How to prune purple sweet potato

Pinch runners in mid-summer when vines become excessively long; remove dead/damaged leaves throughout the season. Pinch or cut long runners back by up to one-third with clean scissors, focusing on stems growing away from the planting area. Remove dead leaves at the base.

Once or twice during the growing season as needed. Purple sweet potato vines benefit from pinching back long runners during the growing season to keep plants manageable and direct energy into tuber development. Remove any damaged, dead, or yellowed leaves as they appear. The foliage dies back naturally before harvest in autumn — no other pruning is required for this vigorous climber.

Pinch or cut long runners back by up to one-third with clean scissors, focusing on stems growing away from the planting area. Remove dead leaves at the base.