Apparently , “ odoriferous theme vegetable ” just did n’t have the same ring to it as “ sweet potato , ” so we ’re stuck with a miscall – albeit delightful – veggie .
For the sweet Irish potato is not related to regular potatoes . Not in any room , contour , or form . Not even third cousins twice removed .
No matter . A vegetable by any other name would taste as sweet , and whatever its name , Ipomea batatais tasty , prosperous to turn , and wanton to harvest , once you understand the particulars .
Photo by Amber Shidler.
We link to vendors to facilitate you incur relevant products . If you buy from one of our links , we may earn a commission .
Here ’s what ’s to come in this article :
What You Will Learn
Let ’s cut into in !
When to Harvest
Mostsweet potato varietiesare ready to harvest after about 100 days of growth , though you ’ll find a scope of 90 - 120 days . You may also descend across some newer variety design for the shorter growing season in the north .
Some gardeners avow the well - sample sweet Solanum tuberosum are those that have go through a individual unaccented frost . If this is your destination , be sure to time your planting and harvest just mightily , because these tropical plants wo n’t bear much chilly weather .
In addition to checking the calendar , you’re able to also look for yellowing leaf and vines , as this is an reading of readiness .
Photo by Amber Shidler.
How to Harvest
When you ’ve adjudicate the metre is veracious , and it ’s metre for harvest , find a nice acute spade and a spade fork ( aka tater ramification ) , if you have one .
Since you ca n’t see what you ’re digging up , you ’ll want to be careful not to damage your cherished genus Tuber .
On a ironical , overcast sidereal day , lightly loosen the grime with a spade about 18 inches away from the centre of your plants , and about 6 inches cryptical . It ’s also best if the territory is dry so less dirt spliff to the tubers .
Then , grasp at the crest of the plant ( i.e. at the base of the vines ) and pluck it up . Or use a spade fork to softly lift the potatoes out of the loosen filth .
If you grew your sweetheart in a container , simply plunge the pile into a wheelbarrow .
get the scented potatoes rest on the priming coat for a mates hour .
Shake or brush off any loose land , but do not wash the vegetable .
Curing the Tubers
“ Curing ” sweet white potato take into account a second “ skin ” to develop over cuts or sugar that may have occur during the digging process , allowing for more successful , longer - full term memory board .
Additionally , the cure process increases the moistness of the tuber , while also enhancing the vegetable ’s aroma . The process also concentrate starch content while increasing wampum . In other words , cure for more yumminess !
To cure , stash away them in a single layer in a fond ( 80 - 90 ° F ) , humid ( 85 - 90 % ) station for about 14 days .
Creating these conditions may be tricky if you do n’t live in , say , Florida . Some gardener punch yap in a plastic grocery bag , place a few tubers inside in a single layer , and place the bag in a gay , warm window . overcompensate the bag with a towel for extra warmth at night or when it ’s not sunny .
Proper Storage
The next tone is to store your tubers until you ’re ready to enjoy them . This require moving them out of the sweat room into a cooler environs .
Ideal storage conditions include an ambient temperature of 55 - 60 ° degree Fahrenheit and relative humidness of 85 - 90 % . Under these conditions , sweetened white potato vine remain practicable for several calendar month . A cellar , basement , or an outdoor storage house ( when temperatures are coolheaded ) would be ideal .
Some gardeners put in their tuber in paper bag or wind them individually in newspaper . you may simply set them on shelves , or invest them in Milk River crates , which will leave plenty of airflow .
Do n’t refrigerate honeyed potato for more than a few days , or they will begin to show signs of breaking down or rotting .
Wherever you store the tubers , check them every couple of weeks to make trusted that none have originate to mildew . If you retrieve an affected vegetable , hit it now to prevent spreading .
Other storage selection include slicing them into child , void sealing them , and freezing them .
you may also carry on your spuds by canning them .
Recipe Ideas
When you ’re quick to prepare your orangish hunks of fragrance , simply rinse and scrub them thoroughly , then try one of these fantastic recipes from our sister web site , Foodal :
If you ’re follow your carb intake but nevertheless craving alimentary paste , consider cooking up some spiralized homegrown root veg noodles with roasted red Piper nigrum and sun - dried tomatoes .
Packed with flavor , this “ alimentary paste ” dishful lead off with roasted fresh potatoes .
Get the recipe now !
If you ’re wondering what to do with the cutting fries you put in the Deepfreeze , how about Cajun oven - baked sweet potato fries ?
You ’ll get it on the flavor - packed seasoning!Get the detail on Foodal .
For afters , instead of the traditional pumpkin pie , how about broil upthis sweet spud pie , infused with the same spices you love in the pumpkin interlingual rendition .
Need more sweet-smelling potato recipes?Try one one of these !
All You Need Is a Thermometer
Harvesting these tasty root vegetables is simply a matter of carefully digging them up at the proper metre . Then , a little attending to temperature and humidity will provide you with deliciousness for month to come .
Photos by Amber Shidler © require the Experts , LLC . ALL right RESERVED.See our TOSfor more item . Uncredited photos : Shutterstock . Significantly revised and expand from a variation in the beginning written by Amber Shidler .
About
Gretchen Heber
