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Annuals/overwintering

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Expert: - 9/6/2009


Question
I heard that you can dig up your sweet potato plants put them in a dry dark area in your home and replant them next spring.  Is this possible? I live in Chicago and am  on a very limited budget and this would sure help me out.

Answer
Susan,
Those SPV's are looking pretty darn nice now, aren't they? Yes, you can dig up the tubers and store them for next year. Dig them up leaving some of the vines on, let them dry in a garage or shed, cut the vines off and wrap the tubers/roots in newspaper and put in a paper bag. Keep them in a cool place such as a garage and plant after frost or indoors two or three weeks before your usual last frost.

I hope this helps,
C.L.

Annuals

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C.L. Fornari

Expertise

Annuals suggested for specific situations (sun, shade, windowboxes etc) New or unusual annuals are a particular interest of mine, and I grow many of these from seed. I am happy to help problem solve, answer questions about maintenance, and guide you to sources of unusual plants.

Experience

I am a garden writer/speaker/consultant and host of a weekly gardening radio program in the Northeast. I have been gardening all my life for my own pleasure, and started as a professional gardener and garden communicator 15 years ago. I work part-time at a garden center, selling and tending shrubs/trees/annuals/perennials...and doing some propagation and design work. I often think that all these professional activities serve to put a somewhat legitimate framework around a serious case of plant-lust.

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