Hidden Treasures

Sweet Potato the Super Food

Last year I utilized the new Treasure Island Sweet Potato vines in my patio containers and this gardener found a new appreciation for these tuberous vegetables. And I’m ready to celebrate this superfood with my fellow gardeners. This root vegetable has seen an increase in popularity, especially compared to ‘regular’ potatoes, due in part to being a healthier option. Sweet Potatoes are lower in carbs, higher antioxidant levels like lutein, have increased levels of vitamins, a lower glycaemic index which means less blood sugar spikes, and are a great source of fiber, iron, and calcium.

The best part? They are easy to grow!

A New Day Dawns for Sweet Potatoes

Generally, these potatoes fall into two garden uses;

1. Annual, ornamental trailing vine where home gardeners utilize them as a container ‘spiller’. This type does not produce any edible tubers.
2. Traditional in the vegetable garden, to harvest and cook the edible tubers.

But, for this gardener, this typical scenario recently changed when I was introduced to the Treasure Island Sweet Potato line. They are a breeding breakthrough as the first edible AND ornamental sweet potatoes on the market. It’s like a two-for-one deal; the uniquely shaped, colorful leaves look great in mixed containers and taste great in salads and smoothies and then the different colored sweet potatoes are highly nutritious and make a perfect addition to healthy meals.

Named after Polynesian Islands, there are 5 selections and none of them are what you’d consider typical:

• ‘Tahiti’ PPAF – purple-fleshed roots with purple skin and green, deeply lobed leaves
• ‘Tatakoto’ PPAF – purple skin and orange flesh and dark green-purple, lobed leaves
• ‘Makatea’ PPAF – orange skin with white flesh and right, chartreuse, heart-shaped leaves
• ‘Kaukura’ PPAF – orange skin and orange flesh roots with purple, heart-shaped leaves
• ‘Manihi’ PPAF – orange skin and orange roots with deep purple, maple leaf foliage

* PPAF stands for Plant Patent Applied For.

Let’s Get Growing

Here are a few of the Recipes I decided to try:

Pin It for Later…