Dabbling in surgery

And the patient survived!

So far, so good, anyway.

About a week ago I decided to gather my courage and cut the more robust sweet potato vine, and its little sibling, from the sweet potato tuber itself.

I gathered my equipment: knife, rubbing alcohol to sterilize the knife, and a stiff drink of Minute Maid 100% pure orange juice (to bolster my resolve).

I wasn't sure just where to make the cut, but I thought back to Ken and his cutting of seed potatoes (Kennebecs) for his garden. The rule of thumb for that endeavor is to make sure each "chunk" has at least two eyes.

The portion I cut from the tuber has at least three eyes, so it should survive.

I dusted the severed portion with cinnamon to prevent fungus and promote stem growth.

Unbeknownst to the vine seedling, the spot for its planting had already been chosen. I decided to nestle it in a huge pot with a couple of tuberous begonias and some....I can't think of its name right now, but it'll come to me.

Here's the vine in its new home.

And here it is with the tuber section covered with soil.

The remainder of the sweet potato, with a couple of new vines sprouting, is back in the Mason jar. With luck, I'll be planting more sweet potato vines soon.

I check on the sweet potato vine several times a day. It seems to be flourishing. It's on the back deck with several other potted plants, and it looks healthy and happy.

Update: I just stepped onto the deck to take a photo of the sweet potato vine. I'll put it in my header.

(Still can't think of the name of the other plants in the pot, though.

P. S. Verbena! That's what it is. Verbena.