The right time
Basically, you harvest sweet potatoes in October. Depending on the weather conditions, this date can be postponed from year to year. The tubers are also ripe in September and may have to be stored for a while before the starch has been converted into sugar. A sure sign that the harvest is imminent is the yellowing of the leaves. Although the vegetables grow underground, the wilting is a clear indication. Most importantly, you get your sweet potatoes out of the ground before the first frost. Sub-zero temperatures negate the yield in just one night. So don't be afraid to loot your plant early on when temperatures drop.
proceed
- harvest your sweet potatoes as soon as the leaves turn yellow
- do not use a shovel, use your bare hands to avoid damaging the tubers
- brush off the clinging earth well, but do not wash the vegetables yet
also read
- The silver leaf: interesting facts about sowing
- Profile: Interesting facts about the banana
- How to plant a sweet potato
Subsequent storage
After you've taken your sweet potatoes out of the ground, they should be stored in a dark place for at least two days. A cellar is ideal for this. First, the tubers should still be in the fresh air. During this time, a further layer is formed over small scratches and pressure points, which prevents the penetration of germs. Only then should you wrap your sweet potatoes individually in newspaper if you do not want to process them straight away. Most of the time, the potatoes still need some time to convert the starch they contain into sugar. Only through this process does the pleasantly sweet taste develop.
Store only intact vegetables that are free from pressure marks. The sweet potatoes should only come into contact with water just before cooking.