What to do with end-of-season potatoes on the vine
Can I eat the end-of-season potatoes from my vines and how can I keep them growing next year?
**FULL QUESTION**
Dear *Gardening Life*,
I have noticed that my beautiful potato vines produce potatoes at the end of the season. I’d like to know if they are edible or how I can keep them over to grow new vines for next year.
*—Wendy Appleton, Bracebridge, ON*
**FULL ANSWER**
Hi Wendy,
If you are referring to the ornamental sweet potato vine (*Ipomoea batatas* ‘Blackie’ or ‘Marguerite’ or any of the other new cultivars), don’t try eating the tubers. You can winter them over by cutting the vine way back, then drying the tuber for a couple of days before storing it in peat in a place that doesn’t get colder than 10°C and watering it lightly about once a month. Another alternative is to take cuttings and root them in soilless potting mix.
*—Marjorie Harris, Editor at Large*
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