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Vegetable Gardening

Mystery plant - calling all detectives

14 years ago

Hi there,

This plant popped up in my raised bed in a community garden, seemingly having overwintered there. I let it grow, hoping it'd be sweet potato or something delicious.

It's now vining quickly up my tomato plants and producing little flowers, and I'm wondering if I should keep it or if it's invasive and is going to choke out my tomatoes.

Anyone recognize it?

Thx!

Sarah

PS In case the link below doesn't work, here are the pics:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/33853601@N07/3695620139/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/33853601@N07/3695618033/in/photostream/

Here is a link that might be useful: Mystery plant photos

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Comments (7)

cyrus_gardner
14 years ago
Looks like morning glory to me.But then mg is a relative of sweet potato too.
jimster
14 years ago
Some sweet potatoes have a leaf shaped like that.

Jim
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gardener1908
14 years ago
Looks like a sweet potatoe vine of some sort.
sunnibel7 Md 7
14 years ago
Definitely a morning glory! They selfseed like crazy around here! You can even see a little seedpod forming in your picture. Of course, the folks who mentioned sweet potatoes are technically correct too, since morning glories and sweet potatoes are closely related (genus Ipomea)! If it's on your tomatoes you probably want to remove it, it will get BIG. Cheers!

Sunni
missemerald
14 years ago
Morning glory, definitely. The darned thing grows like crazy in my yard, and I am always yanking it out. Climbs on and attaches to everything it comes near. I'd yank this one before it flowers and sets seeds, if I were you.
phantom_white
14 years ago
Pull it up; DO IT NOW!!! It's bindweed. I have it all over my garden and it will suck the nutrients right out of your soil. I've heard that even a few small plants can have roots that cover ACRES underground. They're a lot like morning glories so they'll choke out anything they wrap around.

Abby
ediej1209 AL Zn 7
14 years ago
Yup, it's bindweed all right. Nasty, nasty stuff. Even herbicides don't kill it. Once you start pulling, you'll be shocked and amazed at how long those roots are.
Edie

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