I learned that the leaves are super nutritious and can be fixed like spinach - steamed, stir fried, mixed with soup, salads etc. Cut some of those leaves off and use them instead of tossing them. They also freeze well.
Although I live in Southern California, it hasn't been very sunny or warm lately and I was worried about curing my sweet potatoes when I harvest them next month. This video is so informative!! Thank You!!!
As a test, I put my first small harvest in a produce basket under my house for the winter, high humidity and temps ranging from 48F to 60F, didn't do any curing. All lasted from October till April when I planted them again.
Thank you for this easy to understand video. We live in the north, and I will use the #3 method you've described, plus wrap them in newspaper after the 2 week curing process.
Very informative video - and now the curing process does not seem so difficult after all 😊. Going to have my first try at growing sweet potatoes (I live in South Africa and I think our warm climate will be ideal for curing them) Thank you
We moved to a very high humidity area. It rains so much here (6m per year) and even when the sun shines in summer we have 80%-100% humidity! It takes until mid summer to warm up enough to grow so our season is short. I tried growing sweet potatoes last season and wasn’t very successful. I’m having to learn just about from scratch!
It may be, but I'm a firm a believer in working with what you have and trying to make it work. If you don't an option for cooler conditions, then try it. If there's any way to make your curing area a little cooler, that would be ideal.
Thank you for the great information. I'm in the Phoenix area in AZ and it is HOT. I'm about 2 weeks from harvesting my sweet potatoes. We are steadily between 108° and 118° outside. Inside, about 75°. Do you think I should use the bag method or plastic storage container in the garage, which is about 95°? Not sure about the humidity.
How do you know when to harvest the potatoes? My vines are starting to die from the heat so I was thinking of harvesting soon. This is my first time growing and harvesting sweet potatoes and I'm not sure how to do everything
Vines dying back is a sign that they’re ready to harvest? The best thing to do is dig up just one and see if you’re happy with the size of it. If not, let them stay in a little longer. Sweet potatoes take roughly 100-120 days to fully mature. That timeframe can help you determine if the vine are dying back because it’s harvest time or because of environmental conditions.
So I can put my sweet potatoes on a table within a tarp outside while it’s still warm and the potatoes will cure? Do u think I would have to worry about birds or anything messing with my potatoes while they cure?
Yes, but under a covered area is preferred - like under an awning, porch, lean-to, etc. If they'll be outside (I do mine in the garage), you'll need to secure the tarp anyway so the wind doesn't blow it away. That act of securing should keep the birds out. And make sure the tarp doesn't have any holes in it because you don't want any rain getting in. Too much moisture will make your potatoes mold.
The only time I've ever had sweet potatoes dry and shrivel is after they've sat in storage for 9 months. My best guess would be that the heat in the curing area is too high for too long? They only need to be in that warm environment for 2 weeks max, then transferred to a cooler storage area. Is it possible that's the culprit?
It generally annoys me that searches always, suspect by default, that USA sites open. I live in Scotland UK where temperatures are almost always low. Ive been in USA a few times and in UTAH once where I experience much higher temperatures. I appreciate your advice but doesn't fit for Scotland.
I hope you’re able to find some good info from a Scottish content producer! To cure sweet potatoes, you’ll likely need to raise the temperature artificially somehow. Like indoors near a sunny windowsill perhaps. Or in a room that at least gets natural light and place some clear plastic over them to trap in heat & a little moisture.
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I learned that the leaves are super nutritious and can be fixed like spinach - steamed, stir fried, mixed with soup, salads etc. Cut some of those leaves off and use them instead of tossing them. They also freeze well.
Although I live in Southern California, it hasn't been very sunny or warm lately and I was worried about curing my sweet potatoes when I harvest them next month. This video is so informative!! Thank You!!!
I'm so glad! ❤️ Happy harvest! :)
Thanks. Exactly what I needed. I am central Texas and I will harvest my sweet potatoes.
Enjoy your harvest!
I love how you explain all this! I am growing my third attempt at sweet potatoes and looking forward to getting to cure them! Thanks so much!
Fun! My pleasure. ❤️
So glad I saw this.
As a test, I put my first small harvest in a produce basket under my house for the winter, high humidity and temps ranging from 48F to 60F, didn't do any curing. All lasted from October till April when I planted them again.
That's awesome! Were they "sweet" enough without the curing?
You make it sound easy! We’ll be harvesting them soon!
Great tips for sweetness and storage!
Thank you for this easy to understand video. We live in the north, and I will use the #3 method you've described, plus wrap them in newspaper after the 2 week curing process.
My pleasure! Enjoy your sweet potatoes. :)
Thanks so much for all this. It is very informative.
Glad it was helpful! ❤️
Thanks for a very informative video about sweet potato! ❤🎉🎉🎉🎉
You're welcome! 😊
Never knew had to cure sweet potatoes, thanks again for valuable information. Those are some nice looking taters!
Very informative video - and now the curing process does not seem so difficult after all 😊. Going to have my first try at growing sweet potatoes (I live in South Africa and I think our warm climate will be ideal for curing them) Thank you
Warm climates are wonderful for sweet potatoes. Have fun! :)
Sound advice for maintaining the quality of your sweet potatoes. Thank You!
Thank you so much for the information
Glad it was helpful!
We moved to a very high humidity area. It rains so much here (6m per year) and even when the sun shines in summer we have 80%-100% humidity! It takes until mid summer to warm up enough to grow so our season is short.
I tried growing sweet potatoes last season and wasn’t very successful. I’m having to learn just about from scratch!
Wow, that is a lot of rain! Learning new land is hard, but you'll get it!
super helpful, to the point!!! you got a new fan. thank you.
Welcome to the channel! 👋
Thankyou for this great explanation.
Glad it was helpful!
Great video! Thank you very much
My pleasure! 🙂
Thank you
What about 95-100 degrees? Would that be too much?
It may be, but I'm a firm a believer in working with what you have and trying to make it work. If you don't an option for cooler conditions, then try it. If there's any way to make your curing area a little cooler, that would be ideal.
Thank you so much for this!
You're welcome! ❤️
Thank you for the great information. I'm in the Phoenix area in AZ and it is HOT. I'm about 2 weeks from harvesting my sweet potatoes. We are steadily between 108° and 118° outside. Inside, about 75°. Do you think I should use the bag method or plastic storage container in the garage, which is about 95°? Not sure about the humidity.
I’d use a bag. Important thing is to check them often, especially early on, to ensure they’re not staying too moist and developing mold.
How do you know when to harvest the potatoes? My vines are starting to die from the heat so I was thinking of harvesting soon. This is my first time growing and harvesting sweet potatoes and I'm not sure how to do everything
Vines dying back is a sign that they’re ready to harvest? The best thing to do is dig up just one and see if you’re happy with the size of it. If not, let them stay in a little longer.
Sweet potatoes take roughly 100-120 days to fully mature. That timeframe can help you determine if the vine are dying back because it’s harvest time or because of environmental conditions.
So I can put my sweet potatoes on a table within a tarp outside while it’s still warm and the potatoes will cure? Do u think I would have to worry about birds or anything messing with my potatoes while they cure?
Yes, but under a covered area is preferred - like under an awning, porch, lean-to, etc. If they'll be outside (I do mine in the garage), you'll need to secure the tarp anyway so the wind doesn't blow it away. That act of securing should keep the birds out. And make sure the tarp doesn't have any holes in it because you don't want any rain getting in. Too much moisture will make your potatoes mold.
What about putting g them in the bathtub with a heating pad?
I haven't tried that, but I imagine it would work. :)
@foodprepguide ok, I going to try it.
Dug mine today...boatload of them.
Congrats! Sweet potatoes are so fun to harvest. :)
Barbecue grill
Why do my sweet potatoes shrink and get dry/shriveled when I cure them?
The only time I've ever had sweet potatoes dry and shrivel is after they've sat in storage for 9 months.
My best guess would be that the heat in the curing area is too high for too long? They only need to be in that warm environment for 2 weeks max, then transferred to a cooler storage area. Is it possible that's the culprit?
It generally annoys me that searches always, suspect by default, that USA sites open. I live in Scotland UK where temperatures are almost always low. Ive been in USA a few times and in UTAH once where I experience much higher temperatures. I appreciate your advice but doesn't fit for Scotland.
I hope you’re able to find some good info from a Scottish content producer! To cure sweet potatoes, you’ll likely need to raise the temperature artificially somehow. Like indoors near a sunny windowsill perhaps. Or in a room that at least gets natural light and place some clear plastic over them to trap in heat & a little moisture.
Thank you