How to Pollinate Sweet potato vine

(Ipomoea batatas)

Sweet potato vine, also known as Kumara, Yam

The plant sweet potato vine lures its primary pollinators - dapperly buzzing bees - with its vibrant blossoms and nectar offerings. These industrious insects skillfully gather pollen from male flowers and distribute it to female blooms, in a dance-like process called entomophily. The timing of these pollination sequences generally aligns with warmer daylight hours, syncing perfectly with bees' activity patterns.

Which Pollinators are Suitable for Sweet Potato Vine?

Bloom Time

Late spring, Summer, Fall

Primary pollinators

Bees

Potential pollinators

Moths, Butterflies

How Does Pollination Occur in Sweet Potato Vine?

Sweet potato vine's flowers are showy, bell-shaped, and usually white, with the rare occurrences of light pink or lavender hues. Their diameters measure about 5 to 7 cm and they carry five, relatively large stamens.

In sweet potato vine, cross-pollination is the most common form of pollination, and it relies heavily on insect visits, mainly during the daytime.

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How Can You Enhance the Pollination of Sweet Potato Vine?

Plant Diversity

Incorporate a range of flowering plants into the garden that bloom at different times of the year. Choosing plants with different flower shapes, sizes, and colors can attract a wider range of pollinators including bees, moths, and butterflies.

Water Source

Providing a shallow, bee-friendly water source can be beneficial. Bees, in particular, need to drink – they prefer shallow water sources since they are poor swimmers. This can make your garden or farm more attractive to bee pollinators.

Pesticides

Consider using organic or integrated pest management strategies, since chemicals in conventional pesticides can harm or kill pollinators such as bees, moths and butterflies. If it is necessary to use pesticides, choose formulas that are less toxic to these insects and apply them at night, when bees and butterflies are less active.

Habitat Structures

Creating specific structures in the garden, such as butterfly houses, can provide shelter for butterflies and moths, encouraging them to stay in the area for longer periods. For bees, creating a 'bee hotel' or leaving patches of bare, sandy ground can provide nesting spaces for ground-dwelling bees.

How Can You Determine if Sweet Potato Vine has Been Pollinated?

Flower Growth

In sweet potato vine, successful pollination leads to the development of fuller, healthy-looking flowers. This growth indicates pollen has been successfully transferred.

Fruit Development

Pollination in sweet potato vine is identified through the presence of young, growing tubers beneath the soil. If pollination occurs, the plant will start producing fruit.

Pollinator Activity

Observing pollinator activity such as bees, butterflies, etc., around the sweet potato vine is a sign of active pollination. High activity suggests effective pollination.

Understanding Hand-Pollination in Sweet Potato Vine

Difficulty

Normal

Duration

30 mins

What Tools are Necessary for Hand-Pollinating Sweet Potato Vine?

Small Paintbrush

A small, soft paintbrush is used to carefully collect the pollen from the male flower's anther and transfer it to the female flower's stigma.

Hand Magnifier

This tool helps in clearly identifying the male and female parts of the flower to facilitate precise pollen transfer.

Gloves

Wearing gloves minimizes direct contact with the plant and potential disturbances to the plant health.

What is the Optimal Time for Hand-Pollinating Sweet Potato Vine?

Hand-pollination should ideally be performed in the morning hours, as this is when the flowers of sweet potato vine are typically open and the pollen is most viable. The best period in the plant's growth cycle to attempt hand-pollination is when it is in its mild blooming phase.

Steps to Hand-Pollinate Sweet Potato Vine

Step1: Preparation

Ensure you are equipped with the necessary tools (paintbrush, magnifier, and gloves) and identify the flowers that you will be pollinating.

Step2: Collecting Pollen

Gently use the paintbrush to collect pollen by brushing it against the anther of a male flower of sweet potato vine. Ensure the brush is thoroughly covered in pollen.

Step3: Pollen Transfer

Carefully take the pollen-covered brush to the stigma of a female flower of sweet potato vine. Gently stroke the stigma with the brush, ensuring to deposit the pollen.

Step4: Repetition

Repeat the pollen collection and transfer process across multiple flowers of sweet potato vine to increase the chance of successful pollination.

Why Aren't There Fruits on Sweet Potato Vine Despite the Presence of Flowers?

Lack of Pollinators

If pollinators are scarce, hand pollination can be helpful. Use a small brush to transfer pollen from the anthers to the stigma of sweet potato vine's flowers.

Poor Flowering

If the sweet potato vine is not flowering well, it may indicate poor soil conditions or inadequate light. Improve soil nutrition and ensure ample sunlight for better pollination.

Low Fruit Yield

For low fruit yield, pollination may not be taking place correctly. Additional watering or using a pollinator-friendly plant mix can encourage more pollinators.