
How to Plant, Grow, and Harvest Sweet Potatoes
Relatively low in calories, sweet potatoes are very nutritious, a top source of beta-carotene, and also contain some protein, calcium, iron, vitamins A and C and other minerals. They can be stored longer than winter squash.
To the cook, sweet potatoes are easier than pie (or sweet potato pie!).
- They can simply be scrubbed, poked with a fork in a few places, and baked at 400°F for 35 minutes to one hour, until they give a bit when you squeeze them in your pot-holder-protected hand.
- In the microwave, a whole sweet potato baked on high should be ready in 4 to 6 minutes. It may still feel firm when done; let it stand about 5 minutes to soften.
- Sweet potatoes can also be steamed whole (cleaned and unpeeled) for about 40 minutes or until tender, or cooked whole (cleaned and unpeeled) in boiling salted water for about 35 minutes. (Boiling reduces the flavor considerably.)
- Immerse cut raw sweet potatoes in water until you’re ready to cook them; they will darken otherwise.
As a general rule, don’t substitute sweet potatoes for regular potatoes in recipes; the two aren’t related. Sweet potatoes don’t hold together the way potatoes do, and their strong flavor can overwhelm a dish meant for a milder potato taste. Sweet potatoes are also not related to yams. But they make a fine substitute for pumpkin, especially in desserts.
Check out our ten best sweet potato recipes!
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Sweet Potatos are a good way to get plenty of Beta-Carotene.
Are the leaves of the sweet potato edible? While we were in the military, we were stationed in Japan for 8 years. It appeared that the ate and sold the vines/ leaves in the grocery stores. Was it a different kind of sweet potato? They had a really good flavor. Thank you, Jody
I was wondering about companion planting in a 20 gal fabric pot.
What can you grow in the pot while growing sweet potatoes?
I read you can grow corn and beans in the fabric pot with potatoes at the same time.
Wanted to have the pot do double/triple duty as it were.
Hi, there, Surprisingly enough, there are a few things. We’ve grown sweets in ground and preferred to give them room to roam. But if you want to push the limits of your container, sources suggest beets, parsnips (note, however, that parsnips have a very long season), bush beans, and herbs such as thyme, oregano, and dill. You are advised to avoid squash as both it and sweets are strong, sprawling growers and will compete for space, which means neither reaches its full potential. Good luck!
Thanks for this great information, this has been one of my best websites for learning about crops.
I am a beginner in farming and I frequent your website
Thanks for all you do
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