Sweet potatoes

[Equilibrium]

I'm trying em for the 1st time this year. I decided it was time mostly for these reason, http://robbwolf.com/2011/04/20/growing-sweet-potatoes/, "In addition to being nutritious, sweet potatoes are easy to grow, typically yield well at over one pound per plant, and do not require refrigeration for long-term storage. What a great recipe for food security."
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I started em late as sort of an afterthought. There were 2 varieties for sale at the local feed store so I figured I'd give em a go and bought like 4 plants of each. So far.... they're alive but I have no idea what kind of yields I'm going to get.
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The 2 varieties I bought were Georgia Jet and Vardaman.
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Here's a description of what I bought, SweetPotatoes.com - Wayne E. Bailey Produce > About > Varieties and Botanical Information,
Georgia Jet
A spectacular new variety with extremely fast growth (#1 size potatoes in only 90 days) and extra-high yields. Ideal for northern gardens, even New England. Five years of testing in New York shows that Georgia Jet produces 2-1/2 times the yield of standard varieties. Yields in other sections are exceptional. Jets have deep orange inside color with moist flesh and marvelous taste. The outside skin is so red it is almost purple.
Vardaman
A bush variety with deep orange flesh. Perfect for the limited-space garden, where its beautiful deep red and green foliage makes it equally attractive as an ornamental. Released by the Mississippi Agricultural Extension Service in 1981. Is considered the best short-vined variety for eating. Has better resistance to fusarium wilt than older short vines (only 4’-5’ in length). The latest release and the most spectacular. Golden yellow outside skin that darkens soon after digging. Deepest, brightest orange color of all.
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I'm in Illinois. I've never grown them before so I'll take any pointers anyone's got to give me. I'd definitely be interested in what other varieties might be better than what I bought and where I could buy sweet potato seedlings. They don't exactly sell them around here. The only place I've ever seen em for sale is at the feed store and they only had 2 different varieties. I'm sure there's better out there.... I just don't know what they are.

[biigblueyes]

First - make note of when you planted them and start checking them at 90 days. 90 - 120 days is expected. If you wait too long, they get huge and fibrous. You can still use them, you just have to cut them in slices before you cook them or mash them.

If you see any weevil holes when you harvest, take them out IMMEDIATELY or they'll spread to your good taters and you'll have to throw everything out.

When you harvest, there's a curing period. The closest to 90% humidity and 90 degrees, the better. That's in my storage shed. You will be harvesting in fall if you're planting now, and you won't have that kind of temps, so find the warmest spot you have (near a fireplace or water heater). Keep them in warm place for a week or 2 before moving them to cooler storage.

[dapjwy]

Okay...now that we know how to grow them...we're gonna need some good recipes.

I have to admit that I've been rather wary of this highly nutritious veggie...but I'm learning to like them, I think.

Friends of ours make a sweet potato biscuit recipe that is DELICIOUS (but high in fat, I'm sure)...and I tasted my sister-in-law's sweet potatoes this past Thanksgiving that had me thinking I could learn to like them.

So, what are your favorite recipes?

[suunto]

I've found them relatively easy to grow here in southeastern WV; in some instances harvesting nearly 10 pounds from one plant. Although I have had some exceed five pounds in weight, I am fond of the slender cigar-sized ones that are great brushed with oil and roasted on a cookie sheet - eat 'em skins and all like french fries!

[Gloria]

I'm growing sweet potatoes this year so we will have to compare notes. Nine plants are growing on a hugelculture bed. At first something ate the leaves off of just one vine, I think it was a rabbit but it must not have liked the taste and found other fare.Leaves grew back and that plant is now the runt of the patch but there has been no more problems. I did not know the curing period needed to be so warm and humid. I should probably read more about growing sweet potatoes instead of just winging it.
Sweet potatoes are a favorite food of mine. See picture of a sweet potatoes in a taco here... Veggie tacos

[havalotta]

Originally Posted by Equilibrium

I'm trying em for the 1st time this year.
The 2 varieties I bought were Georgia Jet and Vardaman.

I'd definitely be interested in what other varieties might be better than what I bought and where I could buy sweet potato seedlings. They don't exactly sell them around here. The only place I've ever seen em for sale is at the feed store and they only had 2 different varieties. I'm sure there's better out there.... I just don't know what they are.

You found seedlings?
I've often thought about growing them (after they've been quartered and rooted in water) much the same as the ginger roots trials you're currently working on but have always heard our growing season was too short for them....Please let us know if they mature in time.

[jack]

Originally Posted by Equilibrium

I'm trying em for the 1st time this year. I decided it was time mostly for these reason, http://robbwolf.com/2011/04/20/growing-sweet-potatoes/, "In addition to being nutritious, sweet potatoes are easy to grow, typically yield well at over one pound per plant, and do not require refrigeration for long-term storage. What a great recipe for food security."
--
I started em late as sort of an afterthought. There were 2 varieties for sale at the local feed store so I figured I'd give em a go and bought like 4 plants of each. So far.... they're alive but I have no idea what kind of yields I'm going to get.
--
The 2 varieties I bought were Georgia Jet and Vardaman.
--
Here's a description of what I bought, SweetPotatoes.com - Wayne E. Bailey Produce > About > Varieties and Botanical Information,
Georgia Jet
A spectacular new variety with extremely fast growth (#1 size potatoes in only 90 days) and extra-high yields. Ideal for northern gardens, even New England. Five years of testing in New York shows that Georgia Jet produces 2-1/2 times the yield of standard varieties. Yields in other sections are exceptional. Jets have deep orange inside color with moist flesh and marvelous taste. The outside skin is so red it is almost purple.
Vardaman
A bush variety with deep orange flesh. Perfect for the limited-space garden, where its beautiful deep red and green foliage makes it equally attractive as an ornamental. Released by the Mississippi Agricultural Extension Service in 1981. Is considered the best short-vined variety for eating. Has better resistance to fusarium wilt than older short vines (only 4’-5’ in length). The latest release and the most spectacular. Golden yellow outside skin that darkens soon after digging. Deepest, brightest orange color of all.
--
I'm in Illinois. I've never grown them before so I'll take any pointers anyone's got to give me. I'd definitely be interested in what other varieties might be better than what I bought and where I could buy sweet potato seedlings. They don't exactly sell them around here. The only place I've ever seen em for sale is at the feed store and they only had 2 different varieties. I'm sure there's better out there.... I just don't know what they are.

I have a great juicing recipe to use them with if you're successful, Lib!

[havalotta]

Ohhh I bet that's real <GOOD> I just picked up a juicer and made a batch of carrot juice.
Was it ever SWEET! I never pictured it tasting like that so I bet Sweet Potatoes would even be more so!

I made a round of Potato juice. Absolutely HORRID!!! All fruits and most veggies tasted pretty good other than the CHARD.
It tasted like ground up soil and grass.

[biigblueyes]

OK - I missed the numbers a little. This is from the LSU ag center.
Curing and Storing Sweet Potatoes - LSU AgCenter

Cure by storing in a warm, humid room for five to 10 days. A temperature of 80 degrees to 85 degrees and a relative humidity of 80 percent to 90 percent are ideal. These exact conditions will be hard to establish around the home, so select a room or building that comes close to these conditions.
After curing, store roots at 55 degrees to 60 degrees for six to eight weeks. This storage further develops the sugars and maltose sugar-creating enzyme. This enzyme will really kick in while baking at 350 degrees to 375 degrees to develop the sweet, syrupy sugars that Louisiana yams are famous for.

[biigblueyes]

The info from Illinois isn't much different, but they give tips on how to get warm and humid. . .

For best storage, sweet potatoes should be cured after the brief sun drying. Curing helps heal light surface wounds and toughens the skin. Curing is done by placing the sweet potatoes in a steady temperature of 80 to 85 degrees, for a week to ten days. A small, heated outdoor shed or furnace room can serve this purpose. A loose covering of plastic can help maintain humidity during that period. If kept too warm at low humidity, the roots will begin to shrivel and lose quality.

Harvesting and Storing Sweet Potatoes - Coles County Yard and Garden - University of Illinois Extension serving Coles, Cumberland, Douglas, Moultrie and Shelby Counties