Growing and Harvesting Sweet Potatoes

Delicate at the beginning, and robust at fruition. That's what you can expect with sweet potatoes! They are a hearty root vegetable that vine out and have the power to take over a whole section of your garden if you let them! Heat tolerant and virtually free of pests, these are a no-brainer to add into your slew of homegrown veggies.

An excellent source of vitamins A and C, potassium, and fiber, they pack a nutritious punch. Your eyes can benefit from the antioxidant lutein, and the orange flesh shows they are high in beta carotene, which is helpful for immune system function AND can help protect your skin from sun damage!

We get our sweet potatoes from a local greenhouse and plant them in early to mid May, at the same time we plant tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, and green beans. It's really important to wait until the last frost date has passed before planting in the soil, as sweet potatoes are not frost resistant. When the soil is nice and warm, till up a nice spot in your garden and dig a row of holes about 6 inches deep and 18-24 inches apart. Lay the roots in the hole, mound the dirt around them right under the leaves before packing down tightly, and then water them well. Depending on the weather that year, you may need to continue to water them for the first couple of weeks.

Once your sweet potatoes begin to establish and vine out, they are very easy to take care of. If you're in a drought, they may need some water to get them by. It takes them about 4 months from planting to fully mature and be ready to harvest, around mid-late September. You'll notice once the weather begins to get cooler that the vines begin to turn yellow and look like they're dying. That's a good indication that no more growth is happening under the surface. You'll want to dig them up before the first frost for sure to avoid the vines freezing, which in turn will cause the potatoes to rot.

To dig, simply take a potato fork and move the vines to the side, and dig your row! Place your potato fork in the ground and gently rock back and forth and see if any potatoes emerge from the soil. Be careful when digging, as sometimes you can stab one of the potatoes in the process. If that happens, just be sure to use that potato soon! Continue digging each hole until you no longer see any potatoes!

Sweet potatoes are one of our favorite sides to enjoy ALL year long! When we have a bountiful harvest, they usually last us at least until the next seasons potatoes are harvested! Keep them in a cool, dry place like a basement or storm cellar. Our go-to preparation is to simply cut them into cubes, toss in some olive oil, salt, and pepper and bake them at 425° for 40 minutes, flipping halfway through. You can also make sweet potato fries, bake them whole, or boil them.

Sweet potatoes are one of the easier and most nutritious vegetables that keep for the longest amount of time when stored correctly. It's a win-win-win! :) Be sure and add them to your Spring time planting list next season!