Small sweet potato
Sweet potato near Johnstown, PA
I dug out a couple of sweet potatoes yesterday and they are smaller than I expected. First time I've grown them so I guess I don't have the knack yet. How much longer would you recommend leaving them in the ground here in PA? Thanks, Larry
Posted
by: Larry Pelenski
(4 points)
Posted: October 3, 2013
Answers
I grew them for the first time this year, too, Larry. Variety Beauregard, supposedly good for short-season growers. I grew them in mounds under black plastic (recycled from a local dairy farmer).
A weird crop, I must say! Many of mine were scrawny as under-developed carrots, though I assume they might have grown larger if they'd had another month (or two) in the ground.
Like yours, the first few I pulled out were pitifully small. But I'd suggest rummaging around for a few more. You may find, as I did, quite a few average-sized sweeties, and a few monsters.
We've found that after curing, even the scrawny ones taste delicious, scrubbed, sliced, tossed in a little oil, and roasted.
A weird crop, I must say! Many of mine were scrawny as under-developed carrots, though I assume they might have grown larger if they'd had another month (or two) in the ground.
Like yours, the first few I pulled out were pitifully small. But I'd suggest rummaging around for a few more. You may find, as I did, quite a few average-sized sweeties, and a few monsters.
We've found that after curing, even the scrawny ones taste delicious, scrubbed, sliced, tossed in a little oil, and roasted.
About a third of our good-sized keepers. (Will try to get a shot of the little ones & post it soon.)
Posted
by: Peg Boyles
(4 points)
Posted: October 5, 2013
The longer you can leave sweet potatoes in the ground, the better! I plant them in March and usually pull them in November. Unfortunately, you don't have the luxury of such a long season.
Your main problem is that you're growing a hot weather crop from the tropics. They can't take cold weather and won't grow much when it gets cool outside.
If I were in your shoes, I would research short-season sweet potatoes. A lot of the common varieties are unsuitable for your growing zone. Peg is right, though - even the little ones taste good.
The leaves are also good in salads and as a cooked green. I have an article on sweet potatoes here:
http://www.floridasurvivalgardening.c...
Good luck!
Your main problem is that you're growing a hot weather crop from the tropics. They can't take cold weather and won't grow much when it gets cool outside.
If I were in your shoes, I would research short-season sweet potatoes. A lot of the common varieties are unsuitable for your growing zone. Peg is right, though - even the little ones taste good.
The leaves are also good in salads and as a cooked green. I have an article on sweet potatoes here:
http://www.floridasurvivalgardening.c...
Good luck!
Posted
by: David Goodman
(69 points)
Posted: October 9, 2013
The folks at Sand Hill Preservation Center have very good tips on sweet potato growing (including in northern climates) coming from their many years of experience growing in Iowa (and Idaho before that apparently): http://sandhillpreservation.com/pages...
Additionally, some research at Cornell has found bigger higher quality yields in the state of New York with Covington, O’Henry, and Beauregard varieties:
http://mysare.sare.org/mySARE/Project...
On my farm in Michigan over the last 5 years I've tried a couple dozen varieties. They've all been delicious but we do get plenty of small, stringy, and "carrot-like" yields. Beauregard has definitely been the most consistent in terms of bigger size. I have not tried the Covington and O'Henry varieties above yet.
Additionally, some research at Cornell has found bigger higher quality yields in the state of New York with Covington, O’Henry, and Beauregard varieties:
http://mysare.sare.org/mySARE/Project...
On my farm in Michigan over the last 5 years I've tried a couple dozen varieties. They've all been delicious but we do get plenty of small, stringy, and "carrot-like" yields. Beauregard has definitely been the most consistent in terms of bigger size. I have not tried the Covington and O'Henry varieties above yet.
Posted
by: Shannon Brines
(1 point)
Posted: October 16, 2013
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How long have the sweet potatoes been planted? over 10 years ago.