First year for sweet potatoes

[catjac1975]

How do you store them? Mine do not last too long.

This is our 2nd season growing sweet potatoes here in SC. They went wild last year, and took over 2 rows on each side of their own. So, this year, we have planted them up front in their own spot, to be used as ground cover. Then, in October when the leaves die off, we can dig them up and store them. We have been enjoying them all winter, although it has been quite challenging to come up with recipes. We just don't want baked or candied sweet potatoes every week.

 

[Just-Moxie]

How do you store them? Mine do not last too long.

This is our 2nd season growing sweet potatoes here in SC. They went wild last year, and took over 2 rows on each side of their own. So, this year, we have planted them up front in their own spot, to be used as ground cover. Then, in October when the leaves die off, we can dig them up and store them. We have been enjoying them all winter, although it has been quite challenging to come up with recipes. We just don't want baked or candied sweet potatoes every week.

It was all an experiment last year. The garden and everything in it.

I googled as much as possible, before we dug them up. We have no root cellar or basement. So...I got the biggest clean moving box I had, (24"x23"x24"), put a layer in the bottom, and alternated them all with shredded paper. I only shred statements and paperwork with identifying information on it, so I didn't have alot.
Anyhoo....we only got enuff sweet potatoes to fill the box. I layered newspaper on top of it all, and left it pen. They stored wonderfully!! No rot, no bugs, no mice, nothing. I kept them in another building we have, and just monitored them all winter. We'll be doing the same this fall. We did let them cure in a cool dark place for 2 weeks or so first.

 

[retiredwith4acres]

That is how my mother said they stored them years ago, paper and/or straw between layers in the cellar or in the ground.

 

[HunkieDorie23]

Ok, I looked up "how to plant sweet potatoes" on the internet and I got several articles on planting them in containers... so I stuck them in a container. Maybe I'll go stick them in the ground. Yes I consider myself North, but not as north as Massachusetts. I am closer to appalachian Ohio, when they updated the zones chart we are 5b while most of the state is zones 6 because of our elevation and freaky cold spells.

 

[baymule]

In southeast Texas here and I read the posts with intrest. I have a couple of sweet potatoes with toothpicks stuck in them in jars of water, sprouting right now. I will be planting the slips this week and I am now convinced to plant them in 3 beds instead of the 2 I planned on. Wish me luck!

 

[StupidBird]

Sweet potato uses around my kitchen:
oven fries, tossed with canola oil and chili powder (gluten free homemade chili powder)
potato pancakes
mashed with a baked on crunchy top crumble/ crust of ground pecans, canola oil, and a touch of brown sugar
in curry with other garden veggies

I remember reading for storage they need warmer temps...50 to 55F range? My garage did fine; I will try the shredded paper this fall.

 

[catjac1975]

I plant Georgia jet and beauregard. Georgia jet is the sweetest and most successful for me. It is suggested for northern growers. The length of your growing season is the more important thing to consider. They are both rated for 90 days.

Ok, I looked up "how to plant sweet potatoes" on the internet and I got several articles on planting them in containers... so I stuck them in a container. Maybe I'll go stick them in the ground. Yes I consider myself North, but not as north as Massachusetts. I am closer to appalachian Ohio, when they updated the zones chart we are 5b while most of the state is zones 6 because of our elevation and freaky cold spells.

 

[seedcorn]

I plant Georgia jet and beauregard. Georgia jet is the sweetest and most successful for me. It is suggested for northern growers. The length of your growing season is the more important thing to consider. They are both rated for 90 days.

Ok, I looked up "how to plant sweet potatoes" on the internet and I got several articles on planting them in containers... so I stuck them in a container. Maybe I'll go stick them in the ground. Yes I consider myself North, but not as north as Massachusetts. I am closer to appalachian Ohio, when they updated the zones chart we are 5b while most of the state is zones 6 because of our elevation and freaky cold spells.

Would you post pictures of how the two look, foliage? Do they look the same?

 

[catjac1975]

When you first put them out -they just look bad while they adjust. A photo would not show anything at this point. They do become a thick beautiful ground cover. After a time they will no longer need weeding. I buy them online from Steele potato plants. I've always gotten good plants-not so from other sources. They must be ordered early or they are sold out. I think the prices are very good.

I plant Georgia jet and beauregard. Georgia jet is the sweetest and most successful for me. It is suggested for northern growers. The length of your growing season is the more important thing to consider. They are both rated for 90 days.

Ok, I looked up "how to plant sweet potatoes" on the internet and I got several articles on planting them in containers... so I stuck them in a container. Maybe I'll go stick them in the ground. Yes I consider myself North, but not as north as Massachusetts. I am closer to appalachian Ohio, when they updated the zones chart we are 5b while most of the state is zones 6 because of our elevation and freaky cold spells.

Would you post pictures of how the two look, foliage? Do they look the same?

 

[baymule]

Sweet potato and Pork Stir Fry:
1 large sweet potato, peeled and sliced in 1/4" pieces
Couple of pork steaks, cubed
1 onion, cut in chunks
1 bell pepper, cut in chunks
2 stalks celery, cut in pieces
McCormick Carribbean Jerk Seasoning
Several dried hot red peppers
1/4 cup pecans or peanuts
couple tablespoons olive oil


Saute pork, nuts and red peppers in hot skillet in oil, sprinkle jerk seasoning on mixture
Remove pork, nuts and peppers to a bowl when pork is done
Stir in vegetables, saute, the sweet potato will still be a little crisp (not mushy)
Add pork back in, heat through
Serve over rice
Enjoy!

Variations: chunks of pineapple, squash, eggplant, or whatever you like