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Kilei hakerem and sweet potato vine

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Question

You taught me that flowers and non-edible plants (and trees) can grow under a vine, but vegetables and edible herbs cannot.

What about a plant that I understood to be only ornamental, but I have discovered on the internet can also be used like spinach and other edible leaves?

 The plant in question is sweet potato vine. Its roots or tubers are not edible but the leaves can be used as food. Is it a problem even if we don’t eat them?

Our grapevine is in its second year of orlah. If we cannot let that plant grow under the vine, has it had a negative effect on the vine and future grapes already?

Answer

Yehuda Heller, agronomist
Since it is not grown for food, even if there are some (health nuts) people who decide to eat it, it doesn't turn it into an edible food that is forbidden to grow under the grapevine. Nevertheless, if you so choose, you can eat the leaves.
In terms of terumot and ma'aserot, the sweet potato vine leaves are difinately exempt, since, again, it's not commonly consumed.

Based on the pictures you sent, most probably, the sweet potato vine is perennial. However since there is a doubt, it's best to plant it elsewhere. Also from a professional perspective, the two plants should not share the same planter. Each vine needs its own space.

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