Sweet Potatoes Are as American as Thanksgiving
Posted on November 24th, 2008 by Sharon Sweeny in Vegetables, fall
Sweet potatoes are a staple in the tropics.
Sweet potatoes are as American as South America. They are, in fact, native to South America and have been cultivated there for over 5,000 years. Sweet potatoes spread throughout the Americas, and interestingly, to Polynesia, making it there before western explorers. The timing of the sweet potatoes’ arrival in Polynesia before western explorers is the subject of much speculation and argument.
The sweet potato belongs to the Convolvulaceae family and the Ipomoea genus, the same genus as the Morning Glory. Its full binomial name is Ipomoea batatas. Sweet potatoes are sometimes mistakenly called yams, but the two are in different families and are only distantly related.
Sweet potatoes mature in two to nine months, depending on variety and growing conditions. Early maturing varieties can be grown in the temperate north. Sweet potatoes grow best in the sub-tropics with average temperatures of 75 degrees F.
Sweet potatoes are grown from “slips.” The so-called slips grow from sweet potato tubers in storage. The slips are cut off the tubers and planted in the ground, taking care to plant the slip so the end that was closest to the tuber is at the bottom.
As long as they get lots of consistent moisture, sweet potatoes will grow in all types of soil. The vines will produce flowers, but only if they receive less than eleven hours of daylight each day.
Harvest sweet potatoes like regular potatoes, when the vines begin to die down. After harvesting, let the sweet potatoes “cure” at a temperature of about 75 to 80 degrees F. for one to two weeks. This will toughen up the skins and heal any minor cuts.
Stored at 55 to 61 degrees F. with 85 to 90 percent humidity, sweet potatoes will keep for six months.
If there’s any left after Thanksgiving, that is.
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