Sweet success

dixie 10/19/2011, 3:33 pm

My granddaughters were here for a few days and we decided to harvest the sweet potatoes. They couldn't believe what was under that mass of vines. Even the 15 year old dug in. Out of a 2 1/2 by 8 foot box I got 47.5 lbs of sweet taters. When I planted them my mom told me her dad always said plant the slips straight up for larger potatoes & at a slant for long and slender ones. I planted most of mine straight & had a dandy harvest. They are curing in the basement now in a small room with a ceramic heater to keep them warm.

These made up for the so-so corn and tomatoes this year.

Sweet success 00112

southern gardener 10/19/2011, 5:45 pm

WOW!!! ok...so where did you get the potatoes, how deep did you plant etc etc? Got my interest!! nice job!! cheers

mijejo 10/19/2011, 6:07 pm

The sweet potato harvest pics were very interesting - and what beautiful g'daughters you have! Thanks for sharing.

I have about 20 plants to harvest myself. I am not sure how to cure them. I know that I have to keep them dry and warm. However, I do not know how warm (temperature) and for how long. Is there a way to tell when they are cured? Do they need to have air circulating around them such as having them lie on a rack? What if I want to keep a few to provide slips for next year?

dixie 10/19/2011, 10:03 pm

Mother Earth News and LSU AG sweet potato guide have good info (neither of which I read before planting them, I just went for it and planted, then read about it afterwards.

I grew my slips from grocery store potatoes (in a quart jar of water, breaking off the sprouts as roots formed and potting up into individual cells) & I guess I planted them an inch or so deep, just covering the roots good.

They took care of themselves except for watering. No pest problems at all. Years ago when I tried them in my regular garden, the deer kept the leaves chewed off at the ground, so I only grew them once.

Weedless_ 10/19/2011, 10:11 pm

This is awesome, I want, I want! Great harvest, keep 'em coming!

staf74 10/30/2011, 11:07 pm

That is a stunning harvest... Sweet success 766553

Bravo !

quiltbea 10/30/2011, 11:25 pm

Great harvest. Loved the pictures. Loved the models even more. Beautiful girls.

middlemamma 10/31/2011, 1:32 am

Dixie how beautiful! That is awesome awesome awesome!!! I may try those yet!

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