sweet potatoes sprouting in storage/curing

9 years ago

last modified: 9 years ago

About half my sweet potatoes appeared to make it properly through the initial (warm/humid) phase of the curing process. The other half, I determined, shriveled a bit, due to dry air and skin damage from an idiot (me) scrubbing the dirt off them before curing.

The other half appear good, and are now in my coolish (mid-upper 60s, but will cool to around 60 by winter), moist basement. Yet, I still see small sprouts growing on them.

A - how can I stop the sprouting?

B - how can I keep a couple to where I can sprout them when I WANT to next spring, (to grow next years' slips) and make sure they last that long, and don't sprout every dormant bud they have, and have nothing left to sprout in March?

Featured Answer

wayne_5 zone 6a Central Indiana

9 years ago

They should/t sprout in 55° temps. To sprout them next year, bring them in by early March to 70° temps.

I think the curing can be overdone with high heat AND humidity.

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (7)

hairmetal4ever
Original Author
9 years ago
It’s not 55 down there. It’s about 67. It’s the best I can do for now.
Related Professionals
Mobile Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Lake City Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Baton Rouge Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Harrisonburg Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Newport News Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · South Bend Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Selma Landscape Contractors · Sarasota Landscape Contractors · Sebring Landscape Contractors · Show Low Landscape Contractors · Panama City Accessory Dwelling Units · Somerset Accessory Dwelling Units · Binghamton Accessory Dwelling Units · Stockton Accessory Dwelling Units · Durango Accessory Dwelling Units
wayne_5 zone 6a Central Indiana
9 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
Well, maybe they are better off undug until cooler weather...something to think about next time. It is fine to dig some for immediate eating early.

People seem in such a hurry to harvest potatoes. ...both sweet and Irish potatoes. Yes, sweet potatoes do need harvesting when temps are frosty. Colder than 50° is hard on them whether in storage or in the ground.
vgkg Z-7 Va
9 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
I harvested ours (the 1st batch) about a month ago. I'll dig up the secondary runners I purposely buried in adjacent parallel rows in another week or so. The first ones were mature with a few past head size lunker stage. Just a few have small sprouts, I just snap them off over time. Still like summer here, wish I had started some tomato seeds on Aug 1st, no 40's in sight.
hairmetal4ever
Original Author
9 years ago
I harvested when I did, so they’d cure and sweeten in time for Thanksgiving.
hairmetal4ever
Original Author
9 years ago
They’re still trying to sprout, albeit slowly.
wayne_5 zone 6a Central Indiana
9 years ago
I prefer the present taste rather than 3 or 4 months down the road.