(Ipomoea purpurea ‘Grandpa Ott’)
Grandpa Ott' Morning Glory is a warm-weather annual flowering vine that is native to Mexico and South America but can be found growing in thickets, fallow fields, and along roadsides throughout the state of Arizona. At maturity, the vines of this plant can reach a length of 6-10' and features heart-shaped dark green leaves and 5" deep purple flowers with ruby red centers. This plant is adaptable and can grow in a container or hanging basket. It also has the added benefit of attracting bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds. In addition to being edible and medicinal, it has the unique ability to self-sow!
Genus: Ipomoea
Species: purpurea
Variety: Grandpa Ott' Morning Glory
Also known as: Common Morning Glory, Ipomoea, Tall Morning Glory.
Native to: Argentina Northeast, Argentina Northwest, Arizona, Brazil North, Brazil Northeast, Brazil South, Brazil Southeast, Brazil West-Central, Chile Central, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Jamaica, Mexico Central, Mexico Gulf, Mexico Northeast, Mexico Northwest, Mexico Southwest, Nicaragua, Panamá, Peru, Uruguay, Venezuela.
Introduced into: Alabama, Angola, Assam, Austria, Baleares, Bangladesh, Bolivia, British Columbia, California, Canary Is., Cape Provinces, Cape Verde, Central European Rus, China North-Central, China South-Central, China Southeast, Colorado, Cuba, Cyprus, Dominican Republic, East Himalaya, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, France, Free State, Greece, Hainan, Haiti, Hawaii, Illinois, India, Iran, Italy, Kentucky, Kenya, Korea, KwaZulu-Natal, Leeward Is., Lesotho, Madagascar, Madeira, Mauritius, Michigan, Mozambique, Myanmar, Nepal, New Caledonia, New Mexico, New South Wales, New York, New Zealand North, New Zealand South, Northern Provinces, Nova Scotia, Ontario, Oregon, Pakistan, Philippines, Primorye, Puerto Rico, Queensland, Québec, Rodrigues, Romania, Rwanda, Réunion, Sicilia, Spain, Sri Lanka, Swaziland, Tanzania, Tennessee, Texas, Thailand, Tibet, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkey-in-Europe, Uganda, Vermont, Washington, West Himalaya, Windward Is., Yemen, Zambia, Zaïre, Zimbabwe.
Ease of Growing: Moderate
Grown as: Annual
Bloom Time: Spring, Late spring or early summer. Summer, Late summer or early fall
Growing Habit: Vine
Hardiness: Half Hardy. Morning glory will sprout again after a light frost but will not tolerate a hard freeze.
Crops: Spring Transplant, Spring
Growing Season: Short, Long
Growing Conditions: Cool, Warm. Morning glory will grow best in a sunny part of the garden in areas with cooler summers, but should be placed in a partially shady spot in areas with hotter summer days.
Outdoor Growing Temp: 50°F - 90°F
Min Outdoor Soil Temp: 55°F. Seeds will germinate at 55-68˚ but will take longer to germinate above 65˚F
Start Indoors: Yes
Start Outdoors: Yes
Light: Sun: min. 6 hours daily (Cool). Morning glory grow best in the sun in areas with cooler summers.
Water: Moderate. For the best flavor, keep Morning glory well watered. This helps to neutralize the spiciness of the greens and flowers.
Feeder: Light. Grow Morning glory in soil that is higher in Phosphorus and Potassium than Nitrogen. Growing Morning glory in nitrogen rich soil produces more vegetative growth and discourages blooming.
Suitability: Needs summer shade
Small Gardens?: Yes
Containers?: Yes. Suitable in 1 gallon. Suitable for hanging baskets. Needs excellent drainage in pots
Attracts beneficial insects?: Yes. Bees, Butterflies, Hummingbirds.
Height: 72-96"
Spacing: 15-18’
Sow Depth: 1/4”
Produces: a fast-growing vine with heart-shaped dark green leaves, and 5" deep purple flowers with ruby red centers.
Uses: Flowering Tree, Will Naturalize.
USDA Grow Zone: 3a-9b
Soil pH: 6.1-7.8, Ideal 6.5-7.5. Many gardeners prefer growing Morning glory in nitrogen poor soil, as nitrogen rich soil encourages more vegetative growth with less blooms. Grow in well drained soil. In gardens with very sandy soils, add compost to help retain moisture.
Soil Preparation:
Compost (Nitrogen), 2 inches, in top 6" of soil, 1 time: In gardens with very sandy soils, add compost to help retain moisture. Otherwise omit.
In cooler climates, the seed can be started indoors 6-8 weeks before the last frost of spring; plant the nicked seeds 1/4" deep and keep the soil evenly moist but not soggy until germination, which should take place in 7-10 days with adequate warmth.
Transplant seedlings as soon as possible after germination, since they resent root disturbance; the soil temperature should be at least 65 degrees F with no chance of frost.
Water Needs: Moderate. For the best flavor, keep Morning glory well watered. This helps to neutralize the spiciness of the greens and flowers.
Fertilizer Needs: Light. Grow Morning glory in soil that is higher in Phosphorus and Potassium than Nitrogen. Growing Morning glory in nitrogen rich soil produces more vegetative growth and discourages blooming.
Support: Optional. If you want your Morning glory to grow up, you can encourage it up a trellis, fence, or some other kind of support.
Harvesting
Storage
Storage Req: Refrigerator
Storage Temp: 35-40°F
Storage Length: 1-2 days
Seed Viability in Years: 3-4 years
Germination Percentage: 70%
Leaves and flowers are known for their peppery, mustard-like flavor.
Culinary Use:
Both the leaves and flowers are edible raw and add a sweet and spicy kick to salads. Morning glory leaves can also be made into a pesto.
Suggested Varieties
(Cucumis melo 'Hale's Best Jumbo')
Hale's Best Jumbo Cantaloupe is a heirloom, very tender, warm weather annual vegetable that is native to Egypt, but was first introduced into the United States by I.D. Hale in the 1920's. At maturity, the vines of this plant can reach the length of 6-10' and features 3-5 lbs. oval melon with deep green skin with golden netting. This plant can be grown in a container, attracts bees and predatory wasps, is horse and rabbit safe, and is edible.
(Cucumis melo 'Hearts of Gold')
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Hearts of Gold Cantaloupe is a heirloom, very tender, warm weather annual vegetable that is native to Michigan, where it was developed in Benton Harbor by Roland Morrill in 1895 and trademarked in 1914. At maturity, the vines of this plant can reach the length of 72” and features 3 1/2-4 1/2 lbs. netted, ribbed round cantaloupes with deep orange flesh. This plant can be grown in a container, attracts bees and predatory wasps, is horse and rabbit safe, and is edible.
(Cucumis melo 'Honeydew Green Flesh')
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Honeydew Cantaloupe is a heirloom, very tender, warm weather annual vegetable that is native to the Middle East, but can be commonly found growing in gardens throughout the United States. At maturity, the vines of this plant can reach the length of 4-5' and features 4-8 lbs., 6-8 ½” round, pale green melons that have a smooth, waxy rinds and green flesh. This plant can be grown in a container, attracts bees and predatory wasps, is horse and rabbit safe, and is both edible and medicinal.
(Cucumis melo 'Honey Rock')
Honey Rock Cantaloupe is a heirloom, very tender, warm weather annual vegetable that is native to the Ohio, where it was developed in Hicksville by F.W. Richardson before 1920. At maturity, the vines of this plant can reach the length of 4-5' and features 3-4 lbs., 6-7” round, widely netted greenish-gray skin that matures to a creamy yellow. This plant can be grown in a container, attracts bees and predatory wasps, is horse and rabbit safe, and is both edible and medicinal.
(Citrullus lanatus 'Black Diamond')
Black Diamond Watermelon is a heirloom, very tender, warm weather annual vegetable that is native to the United States, where it was developed and introduced by Melville Dillon in the 1940's. At maturity, the vines of this plant can reach the length of 15-20' and features round watermelons with a dark bluish green rind and crimson flesh that average 35-75 lbs. This plant attracts bees and predatory wasps, is rabbit safe, is used to make essential oils, cosmetics, and soaps, and is both edible and medicinal.
(Citrullus lanatus 'Crimson Sweet')
Crimson Sweet Watermelon is a heirloom, very tender, warm weather annual vegetable that is native to Kansas, where it was developed and introduced by Charles V. Hall of the Kansas State University in 1963. At maturity, the vines of this plant can reach the length of 10' and features round, light green, dark striped watermelons with crimson flesh that average 24 lbs. This plant attracts bees and predatory wasps, is rabbit safe, is used to make essential oils, cosmetics, and soaps, and is both edible and medicinal.
(Citrullus lanatus 'Moon and Stars')
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Moon and Stars Watermelon is a heirloom, very tender, warm weather annual vegetable that is native to New York, where it was developed and introduced by Henderson Seed Company in 1926. At maturity, the vines of this plant can reach the length of 12-14' and features elongated dark green rinds with bright yellow spots and sweet, red flesh that average 10-30 lbs. This plant attracts bees and predatory wasps, is rabbit safe, is used to make essential oils, cosmetics, and soaps, and is both edible and medicinal.
(Citrullus lanatus 'Sugar Baby')
Sugar Baby Watermelon is a heirloom, very tender, warm weather annual vegetable that is native to Oklahoma, where it was developed by M. Hardin in Geary and introduced by Woodside Seed Company in 1955. At maturity, the vines of this plant can reach the length of 6-8' and features 7-8” round, hard, rinds with distinct stripes when immature that become almost black when ripe that average 6-10 lbs. This plant attracts bees and predatory wasps, is rabbit safe, is used to make essential oils, cosmetics, and soaps, and is both edible and medicinal.