Normally, sweet potatoes are grown in fields or in garden beds. However, if you do not have enough space for the sprouting plant, you do not have to do without the beautiful appearance of the morning glory plant. The plant also thrives in a bucket or flower box on the balcony, as the following article shows.
Sweet potatoes can also be grown in pots
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 vegetables will also grow in the flower box. Keeping it in a bucket is particularly practical, as you can move the plant to a sheltered place 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 grow beyond the edge of the pot, that's not a problem. The roots should still have enough space. For this reason, the bucket
- hold around 30 liters volume
- have drainage to prevent waterlogging
- stand securely and firmly
The substrate
Sweet potato plants are very thirsty plants, but they do not 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), mix some coconut soil under the substrate to be on the safe side. This stores water and protects against drying out. Alternatively, you can also apply a thin layer of mulch. Fertilize the soil with liquid fertilizer every three weeks.
weather
A sunny, warm location is important for proper growth. For this very reason, a balcony is ideal for keeping a sweet potato plant. However, since there must be no waterlogging in the bucket, you should cover your plant. You don't have to worry about the shoots snapping off in strong winds.
Prevent quarrels with neighbors
The sweet potato plant forms long shoots. Make sure that these do not hang down too far and disturb the residents below you. On the other hand, the plant is suitable as an optimal privacy screen if you tie the tendrils up to a wall. It is also very decorative if you let the batata twine around the balcony railing.