Sweet potato vines are versatile and easy-growing. They fill the summer garden with lush leaves. Some cultivars have yellow leaves, while others are green, purple, red, or near-black! 

No matter if you’re trying to keep edible or ornamental tubers, these methods will ensure you have vines for next year. Why throw the plants out if you don’t have to? Save and store your sweet potato vine tubers instead. 

Store Tubers

In-ground plants and those growing in raised beds will develop tuberous roots, while container-grown plants will struggle to. Save sweet potato vine tubers from mature specimens that put out significant growth during the warm seasons. 

Dig Up Tubers

Avoid washing roots, brushing them clean instead.

To save sweet potato vine tubers, the process begins with digging. You’ll want to safely harvest the tubers without cutting into them or puncturing their skin. Remove them similarly to how you’d remove potatoes, with a broadfork or pitchfork.

Start by pruning the leafy vines off the tubers, then dig near the roots. Put the fork into the soil around the roots, and lift upwards. Once you loosen the soil around the plants, begin digging to brush the roots free of soil. 

Don’t wash the roots! This can cause rots and mushiness. Brush them with your hands or a brush, and set them aside to cure. 

Sweet potato vines do not actually grow tubers by the botanical definition—the tuberous roots are enlarged roots, while tubers are enlarged stems. To make things easy, we’ll call them tubers in this guide because they resemble them. 

Cure Tubers

Healing cuts during curing keeps roots firm longer.

The curing process hardens the tubers’ skins, which helps them store well over the winter. It also gives the roots time to heal wounds or cuts from harvesting. 

Use a brush to remove most of the dirt from their skins to prepare them for curing. They need warm temperatures and humidity during this process.

Give them what they need by keeping them in an enclosed space that traps humidity. Use a plastic bag poked with holes, or a container with the lid partially open. Place the tubers under partial shade with some sun to ensure they stay warm during the process.

After a week or two, the roots should feel firm. They shouldn’t be soft or mushy. If they are, let them cure longer under warm temperatures and high humidity until they’re firm to the touch. 

Store Long Term

Roots stay firm longer with steady cool air.

After curing, sweet potato vine tubers are ready for long-term storage. Properly cured roots will last until planting time next year, around springtime. They need cool temperatures, darkness, and humidity during the dormant phase.

Keep the tubers in a crate or box lined with paper or straw. Set them inside in a single layer, and avoid stacking them. They need good airflow during the curing phase. After packing, set the crates in a dark and moist area. 

Use a pantry, garage, or basement for storage. Don’t use the fridge, as it’ll kill the tubers. Shoot for temperatures between 55-60°F (13-16°C).

If the area is too dry, the plants will shrivel before next year. Set a humidifier on low to boost the humidity, or place a pot with water nearby to evaporate. Aim for humidity around 85%. 

Take Cuttings

If you don’t want to save sweet potato vine tubers, you may take cuttings to save your favorite sweet potato vine varieties. Cuttings need light, warmth, and water to grow. They’ll overwinter well on a warm windowsill, under grow lights, or in a greenhouse. 

Take Cuttings

Snip stems and watch roots form in clear water.

First, you’ll need some vines to propagate! If you’ve been growing them all summer, it’s easy to find them. If you just have tubers, you can set their lower ends in water to encourage them to sprout. 

Vines will sprout all along the skins. Let them grow and flourish under direct sunlight. Then, cut four to six-inch portions of the stems. Remove their lower leaves, and leave some remaining on the upper portions. Set each cutting in water for the time being.

After you collect all your cuttings, you have two options: continue sprouting them in water or root them in soil. Water is the easier option, though you may try whichever method you’d like to. 

Encourage Roots

Cuttings in water root faster than those in soil.

It’s easier to root the cuttings in water than in soil. The cuttings may rot in the dirt, and they’ll struggle to form roots before wilting. With water, you can see the roots forming during the propagation process.

To start, set the cuttings in jars of water. Make sure their tops are outside of the water. Set the jars under bright light, like from a windowsill or grow lights. Roots will develop over the next few weeks.

The process is similar for soil propagation. Set the lower ends of the stems in pots of soil, and water them well. Cover their tops with a humidity dome to keep them perky and moist while they form roots. 

Transplant Cuttings

Well-rooted cuttings thrive once moved from jars.

Transplant well-rooted cuttings before they outgrow their jars of water. Set them in pots with soil, and cover the roots with dirt. Water them well, then let them establish new roots inside their pots. 

Keep the cuttings in warm temperatures, under bright lights, and in humid conditions. Set them on a bright window, or set up grow lights over their tops. They’ll love growing in a well-lit bathroom. 

Treat Vines Like Houseplants

This method works well for potted specimens. Instead of taking cuttings or storing the tubers, you can treat your sweet potato vine like a houseplant. You may also do this with in-ground specimens, though you’ll need to dig them up and pot them before bringing them inside. 

Cut Vines Back

Compact stems thrive better in bright indoor light.

Start by cutting the vines back. They’ll have grown extra long over the summer, and trimming them makes the plants easier to move indoors. 

Cut the stems back so they’re between six and twelve inches long. You may trim the vines to a longer length if you have lots of space in your home. 

The stems need light to grow well, and they’ll take up space indoors. Ensure you cut them to a length that’ll fit in your home. Use the trimmed vines for cuttings, or compost them. 

Store Sweet Potato Plants

Keep pots near light, but away from cold.

The plants need warmth and sunlight to grow indoors over the winter. They’ll thrive under a west or south-facing window. Place them close to the window, but keep them a few inches from the pane. Window panes can grow extremely cold over the winter.

If you lack natural light in your home, use grow lights. They mimic the sun’s rays and help your vines grow well during the dormant season. 

Water your plants regularly so their soil is moist, but not soggy. Let the surface dry before watering again, and you’ll avoid root rot or fungal conditions.

Move the plants back outside in the spring after the last average frost date. Move them to larger pots, or plant them in the ground to encourage more tubers for next year.