Best Tips for Digging and Storing Sweet Potatoes

Sweet Potatoes are the treasure of harvest time. I get excited just like I did as a little girl helping my grandfather dig them. Let’s get digging into these tips for digging and storing sweet potatoes so your treasures last you all winter long.

I love sweet potatoes. Everything about them is wonderful to me. They are one of the most nutritious foods you can grow in your garden. The old-timers say they help you keep your night vision and prevent cancer. Modern science has proven them right. They are a powerhouse of nutrition and energy!

All winter I look forward to sprouting them in the spring, planting the slips, watching them grow into beautiful green vines with lovely purple flowers, and best of all the fun of digging and storing sweet potatoes. It always feels like I am finding treasures.

There are so many surprises under the dirt. You will find odd shapes and sizes. The tendrils go everywhere and grow one potato off by itself, but you just have to follow the tendril to get that one potato.

We find mice tunnels and mice, EEEK! Luckily for me, Roxie and J were there to take care of them for me. It is also a good opportunity to see the condition of the soil. We are always glad to see so many large red worms. They are a sign of healthy soil.

This year we planted 6 rows 22 feet long and got almost 475# of sweet potatoes! Wow! They range in size from large casserole-making ones to small doggie treat sizes.

There are so many different looks to them and digging and storing sweet potatoes is so much fun. I feel like a kid again!

Digging and Storing Sweet Potatoes

The big questions about digging and storing sweet potatoes are “When to dig and How to dig sweet potatoes”.

When to dig sweet potatoes

This is the more difficult of the two questions. The last few weeks of the season, September to October depending on where you live, is when the sweet potatoes grow the most and set their flavor. After this time of year, is the best time for digging and storing sweet potatoes.

If you plant too early or harvest too early, you won’t get as nice a potato. They will be small, thin, and low-starch (not sweet). The more mature a sweet potato is, the better it will heal from cuts, scrapes, and nicks.

If you just can’t stand it, and you know I can’t, dig up a hill and check the size and number of the potatoes in it. If you are happy with what you find, dig them up.

You really can’t judge a sweet potato’s readiness by its vine. They will bloom right up until a hard frost.

When my vines look wilty and we have enjoyed a few cooler nights and mornings, we dig them. If your plants get hard-bitten by frost, the vines will turn black and you must dig your potatoes right away.

How We Dig Sweet Potatoes

The first step to digging your sweet potatoes is to pull all the vines up. They will detach without much effort but if you get a stubborn one, use your garden shears and cut it off even with the ground.

My grandfather dug his potatoes by running a single plow on the outside of each row and then they were picked up and dug out by hand. I don’t have a single plow so J takes a shovel and starts at one end of the row, and digs under the hill.

He throws the dirt out one shovel full at a time so that it is sifted and I can see any potatoes hiding in clumps. The other potatoes are in the row and I pick them up. I love it when he uncovers a mound of them and I get to dig them out by hand.

How to Cure Sweet Potatoes

Once your potatoes are dug, they need to cure. This is just to let them have some time to heal over cuts, scrapes, and nicks.

Be sure you don’t dig while the soil is wet because this will prolong your curing time. I put mine on a tarp on the back porch so the sun can hit them easily. You could use a table or anything that would allow them plenty of space. You don’t want them stacked on top of one another.

They should all be laid out for air and sun to hit them. Let them sit for 2-3 days. If you are not in the south like me, where temps are often in the 80s during the day in October, you will need to let them sit out for 10 – 14 days before storing them.

The temperature needs to be 80 or above during these days. They like humid air when they are drying too, so if it is really dry, you can put a damp sheet or towel over them to create a more humid environment.

The old-timers used to dig them a little at a time and put them around the woodstove or in the attic area around the stove pipe to cure. You could put them near your furnace, or some other heat source, just be sure not to overheat them.

Once they are cured, you need to separate them for storage.

How to Store Sweet Potatoes

You will need to put the ones that are bruised or have been cut where you can use them first. I use baskets and crates for our storage bins, but you can use whatever you have.

In storage, they need to be dry and cool so keep this in mind. Sweet potatoes will last 3-5 months under most circumstances.

• The nice-sized ones that have no bug holes, cuts, or bruises go into my long-term storage bin. This means I will use them last since they are in good enough shape to keep well into late winter, or early spring.
• I put The really small ones in a basket that I use for doggie treats and boil them to make candied potatoes, eating raw, or such.
• The medium-sized ones that have some damage or I am not sure about, go into another bin for baking, boiling, frying, just whatever I need them for.
• The large, ugly monster ones have their own bin and I bake them for casseroles and pies. The larger ones can be stringy. Sweet Potatoes tend to get stringy when it is very dry or they are in the ground too long.

The longer they are in storage, the sweeter they become. Keep an eye on them by checking them every time you get some to use or at least once a week.

If you see some shriveling or looking otherwise faint, you can bake a batch and then freeze them, can them, or dehydrate them to keep from losing them.

How to Freeze Sweet Potatoes for Storage

My grandmother used burlap bags she hung from the ceiling in the pantry area of her dining room she used for storage of produce including sweet potatoes. She also kept some potatoes under hay in the shed.

You know I don’t freeze much of our food. The electrical system in our country is too fragile for me to trust with our food supply. On those occasions when I do freeze sweet potatoes, I do it like my grandmother did.

She baked large batches, let them cool, then wrapped them in freezer paper and put them in the freezer until she wanted them. She would thaw them out and heat them up, and they were delicious.

I told you how to freeze them, canning them is just as easy.

How to Can Sweet Potatoes for Storage

• Wash the sweet potatoes you are going to can.
• Peel them and cut away any damaged portions.
• Cut them into the size pieces you want.
• Cook them in boiling water or steam for 20- 30  minutes until softened.
• Dry pack them into jars by filling the jar with the cooked pieces. Leave a 1″ headspace then put the cap and lid on.
• OR you can hot pack. Fill the jar with the cooked pieces and add some of the boiling water they were cooked in. Leave 1″ headspace in the jar.
• Process in a pressure canner for 90 minutes. My canner is a weighted gauge, and I set it at 10 pounds of pressure weight.
• Don’t forget to adjust the weight to 15 pounds if you are over 1000 feet above sea level.
• A dial gauge canner should be set at 11 pounds from 0-2000 feet above sea level and adjusted one pound up for every 2000 feet above that: if you are 2001-4000 feet you would use 12 pounds; 4001-6000 feet you would use 13 pounds; so on and so on.

Dehydrating Sweet Potatoes for Storage

Dehydrating them is easy. I dehydrate almost all of our harvest, I can only a few things anymore. Dehydrating saves me space and time, both of which I am always short on.

• Wash the sweet potatoes you want to dehydrate.
• You have the option to leave the skin on, which I do, or remove it.
• Peel on or peeled, you now cut away any damaged portion of the potatoes.
• Slice them into 1/8-inch thick slices
• Layer them in single layers on your drying trays.
• Set your dehydrator at 115-118 degrees F. This lower temperature takes longer, but it doesn’t kill the enzymes in the food.
• They will be brittle when done and it should take between 11-18 hours depending on your humidity.

Traditional Method of Storing Sweet Potatoes in Sand

Storing sweet potatoes in sand is a traditional and effective method to prolong their shelf life and maintain their quality. The sand provides a cool, dark, and humid environment that mimics the conditions of their natural habitat. This helps prevent the sweet potatoes from drying out and shriveling while also discouraging the growth of mold or rot.

When stored in sand, the sweet potatoes remain protected from temperature fluctuations and excess moisture, which can lead to spoilage. This age-old technique not only extends the storage duration of sweet potatoes but also preserves their flavor, texture, and nutritional value, ensuring a steady supply of this nutritious and versatile root vegetable throughout the year.

• Place a layer of clean sand in a container, add a layer of sweet potatoes, and repeat until the container is full.
• Make sure the sweet potatoes are fully covered with sand.
• Keep the container in a cool, dry place like a basement or pantry.
• Storing sweet potatoes in sand helps regulate the temperature and humidity, and keeps them from drying out.
• With this storage method, your sweet potatoes can last for several months, providing you with a delicious and nutritious vegetable throughout the winter.

Wrap Up

Digging and storing sweet potatoes is one of the easiest and most fun garden chores.

You’re now equipped with the essential knowledge to maximize your sweet potato harvest and savor its deliciousness well beyond the growing season. By following these guidelines for digging and storing sweet potatoes, you’re on your way to enjoying a bountiful yield and preserving the sweet, nutritious goodness of your homegrown sweet potatoes.

Harvesting Sweet Potatoes:
Knowing when to harvest is crucial to ensure that your sweet potatoes reach their full potential. As the growing season comes to an end, keep a close eye on the foliage. Once the leaves start yellowing and the vines begin to wither, it’s a clear sign that it’s time to start digging. Gently unearth the sweet potatoes to avoid damaging the tubers.

Storing Sweet Potatoes:
Proper storage is key to maintaining the flavor, texture, and nutritional value of your sweet potatoes. Cure freshly harvested sweet potatoes by allowing them to dry in a warm, humid environment for 10-14 days. After curing, store them in a cool, dark, and well-ventilated area. An ideal temperature range is between 55-60°F (13-16°C). Avoid storing sweet potatoes in the refrigerator, as cold temperatures can negatively impact their taste and texture.

Preserving Sweet Potatoes:
Preserving your sweet potatoes ensures that you can enjoy their goodness long after the growing season. There are several methods you can explore:

1. Freezing: Cook and mash or dice sweet potatoes before freezing. This will help maintain their texture upon thawing. Store them in airtight containers or freezer bags. Remember to label and date the containers for easy identification.
2. Canning: Sweet potatoes can be canned as puree or slices. Follow safe canning procedures, including using appropriate equipment and recipes, to ensure the longevity and safety of your preserved produce.
3. Dehydrating: Slice sweet potatoes into thin strips and dehydrate them at 118 degrees F until they’re crisp. This should take between 11-18 hours. Dehydrated sweet potato chips can be stored in airtight containers and rehydrated as needed.
4. Storage in Sand: Another traditional method involves layering sweet potatoes with sand in containers, ensuring they don’t touch each other. This can extend their storage life.

Remember that the quality of preserved sweet potatoes is greatly influenced by the freshness of the produce before preservation. Select healthy, unblemished sweet potatoes for the best results.

Since I was a little girl digging sweet potatoes has been one of my favorite garden chores. How about you? Happy harvesting and preserving!

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