SWEET POTATOES More than just a holiday food. © Jack D. Osman, Ph.D. Towson University

SWEET POTATOES

More than just a holiday food.© Jack D. Osman, Ph.D.

Towson University

The sweetpotato is both a nutritious and delicious vegetable that deserves to be a regular serving in the American diet.

©Jack D. Osman, 2002

Some are down-right ugly!

Georgia Jet - 1.5 pounds


Some are just BIG!

3.5 pounds!©Jack D. Osman, 2002

Others are HUGE!


Little Know Facts

Sweetpotatoes are not yams.

Yams are tubers native to Africa, have limited nutrition, are long with dry flesh, and take about 350 days to grow.


Little Know Facts

Sweetpotatoes are part of the morning glory family. (Look at the leaves.)


Little Know Facts

Sweetpotatoes are really storage roots (not tubers). They propagate through “slip” production, are native to South America, and can be harvested in 90 to 120 days.


Little Know FactsSweetpotatoes rank as the 5th most

important crop for developing countries.

World annual production: 133 million tons.

China grows 85% of the world production.

USA produces about 1% of the world crop.

North Carolina is the leading US producer.


Little Know Facts

Sweetpotatoes are nutritious!An orange-flesh sweetpotato contains a two day supply of Vitamin A, 40%+ of Vitamin C, nearly 10% of iron needs.Sweetpotatoes are one of the only low-fat sources of Vitamin E, and they have more dietary fiber than oatmeal.


Little Know Facts

Sweetpotatoes may fight cancer.The “A.C.E.” vitamins are known as the anti-oxidant set and play a role in cancer prevention.

Dietary fiber is another important sweetpotato - anti-cancer link.

Additional phytochemicals found in sweetpotatoes (in purple sweetpotato varieties) may also be an anti-cancer advantage.


Sweetpotatoes are easy to grow.


Slip Production and Planting


Back Porch Slip Production


Planting Slips

For northern growers - plant slips under black plastic.


Ninety days till harvest!


Curing SweetpotatoesImmediately following harvest, sweetpotatoes need to be “cured.”

Curing protects the root during storage.

Sweetpotatoes need to be cured at 85 degrees, 85% humidity for 5 to 7 days.

Once cured, store sweetpotato roots at about 60 degrees. Do not store below 55 degrees. This will produce a “chill injury factor,” resulting in a hard core &/or rapid spoilage.


Even if the sweetpotato were to get damaged in harvest, it has a remarkable capacity to heal itself during the curing process.



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SWEET POTATOES More than just a holiday food. © Jack D. Osman, Ph.D. Towson University