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| I've been trying to pick out my sweet potato slips for next year. I realized that maybe I should TASTE some of the ones that I grew last year before I place the order. Yes, a novel concept.
Last year was my first year growing sweet potatoes. My growing conditions were not perfect, so I suspect some varieties that did not grow well would in a better year. I tried a bunch of different varieties from Sand Hill Preservation Center. All I can say is, WOW, those are some pretty tasty sweet potatoes! The flavor is much richer and more varied that the sweet potatoes I get in the store. Unfortunately, it is also very difficult to describe the flavor. Here's my poor attempt, it the order that I liked them by taste:
Betty: Delicious! My favorite. Sweetness - medium to high, velvety texture; stored very well, many potatoes Redwine Velvet: Sweetness - medium, velvety texture; did not store well, many potatoes Maryland 810: Sweetness - medium, velvety texture, stored well, many potatoes Jewel: Sweetness - medium, more solid/potato-y texture, Ok storage, large size, Korean Purple: Distinct, robust flavor, Sweetness - medium to high, velvety texture, stored well, low production Heart of Gold: Sweetness - high, more solid/potato-y texture, stored well, large size, many potatoes Stevenson's: Sweetness - high, in between velvety and more solid/potato-y texture, poor storage, few potatoes Red Yam: Sweetness - low, more solid/potato-y texture, stored well, large size, many potatoes Just so you understand, all varieties were sweet. Just some were really, really sweet, so hence the low-medium-high sweetness rating. Here are some pictures:
And inside:
I'm reordering many, but my top picks are Betty, Heart of Gold, Redwine Velvet and Maryland 810. Korean Purple is the most unusual of the bunch. Also, my curing technique apparently worked. I locked them in an upstairs bathroom (already warm) with my dehydrator on. I changed the temperature on the dehydrator, put the lid on or off and turned it on or off completely to adjust the temperature. In mid October, I managed to keep the room at 80-85 for 10 days. Hope this helps someone pick out sweet potatoes! I really like the unusual varieties from Sand Hill Preservation Center. So much better tasting! Bellatrix
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Here is a link that might be useful: Sand Hill Sweet Potatoes
Follow-Up Postings:
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| What is a good way to get slips started with sweet potatoes that you buy from the grocery store? Do you do the same as potatoes and just cut off the piece that sprouts and plant that? I read an article that said to buy them now and let them develop a slip. Then cut it off and put it in water until you plant it. I plan on doing quite a few so I don't want sweet potatoes sitting all over the place. How does everyone else do it? |
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- Posted by dutchess_9 8b (dutchess_9@hotmail.com) on Sun, Jan 11, 09 at 20:37
| About starting your own slips....go to my blog. I just started a sweet potato in water about a week ago and it already has roots and 2 little slips coming out. Yeah! After the slip (about 6 inches long) has grown from the potato you snap it off and place it in some water and let that root. You will get several slips from one potato, so you won't need to have potatoes all over the place. When it is warm enough out, plant it outside. You don't need to bury the potato in the ground. Go see me potato....www.howmygardengrows.wordpress.com |
Here is a link that might be useful: How my garden grows!
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- Posted by bella_trix z6b SE PA (My Page) on Sun, Jan 11, 09 at 20:55
| Thanks for the slip link! I'm going to try growing slips, but I'm ordering more just in case I don't succeed. Do you have any information on the timing? I'm not sure when to start to have slips ready by mid-May, early June. I just realized I misread my potato labels in my dark storage area. They should be: Heart of Gold = Heartogold Bellatrix |
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| Does anyone know where to get slips for Nancy Hall sweets? They are pale yellow and dry, but have a good sweet flavor, and are my favorite! I used to get them from Hastings. Then I moved to a climate where I couldn't do sweet potatoes. Now I'm back in Florida, but Hastings is gone :-( |
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- Posted by bella_trix z6b SE PA (My Page) on Sun, Jan 11, 09 at 22:42
| Hi Eileen, Sand Hill has slips for Nancy Hall. I wish I could try them, but I don't think my season is long or warm enough. You can follow the link in my first post or go directly to Sand Hill's sweet potato list at: http://www.sandhillpreservation.com/catalog/sweet_potatoes.html Bellatrix |
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