Sweet Potato

Eat greens all season, then harvest a tastey and nutritious tuber that stores well. What's not to love about this plant? And indeed, it's been a staple of many cultures for a long time.

Harvesting

• You must cure sweet potatoes or they will not have that delicious, sweet taste.
• Curing the potatoes allows a second skin to form over scratches and bruises that occur when digging up the potatoes.
• To cure, keep the roots in a warm place (about 80°F/27°C) at high humidity (about 90%) for 10 to 14 days. A table outside in a shady spot works well. For best curing, make sure that the potatoes are not touching one another.
• After curing, throw out any bruised potatoes, and then wrap each one in newspaper and pack them carefully in a wooden box or basket. Store the sweet potatoes in a root cellar, basement, or other place with a temperature of at least 55°F/13°C.
• If stored at a temperature range of 55–60°F (13–15.5°C) with high humidity, the tubers should last for about 6 months. When removing the potatoes from storage, remember to be gentle; do not dig around or else you will bruise the potatoes.

History

• Interesting study on ancient potato & sweet potato in South America