sweet taters

[Cornbelt]

When is a good time to dig sweet taters?

[Graybeard]

In general I dig taters when the plant dies back. I'm of the opinion that as long as it's still green and growing so are the taters but when it begins to die back all tater growth has ended and it's time to get them out of the ground. I follow that for all taters.

[hillbill]

im bout to dig all my taters, any tips on how to store them for the winter?

[Graybeard]

That is covered in quite some detail in a thread on this forum. I can't recall which of our members posted it at this time. I seem to recall it involved leaving the dirt on not washing them and wrapping in newspaper but that's going on memory and that is sure enough faulty these days.

Light and heat are their enemies so should be avoided.

[charles p]

Spread them to dry for a few days when it is not raining then store them in a basket or crate that is well vented.  In the South we like to cure ours.  This means storing them at about 100 degrees (old tobacco barn was good) for a month or so.  It makes them sweeter.  Now, I put mine in a small closet where my hot water heater is located to cure.  The attic might work.  They get better after a few months.  Once they begin to sprout in the spring, boil them, skin them, and freeze them taters, rather than allowing them to spoil.