In one of my recent posts, I mentioned that I would be harvesting the sweet potato I planted about 6 to 7 months ago in November. The initial plan was to harvest at the end of the month because I was skeptical about the yield. Nothing about the above-ground structure of the plant gives off the impression that something tangible is under the ground.
A part of me simply felt I should give it more time.
But sweet potatoes only need between 3 to 4 months? It's been more than 6 months since I planted. Why is the plant not showing signs of being ready to be harvested? I wasn't initially actually sure of the signs to expect because this would be my first experience planting sweet potatoes. Upon investigation, most experts agree that the leaves of sweet potato plants turn slightly yellow when they are ready for harvesting.
But I didn't see any yellowness or could it have been my eyes?
Another issue why I eventually decided to commence harvesting is that the dry season is around the corner. Having to dig up the ground during dry seasons is a herculean task. So, I just felt I would try a couple of plants and see what I can come up with. In addition, the plant's aggressive nature was beginning to constitute a nuisance in the environment. I planted it primarily to limit the growth of weeds, and in all sincerity, it did a good job barring its own aggressive nature.
I never knew harvesting potato tubers would be that simple. The first thing I did was clear the above-ground biomass. Thereafter, I located the exact point of the main roots where the vines originated from (otherwise known as primary crowns) and began digging around them within about an 18-inches radius using a cutlass. To my surprise, the tubers formed very close to the surface and required very little effort to dig up.
Potato tubers have very thin skins. Thus, I had to take extra care not to injure them in the process of digging up. Tubers with injured skins generally have lower shelf lives compared to intact ones.
I dug up about 4 to 5 primary crowns and the result is as seen in the image below:
I also harvest some cocoyams along the way but the yield appears quite poor compared to the yield of the sweet potato. Either the soil is not suitable for them or the harvest is too early. I did not plant them originally by the way. They are remnants of previous gardening activities on the land.
Since the yield seems so good, I am even more motivated to complete the harvesting in the coming days.
What to do with the harvest?
Boil and eat them, of course!
Just that I will not be the only one doing it. I hope to share some with my neighbors and families. It might not be much but it's something. Sharing is caring, as they say.
Apart from just boiling to eat, sweet potatoes can be fried, roasted, or even baked. It is also used in the preparation of different delicacies which I don't I've got the time and resources to explore.
When boiling, it is advisable to just wash the skins of the tuber off any dirt they may be harboring and then boil using water with a measured amount of salt for about 20 to 30 minutes. Peeling potato tubers is nutritionally not advisable as the skins contain peripheral proteins and vitamins. Unless the skins are obviously infected, then peeling is a must.
Thanks for my gardening update.