Apply fertilizer to allow your sweet potato vine to grow faster and more vigorously. It may survive without being fertilized but will grow slowly and never reach its full potential as a trailing, spreading specimen. Add fertilizer or compost when initially planting this vine and regularly fertilize container-grown plants for best results and plant health.
How to Fertilize Sweet Potato Vines
If you’re planting a sweet potato vine in the ground, mix a balanced granular slow-release granular fertilizer or compost into the soil at the bottom of the hole to encourage healthy roots to grow deeper.
If growing this vine in a container garden, apply a balanced fertilizer at planting time. Either mix a slow-release granular fertilizer into the potting mix or add a water soluble fertilizer after planting. Continue adding the water-soluble fertilizer into your watering container once a month when watering your container garden. Be sure to follow directions on the package to avoid applying too strong of a solution.
Fertilizing will burn the plant’s roots and potentially kill the plant. Avoid splashing the fertilizer solution on the plant’s leaves and stem unless the package specifies that it can be used as a foliar feed.
Best Time To Fertilize Sweet Potato Vines
Most gardeners grow sweet potato vine as an annual plant. If you garden in zone 9 or warmer, stop applying fertilizer during the winter months. The plant will naturally grow more slowly when the available amount of sunshine declines. Begin a regular fertilizer regiment in the spring.
Best Fertilizer For Sweet Potato Vines
Sweet potato vines thrive best when a balanced slow-release 10-10-10 or 12-12-12 fertilizer is applied. Use either organic or non-organic fertilizer since this plant will not produce an edible crop. Use a granular fertilizer at the time of planting and a water-soluble fertilizer to boost growth during the growing season.
Sweet Potato Vine Fertilizing Tips
- Use a balanced fertilizer blend
- Remember to fertilizer at planting time
- Water after applying a granular formulated fertilizer
- Follow the directions on the package
- Over-fertilizing is worse than not applying enough fertilizer
Warnings
-Always wear protective gloves and a face mask when handling chemical fertilizers.
-Closely follow all directions and storage guidelines that are on the fertilizer label.
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Author Maureen Farmer - Published 12-16-2021 |