How should sweet potatoes be handled after harvesting for long-term storage?
A. Gently. The tender skins bruise easily. Any damage to the roots can cause considerable decay in storage. After harvesting, dry the sweet potatoes for 2 to 3 hours. Then, spread them out in baskets lined with newspaper. Place them in a dry area where the temperature will remain 80 degrees to 85 degrees F. for 10 days to 2 weeks. After this curing period, place them where the temperatures will range from 55 degrees to 60 degrees F. with a relative humidity of about 85 percent. Sweet potatoes treated this way will store for several months. Remove any roots that show signs of deterioration or decay. See the idea on baking/freezing sweetpotatoes on the Recipes Page 6. Q. Is there a difference between sweet potatoes and yams? A. Yes and no. In the southern United States, some sweet potatoes are advertised as yams, for example, Louisiana Yams. However, these are all sweet potatoes with the scientific name Ipomoea batatas. The true yam which is native to tropical regions is an unrelated pla
