Forum home Plants

Solanum Crispum - potato vine

Forester2Forester2 Posts: 1,477

I bought this plant last year and it is flowering now.  My question is - has anyone grown this as a shrub rather than a climber?  I have been told that eventually it becomes a thug and will rip down fences in its vigour.  As the plant is relatively manageable at the moment  I would like advise before it does any damage.  

«1

Posts

  • Hostafan1Hostafan1 Posts: 34,729

    My advice would be, it's a thug, only grow it where it has plenty of room. Sorry.

    Devon.
  • nutcutletnutcutlet Posts: 27,350

    The yearly growth is massive but not self supporting.



    In the sticks near Peterborough
  • Forester2Forester2 Posts: 1,477

    Thanks Nut and Hosta - After its growth this year I may have to dump it then.  It does not have massive room to spread, although I have kept it in a very large flower pot.  Just had a thought - maybe I could 'Bonsai' it.

  • nutcutletnutcutlet Posts: 27,350

    An experiment that needs to be done Foresterimage



    In the sticks near Peterborough
  • Forester2Forester2 Posts: 1,477

    Ha Ha Nut.  I have no choice it seems - either 'Bonsai' or death.  Some might say 'Bonsai' is torture though.  image

  • LynLyn Posts: 23,060

    image

     I'm in the middle of chopping this one down, this was about August last year and the thing was cut right back in the Spring. It was right over the grass and reached the greenhouse. We dug it right out, far too big. 

    Gardening on the wild, windy west side of Dartmoor. 

  • Forester2Forester2 Posts: 1,477

    That confirms it Lyn - my garden would not cope with that growth.  Shame really, as it  is such a pretty flower.  

    Thank you for the photo as it demonstrates its growth.

     

  • LynLyn Posts: 23,060

    I think the white one may be a bit smaller and easier to manage, but mine was the blue one.

    Gardening on the wild, windy west side of Dartmoor. 

  • Forester2Forester2 Posts: 1,477

    Great Runnybeak...-.... if.you do find the picture, can you say how old the plant is.  Thanks.

  • LynLyn Posts: 23,060

    My plant in the above photo was four years old and cut to the ground every Spring, it makes that much growth in a season.

    Gardening on the wild, windy west side of Dartmoor. 

Sign In or Register to comment.