Ornamental and Edible Sweet Potato

November is National Sweet Potato Month and there is no better time to feature an ornamental and edible sweet potato.

The Treasure Island™ collection of sweet potatoes feature several varieties with chartreuse, purple, or bronze leaves and edible tuberous roots.  These plants were discovered in commercial fields and selected for their ornamental value and edible roots.

Wait until the danger of frost has passed to place these in the garden or container. Then care for them as you would any other edible or ornamental sweet potato. Be sure to harvest a few of the nutritious young leaves throughout the summer. They are high in vitamin B, carotene, Iron, Calcium, Zinc and protein. Use them as you would spinach in salads, smoothies and other dishes. And use the beta carotene rich orange roots for cooking, in smoothies or like you would carrots in salads or for juicing.

A bit more information: Look for these varieties to grow in your garden and containers. Tatakoto has bronze lobed leaves and produces tasty sweet potatoes with purple skin and orange flesh. Makatea has heart-shaped chartreuse leaves and light colored roots and is suited to Caribbean and Asian cuisine.  Kaukura has purple heart-shaped leaves and roots with orange skin and flesh. Manihi also produces orange roots but its purple leaves are maple shaped for added ornamental appeal.

Tags

spinach sweet-potatoes carrots

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