher
- MacMillan Press
- Year
- 1992
- ISBN
- 0-333-47494-5
- Description
- Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
Range
Pantropical.
Habitat
Derived in cultivation, probably from Ipomoea trifida, this species is not known in a truly wild situation.
Properties
Edibility Rating |      |
Habit | Perennial Climber |
Height | 3.00 m |
Growth Rate | Fast |
Cultivation Status | Wild |
Cultivation Details
An easily grown plant, it prefers a well-drained, sandy loam soil and requires a sunny position[
200- Title
- The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Huxley. A.
- Publisher
- MacMillan Press
- Year
- 1992
- ISBN
- 0-333-47494-5
- Description
- Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
,
264- Title
- Vegetables
- Publication
-
- Author
- Phillips. R. & Rix. M.
- Publisher
- Macmillan Reference Books, London.
- Year
- 1995
- ISBN
- 0 333 62640 0
- Description
- Excellent and easily read book with good information and an excellent collection of photos of vegetables from around the world, including many unusual species.
]. Ample potash in the soil is essential for a good crop[
264- Title
- Vegetables
- Publication
-
- Author
- Phillips. R. & Rix. M.
- Publisher
- Macmillan Reference Books, London.
- Year
- 1995
- ISBN
- 0 333 62640 0
- Description
- Excellent and easily read book with good information and an excellent collection of photos of vegetables from around the world, including many unusual species.
]. Prefers a pH in the range 5.5 - 6.5[
200- Title
- The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Huxley. A.
- Publisher
- MacMillan Press
- Year
- 1992
- ISBN
- 0-333-47494-5
- Description
- Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
]. A low humidity as the plants reach maturity is beneficial[
200- Title
- The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Huxley. A.
- Publisher
- MacMillan Press
- Year
- 1992
- ISBN
- 0-333-47494-5
- Description
- Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
].
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[
200- Title
- The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Huxley. A.
- Publisher
- MacMillan Press
- Year
- 1992
- ISBN
- 0-333-47494-5
- Description
- Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
] and can mature a crop within 2 months in tropical areas, though at least three months are required in sub-tropical regions[
264- Title
- Vegetables
- Publication
-
- Author
- Phillips. R. & Rix. M.
- Publisher
- Macmillan Reference Books, London.
- Year
- 1995
- ISBN
- 0 333 62640 0
- Description
- Excellent and easily read book with good information and an excellent collection of photos of vegetables from around the world, including many unusual species.
].
The sweet potato was developed in cultivation, probably from the central American species Ipomoea trifida (HBK.)D.Don[
264- Title
- Vegetables
- Publication
-
- Author
- Phillips. R. & Rix. M.
- Publisher
- Macmillan Reference Books, London.
- Year
- 1995
- ISBN
- 0 333 62640 0
- Description
- Excellent and easily read book with good information and an excellent collection of photos of vegetables from around the world, including many unusual species.
]. It is widely grown in tropical regions as a staple root crop and also as an industrial source of starch[
200- Title
- The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Huxley. A.
- Publisher
- MacMillan Press
- Year
- 1992
- ISBN
- 0-333-47494-5
- Description
- Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
]. 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[
200- Title
- The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Huxley. A.
- Publisher
- MacMillan Press
- Year
- 1992
- ISBN
- 0-333-47494-5
- Description
- Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
].
A scrambling or climbing plant, when the stems lay along the soil they will root and form tubers[
264- Title
- Vegetables
- Publication
-
- Author
- Phillips. R. & Rix. M.
- Publisher
- Macmillan Reference Books, London.
- Year
- 1995
- ISBN
- 0 333 62640 0
- Description
- Excellent and easily read book with good information and an excellent collection of photos of vegetables from around the world, including many unusual species.
].
A short-day plant, it requires less than 11 hours of sunlight per day to initiate flowering[
200- Title
- The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Huxley. A.
- Publisher
- MacMillan Press
- Year
- 1992
- ISBN
- 0-333-47494-5
- Description
- Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
]. However, day length variation appears to have little effect upon tuber production[
200- Title
- The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Huxley. A.
- Publisher
- MacMillan Press
- Year
- 1992
- ISBN
- 0-333-47494-5
- Description
- Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
].
Edible Uses
Root - cooked[
200- Title
- The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Huxley. A.
- Publisher
- MacMillan Press
- Year
- 1992
- ISBN
- 0-333-47494-5
- Description
- Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
]. Sweet and fleshy, it is a delicious staple food and is also very nutritious providing a rich source of vitamins and minerals[
200- Title
- The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Huxley. A.
- Publisher
- MacMillan Press
- Year
- 1992
- ISBN
- 0-333-47494-5
- Description
- Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
,
K- Title
- Plants for a Future
- Author
- Ken Fern
- Description
- Notes from observations, tasting etc at Plants For A Future and on field trips.
]. There are cultivars with soft, moist flesh and also forms with a more dry flesh[
200- Title
- The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Huxley. A.
- Publisher
- MacMillan Press
- Year
- 1992
- ISBN
- 0-333-47494-5
- Description
- Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
]. There are also less sweet cultivars, bred for industrial production of starch[
200- Title
- The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Huxley. A.
- Publisher
- MacMillan Press
- Year
- 1992
- ISBN
- 0-333-47494-5
- Description
- Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
]. 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[
264- Title
- Vegetables
- Publication
-
- Author
- Phillips. R. & Rix. M.
- Publisher
- Macmillan Reference Books, London.
- Year
- 1995
- ISBN
- 0 333 62640 0
- Description
- Excellent and easily read book with good information and an excellent collection of photos of vegetables from around the world, including many unusual species.
].
Young shoot tips[
264- Title
- Vegetables
- Publication
-
- Author
- Phillips. R. & Rix. M.
- Publisher
- Macmillan Reference Books, London.
- Year
- 1995
- ISBN
- 0 333 62640 0
- Description
- Excellent and easily read book with good information and an excellent collection of photos of vegetables from around the world, including many unusual species.
].
Medicinal
None known
Other Uses
The root is a source of starch[
200- Title
- The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Huxley. A.
- Publisher
- MacMillan Press
- Year
- 1992
- ISBN
- 0-333-47494-5
- Description
- Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
].
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[
200- Title
- The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Huxley. A.
- Publisher
- MacMillan Press
- Year
- 1992
- ISBN
- 0-333-47494-5
- Description
- Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
].
Stem cuttings obtained from terminal shoots[
200- Title
- The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Huxley. A.
- Publisher
- MacMillan Press
- Year
- 1992
- ISBN
- 0-333-47494-5
- Description
- Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
]. Remove the lower leaves and insert the cuttings to half their depth in individual pots.
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