Re: Sweet Potatoes

**sanderson** 10/29/2017, 7:19 pm

One of my 2 totes split. I hope it was because there are monsters in there. Laughing

I was able to access the totes just a few days ago and was able to see the split.

No_Such_Reality 10/29/2017, 9:31 pm

Weather should be nice in Fresno tomorrow. Seems like a good day to see what's in the tote.

I've got some sweets, Okinawa purple variety growing in the prior side raised bed that doesn't get adequate light due to shading from the house. The plants have been small all season, so I'm wondering when I should dig them out. They're in a blend of clay, rock and prior Mel mex that got wreck when the work crew had to trench through the middle length wise for a gas line. Feeling to see what I got isn't too easy.

**sanderson** 10/29/2017, 11:50 pm

Yes, tomorrow should be great for working outdoors. The SP vines are still growing and even flowering. I feel like I should wait, at least for the intact tote. ??

No_Such_Reality 10/30/2017, 12:27 am

I think you're supposed to pinch off flowers before they grow.its energy to the flowers or energy to the roots,

**sanderson** 11/2/2017, 2:47 am

Couldn't wait any longer. Both totes split. Some of the SP were exposed on top. I sauteed little root runts for dinner. Very Happy

**AtlantaMarie** 11/2/2017, 8:09 am

Still a nice harvest!

**sanderson** 11/2/2017, 8:14 am

Thanks! First year they were all fingerlings. Embarassed

The second year I tried some left over fingerlings plus slips. This year only slips. I'm pretty sure I over planted the containers. No "bug holes" this year like I had last year.

**trolleydriver** 11/2/2017, 8:27 am

Really nice harvest sanderson. Very Happy

yolos 11/2/2017, 12:58 pm

AtlantaMarie wrote:Still a nice harvest!

+1 - perseverance and trial and error pays off.

**sanderson** 11/2/2017, 4:08 pm

And listening to folks like you really helps.

MrBooker 11/2/2017, 5:11 pm

sanderson wrote:Thanks! First year they were all fingerlings. The second year I tried some left over fingerlings plus slips. This year only slips. I'm pretty sure I over planted the containers. No "bug holes" this year like I had last year.

Your SPs look like Georgia Jets. Are they?

**sanderson** 11/2/2017, 7:53 pm

They are North Fresno Savemart Grocery Store. Wink

28 pounds of brushed-off and trimmed gold!

No_Such_Reality 11/2/2017, 9:18 pm

No you need to cure them.

**sanderson** 11/3/2017, 1:50 am

I had to bring them inside due to pending rain so I wiped off the MM with a rag. No choice. They will spend some time on the tile floor that is 60*F.

countrynaturals 12/12/2017, 11:29 am

No_Such_Reality wrote:No you need to cure them.

How long?

**sanderson** 12/13/2017, 3:19 am

Suz, read back through the thread. I think that subject is covered here. Mine are still curing, or rather being stored, loosely in clean bags on the cold tile floor. They will stay there until all are used.

countrynaturals 12/13/2017, 11:58 am

sanderson wrote:Suz, read back through the thread. I think that subject is covered here. Mine are still curing, or rather being stored, loosely in clean bags on the cold tile floor. They will stay there until all are used.

Got lazy. Sorry. Embarassed

Looked it up on Google and got "7-10 days" so I'll dig them up on Friday to see if we'll have sweet potatoes for Christmas dinner or not. bounce

**AtlantaMarie** 12/14/2017, 6:34 am

Yeah, but remember it's also supposed to be in 80 degree temps....

I tried to do it in my oven once. Didn't work out too well, lol. I forgot about them & turned the oven on!

It's certainly "do what you can with what you got."

countrynaturals 12/14/2017, 11:36 am

AtlantaMarie wrote:Yeah, but remember it's also supposed to be in 80 degree temps....

HUH!?

That ain't happenin' here. Our truck is parked in the sun. I wonder if the interior gets up to 80 degrees. Rolling Eyes

I really think the grasshoppers killed this crop anyway, but if I do get a few 'taters, I'll brush them off, put them in a box, and leave them in the truck until time to cook them. If I can get any to use as seed potatoes, I will definitely cover the next crop in tulle. Rolling Eyes

Yardslave 12/14/2017, 12:38 pm

I suppose that if you want to cure them in the truck, and it's not too warm, put a fan in there to act as a convection device to help dry and harden the outer skins for long term storage. It will help transfer what little heat there is faster. I've used this method to dry tacky paint and cure it right down to the surface. If it works on wood, it will work on root veggies too. Just roll the window down, put the fan in, turn it on low, and roll the windows up with the extension cord hanging out.

countrynaturals 12/14/2017, 1:43 pm

Yardslave wrote:I suppose that if you want to cure them in the truck, and it's not too warm, put a fan in there to act as a convection device to help dry and harden the outer skins for long term storage. It will help transfer what little heat there is faster. I've used this method to dry tacky paint and cure it right down to the surface. If it works on wood, it will work on root veggies too. Just roll the window down, put the fan in, turn it on low, and roll the windows up with the extension cord hanging out.

If it's just "long term storage" we're doing this for, I don't need it. Whatever we get will either get cooked for Christmas dinner or go back in the ground as seed potatoes. Does that mean I don't need the 80 degree part at all?

BeetlesPerSqFt 12/14/2017, 4:25 pm

No - it's not just for storage. The curing process causes the starches in the sweet potatoes to transform into sugars. If you don't cure them, there's a fair chance they'll taste somewhere between meh and bleh; they won't be as sweet. I'd worry about the car getting too cold at night - sweet potatoes don't appreciate fridge temperatures, and I've read cold damage can start at temperatures below 55*F.

This article has 4 methods for curing - do any of them work for you?
https://morningchores.com/curing-sweet-potatoes/

**sanderson** 12/15/2017, 3:09 am

Was there a misprint in the attached article. For the plastic bag method, it said to poke holes in the SP. ??

Then you’ll need to poke a few holes in the sweet potatoes before placing them in that single layer within the bag.

BeetlesPerSqFt 12/15/2017, 7:34 am

sanderson wrote:Was there a misprint in the attached article. For the plastic bag method, it said to poke holes in the SP. ??

Then you’ll need to poke a few holes in the sweet potatoes before placing them in that single layer within the bag.

That has got to be a misprint. They must have meant the bag so that it doesn't get too hot inside?

countrynaturals 12/15/2017, 11:42 am

BeetlesPerSqFt wrote:
sanderson wrote:Was there a misprint in the attached article. For the plastic bag method, it said to poke holes in the SP. ??

Then you’ll need to poke a few holes in the sweet potatoes before placing them in that single layer within the bag.
That has got to be a misprint. They must have meant the bag so that it doesn't get too hot inside?

Found another site with similar info.

How to cure? The ideal is an 85-degree room with 85% humidity. What? You don’t have that?!
My easy solution for years running now is this: take plastic grocery bags, punch some holes in them, and fill them with sweet potatoes enough so that there is just one layer of them in each bag. Tie the bags closed and put in your sunniest, warmest window. Leave it for 10 days.
If it gets chilly and your windows are drafty, put a blanket or towel over them when the sun isn’t shining.

This I can do. Cool

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