Ipomoea batatas Blackie

How to grow Ipomoea batatas Blackie growing and care:

Slightly acid, well-drained soil, clear from stone, mulch, trellising, rich soil, moist soil

How to care:
Fertilize in the spring, put mulch especially when the plant is young, possible to keep the plant indoor overwinter and take it out in the spring after the last frost

What is the best way to start growing?
Plant / Seedling / Seed / Vegetative reproduction cutting or bending a branch over and covering it with soil

How to propagate cutting?
Cutting temperature 25-30C (77-86F), high humidity, possible by water and switch the water every few days or to put in soil – moist soil, better in spring to summer and possible to use in root growth hormone.

Is it necessary to graft or use vegetative reproduction?
Yes in order to ensure that color of the leaves will be purple-black and not green

Difficulties or problems when growing:
Require big area for tuber, aggressive

Planting season:
Spring as annual or as perennial in hardiness zone 10a, spring to summer in hardiness zone 10b, spring to autumn in hardiness zone 11, all year in hardiness zone 12+

How to plant:
Dig hole bigger 50% more than the roots ball, add to the hole, organic matter, dead leaves and humus put back some soil and mix it, after this put the plant cover lightly but strong enough that won’t fall put support for the plant and give it place to trellising on it, consider to prune week branches, water it twice in the first day and every day for two weeks.

Pests and diseases:
Weevil, moth, whitefly, aphids

Pruning season:
All year, better after blooming season or in the early winter or after harvesting, for annual plants no need to prune

How to prune:
Just for design

Size of the plant:
1-3 m, 3-10 feet

Growth speed in optimal condition:
Fast growing

Water requirement:
Average amount of water

Light conditions in optimal condition for growing:
Full Sun / Half Shade

Is it possible to grow indoor as houseplant?
No

Growing is also possible in a pots, planter, flowerpot or containers:
Yes, when grow in container, size 10-30 liter (2.5-8 gallon) but bigger it’s better, average amount of water that needed, it’s to keep the soil moist and the water go out of the pot, better not to use bottom for the pot, when it’s grow as perennial every two years to switch soil, and prune part of the roots and the plants, soil need to be well ventilated with good drainage, rich with organic matter, can us in potting mix or peat soil with perlite or vermiculite.

Blooming information

Bloom season:
Spring / Autumn / Winter

General information about the flower
Purple flower in trumpet shape bloom in short day (but not when it cold)

Pollination is done by:
Bees

Edible leaves

Leaves harvesting season:
All year

How to harvest the leaves?
Better to trim when pull the tuber

Information about leaves:
Purple-black to green in lobed with 5 lobes

Uses of Ipomoea batatas Blackie leaves:
Salad, stir fry, cooked

Edible tubers

Information about the tuber:
Purple to orange peel, the inner color of the tuber is white

When to pull up tuber:
Spring / Summer / Autumn

Uses of Ipomoea batatas blackie Tuber:
Cooked and more

How to grow from seeds

Sowing requirement:
temperature 22-30C (72-86F) moist soil, humidity

Saving and care seeds until sowing:
Dark and dry place

Sowing season:
Spring as annual and perennial and in hardiness zone 10a as perennial, spring to summer in hardiness zone 10b, spring to autumn in hardiness zone 11b-12a, all year in hardniess zone 12b+, planting in summer possible but not in the hot days of the summer

How to plant:
Better to plant in peat soil with vermiculite even if planting directly just dig a bigger hole and put vermiculite around the seeds

Planting spacing:
30*40 cm (12*16 inches) and to transplant 4*4cm (1.8*1.8 inch)

Depth of Sowing:
1cm (0.5 inch)

Conditions for seeds germinate:
High humidity, moist soil (better sunny location)

Watering requires for Seeds:
Average amount of water / Big amount of water

Germination time:
2-7 weeks

Condition of seedling:
Water regularly and don’t let it dry

Scientific name:

Ipomoea batatas