Sweet potatoes are usually grown in fields or in garden beds. But if you don't have enough space for the sprouting plant, you don't have to miss out on the beautiful appearance of the morning glory plant. The plant also thrives in a pot or flower box on the balcony, as the following article proves.
How can I care for a sweet potato plant on the balcony?
Sweet potato plants also thrive on the balcony in pots or flower boxes, as long as they have enough space, enough water without waterlogging and a sunny location. A 30 liter bucket with drainage, regular liquid fertilizer and, if necessary, a roof is ideal.
The sweet potato in the bucket
As long as you choose a suitable location and give your sweet potato plant enough space to develop, the root vegetable will also grow in the flower box. The plant even forms small tubers in the pot that you can harvest and process in autumn. Keeping it in a container is particularly practical because you can move the plant to a sheltered location depending on the weather.
The Pot
A sweet potato plant takes up a lot of space, both above and below ground. If the long shoots extend beyond the edge of the pot, this is not a problem. The roots should still have enough space. For this reason the bucket should
- holds around 30 liters volume
- have drainage to prevent waterlogging
- stand securely and firmly
The substrate
Sweet potato plants are very thirsty plants that cannot tolerate waterlogging. Normal garden soil is suitable for keeping in a bucket. If your plant is exposed to strong sunlight (more than three hours a day), just to be on the safe side, mix some coconut soil into the substrate. This stores water and protects it from drying out. Alternatively, you can also apply a thin layer of mulch. Fertilize the soil every three weeks with liquid fertilizer (€13.00 on Amazon).
Weather
A sunny, warm location is important for proper growth. This is exactly why a balcony is ideal for keeping a sweet potato plant. However, since waterlogging must not form in the pot, you should cover your plant. You don't have to worry about the shoots breaking in strong winds.
Prevent arguments with neighbors
The sweet potato plant forms long shoots. Make sure that they do not hang too far down and disturb the residents below you. On the other hand, the plant is ideal as a privacy screen if you tie the tendrils up to a wall. It is also very decorative if you let the batate hang around the balcony railing.
