Decorative or Edible...Sweet Potato Vines?

[vfem]

Well, maybe its both.... but here's my question.

Some of you may have seen the pictures of the front of my house I did the garden in this year. I plants a couple of decorative sweet potato vines. They filled in everything nicely, and were really pretty.

Well, frost hit and a deep freeze last night, so they are all black and done for. Staring out the window while I'm working I notice what looks like a pumpkin. Thought at first my daughter dragged a pumpkin from the porch and it ended up under the vine. After staring for a bit though, its no pumpkin. Its a HUGE sweet potato!!! Literally, this puppy will take a ribbon at the fair just for sheer SIZE!!!!

My concern is now, is it edible? And if it is, is it worth my time cleaning and baking the sucker? I read something online that said just the size is going to make it hard and bitter.

So I'm debating trying to grow more vine from it for the yard next year, or this thing is big enough to feed EVERYONE coming to Thanksgiving and have left overs for days. What should I do?

I'll get pictures later when I'm off work.

 

[vfem]

I found a website with someone who tested this. I found it interesting that the tons of other websites that answered the question said the taste was poor, or bitter.

So, I'm going to be surving sweet potatoes from my garden unknowningly grown, this Thanksgiving I suppose. If anyone else has tested them out let me know what you think.

http://acornergarden.blogspot.com/2009/10/eating-ornamental-sweet-potatoes.html

 

[vfem]

Ok, finally got the photo to upload from my phone.

 

[the1honeycomb]

I had several very large sweet potatoes this year I peeled, mashed and froze them they made wonderful pies and casseroles. i noticed a little bit of a different taste but after making them into pies and casseroles they tasted great.

 

[lesa]

Those are crazy huge! Do you mean they were on top of the ground? I would try and cook one (before the holiday) and see how they are... wouldn't want to serve something icky for the big day! And if they are good- you aren't going to have to buy sweet potatoes for some time to come!

 

[baymule]

Those are amazing! You have to try one! If it is good, you have a bonanza of sweet potatoes, if it is yuckky, then next year, plant the edible sweets. Obviously, sweet potatoes like that spot!

 

[seedcrazy]

I TOO had an ornamental one product a HUGE tuber and was told you can eat them but they do not taste good. I'd just save them and replant to have your ornamental vine again next year.

 

[vfem]

Those huge one's I'm going to save and cut slips from. I have some smaller ones I'm going to taste test this weekend and see if they're any good. We'll see... I'm not afraid to try it!

 

[catjac1975]

Try peeling them and steaming them in the microwave. Add a bit of brown sugar, and butter.

Those huge one's I'm going to save and cut slips from. I have some smaller ones I'm going to taste test this weekend and see if they're any good. We'll see... I'm not afraid to try it!

 

[Durgan]

I had an ornamental sweet potato growing in a pot. At the end of the season upon throwing it in the compost pile, two large tubers were in the bottom. Immediately they were recovered and baked in the oven. My wife considered them to be the most pleasant sweet potato that she had ever eaten. Admittedly this is a sample of one. But if I had those beauties that you have I would sure give them a try.

A Google all mentions that they are all edible, but the flavour may be different from the store bought ones. I certainly am impressed by the quality of the ones you grew.