Available year-round, these sweet potatoes have purple-tinted skin with a deep purple flesh that intensifies when cooked. To harvest, use a pitchfork or digging fork to lift the tubers out of the soil. Purple potatoes, also known as Peruvian purple potatoes, have naturally purple or deep blue skin and flesh, and are unusually high in antioxidants which makes them super healthful. Through its travels it developed many different names, but its real and true name is ‘Okinawan’. Those roots can extend a good way from where you originally planted the sweet potato slips. Updated March 30, 2020 There is no doubt that purple sweet potatoes have gained popularity—just open the pages of Eating Well, Martha Stewart Living, The Washington Post and O, The Oprah Magazine. Learn when and how to harvest and cure sweet potatoes to enjoy during the winter months. A purple sweet potato plant Purple varieties aren’t as sweet as other colors, but they sure are beautiful and tasty. I picked up a few potatoes that day, just to try to cook them, and ended up sprouting them and growing my own purple sweet potatoes. There are several different varieties to try. Often, this is 3 to 4 months from when you planted the slips (most varieties take at least 100 days to reach maturity). It has been years…. Do not add nitrogen-rich fertilizer to sweet potatoes, as it encourages excessive vine growth at the expense of tuber production. Harvesting Purple Sweet Potatoes… Sweet potatoes need a long growing season, at least four preferably five months of good summer heat. Demystifying different types of purple sweet potatoes, one tuber at a time! Sweet potatoes are typically ready for harvest 3-4 months after you put the slips on the ground once the plant has begun to wither and die back. Hello Youtube Family! There are 2 main culprits to avoid once your sweet potatoes are cured. October 10, 2018. In all possibility, Stokes Purple could be ‘Okinawan’, but without genetic testing it is truly impossible to know. If you want to try your hand at growing these colorful veggies, here’s how. Don’t wait until after your last frost date to harvest! Exclusive to Frieda’s, these unique Stokes Purple ® sweet potatoes have a somewhat moist, moderately starchy texture and are mildly sweet with slight floral notes. There are hundreds of different orange sweet potatoes to grow – here are the top five recommended by the experts. Here in the South (again, I am in central NC, zone 7b), I plant my sweet potatoes in the middle of May and harvest in the middle of October or towards the end of October. Okinawan Sweet Potato was brought to Hawaii via Japanese and Okinawan immigrants during the sugar plantation era of the 1800s. In Texas, the most common food varieties planted are Beauregard, Centennial, Jewell, and Vardaman; the most popular is Beauregard. You can make mashed potatoes out of them, unless you have a variety that stays as dark as the ones I cook last were, the color of the mashers might be a little unappetizing but otherwise find to eat. As it grows, add more soil to the hill – this will give the plant extra room to grow underground and protect it from weevils. Browse a full list of topics found on the site, from accessories to mudrooms to wreaths. Again no peeling necessary. The potatoes that are firm and moist are ready. Stokes Purple was discovered in 2003 and more friendly to U.S. growing conditions. Growing sweet potatoes in pots allows you to keep them contained to a specific area. We love to DIY. Available from late August through late spring, the Stokes Purple® sweet potatoes, with a purple-tinted skin and bold purple flesh, have a drier, denser texture, and better-balanced sweetness than their orange counterparts. They have little to no fat, 1.3 grams of fiber, 1.4 grams of protein, and only 12 grams of carbs. Let's get together. Yams and sweet potatoes have been confused for centuries, find out the difference and which one is best to plant in your garden. Curing Purple Sweet Potatoes. As mentioned earlier, there are many different purple sweet potatoes that Japanese plant breeders have developed over the years. There’s not much to do in terms of maintenance other than to keep the deer out of the potato patch (sweet potato vines are one of their favorites) and make sure the vines receive about 1 inch of water per week. At … Because the sweet potatoes can form a good distance from the plant, work from the outer edges of the berm in toward the center. It is noted by professional sweet potato growers that it doesn’t prefer the conditions of the mainland. In an article for the LA Times, it is believed that Stokes Purple is possibly a variety that was introduced by Japanese sweet potato breeders who had a number of purple varieties already in the marketplace. This also allows for harvesting without having to dig up a large area in the garden. Once the skins have cured, store your purple sweet potatoes in wooden or plastic crates at about 55 degrees F with 85 percent relative humidity. June 24, 2012 - Since purple sweet potatoes offer a lot of the appeal of regular potatoes (we love them as oven-baked fries and mashed) but have more vitamins, we got excited when we saw them at our local health food store. The first is well dug, compost rich soil, and they need drainage. To warm the soil, cover the planting rows with a layer of black or clear plastic (more later on how to create good planting rows). It offers high-yield and disease-resistance. This crop is intolerant to even light frosts. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. It became very popular in Hawaii and was incorporated into lots of local and Hawaiian cooking. Unfortunately, they were awfully expensive ($3.99/lb, I believe). Although you can harvest the occasional tuber anytime after the plants come into flower, plan to harvest your main sweet potato crop just before the first frost strikes. health benefits of Purple Sweet Potatoes. As your plants grow, you can harvest and eat the tender sweet potato vine tips. The produce company is Frieda’s and they are organic. When the sweet potatoes are finished, they should be slightly moist and significantly more firm. The purple potato made its way to Hawaii and then to the U.S. mainland. Purple sweet potatoes are fun to grow and cook with. What's the Difference Between a Sweet Potato and a Yam, 60+ Ways to Use Up Thanksgiving Leftovers. Mike Sizemore, who lives in Stokes County, North Carolina, is noted for discovering this variety. I roasted or bake the purple spuds in a 375 degree oven until done through. However, since the plant is patented, this means only those that have a license can produce it; so finding slips for home gardeners isnearly impossible. They require about 100 to 120 days to mature, which is why sweet potatoes produce so well in the long, hot summers of the southern U.S. D. alata, called "white yam", winged yam, water yam, and purple yam (not to be confused with the Okinawan purple "yam", which is a sweet potato), was first cultivated in Southeast Asia. Curing reduces shrinkage, prolongs storage and results in a sweeter flavor due to the conversion of starches to sugars. They usually come in bundles of 25, which is … In warmer climates, it’s easier to tell when purple sweet potatoes are ready to harvest because their vines will yellow and die back. Hawaiian sweet potato, which is a variety called ‘Okinawan’, but is commonly called purple yam, Japanese purple potato or Japanese Sweet Potato. There is error while submitting your request. Sweet potato slips are produced by year-old sweet potatoes in hot beds at large specialty farms in mid to late spring. Early types, like... New Potatoes. Get video instructions about kitchens, bathrooms, remodeling, flooring, painting and more. Harvest the potatoes after about three to five months after planting, depending on the growth rates of the Japanese sweet potato cultivar you choose. To plant in gardens where warming plastic is in place, cut a hole through the plastic and plant the slip through the hole. Consider them when planning for your veggie garden: ‘AllPurple’, ‘Purple Majesty’ or ‘Purple Passion’. Sweet potatoes with purple flesh are from the same family as regular sweet potatoes. Waiting too long and exposing sweet potatoes to frost will likely leave you … Tuck the edges of the plastic into the soil or pin them down with rocks, bricks, or landscape pins. Tell us what you think: Leave a comment 8 people are already talking about this. You'll be happy to know sweet potatoes can be grown in containers. Our experts will call you on your preferred time. Damaged tubers should be eaten immediately, but the rest can be placed in a single layer in a warm (80 to 85 degrees F), well-ventilated, humid room out of direct sun for eight to 10 days. Check to see if the sweet potatoes are done after 4-5 days. Learn the basics about growing sweet potatoes and their origin. You can usually harvest Okinawan sweet potatoes after 120 to 180 days. First, you need to avoid cold temperatures. In warm climates, the vines will begin to yellow and die back, but in the north, this may not happen in time for the arrival of fall’s cold weather. The Ultimate Purple Sweet Potato Guide. The sweet potatoes that are soft should be discarded. There are over 400 different sweet potato varieties around the world, figure out which is best for your garden. Usually this occurs in late September or early October before the first frost. If the growing season has been good with adequate water and sunshine, harvesting sweet potatoes should begin about 100-110 days after planting depending on the variety. Slips are simply rooted stem cuttings of sweet potato vines, usually about 4 or 5 inches in length. Your email address will not be published. I harvest my potatoes in the fall, eat … They are also a good source of vitamin C and potassium. purple sweet potato, egg yolk, lemon juice, caster sugar, sea salt and 6 more Purple Sweet Potato Pudding Family Spice red chile powder, purple sweet potatoes, pecans, cloves, eggs and … If they're still soft after your first check, let them cure for a few more days and try again. Space sweet potato slips about 12 inches apart in a row on top of the planting berm. Required fields are marked *. If your temperatures or humidity levels are not quite ideal, curing may take up to 2 weeks. Okinawan Sweet Potato Purple sweet potato is common in Japan and Okinawa where it is used in many sweet and savory dishes. It is possible to produce your own slipls, but takes time and planning. Because the sweet potatoes can form a good distance from the plant, work from the outer edges of the berm in toward the center. There are several different varieties of purple sweet potatoes available from sources such as Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds, Sand Hill Preservation, Duck Creek Farms, and Southern Exposure Seed Exchange. Sweet potatoes may be associated with the southern U.S., but they will grow in just about any garden. It is well known that sweet potatoes are rich in vitamins, minerals, and fiber and have good nutritional value. Thank you for choosing this service. It is noted that the first purple sweet potato was bred by the Japanese and grown specifically on Okinawa, hence its name. Purple sweet potatoes are low in calories at just around 50 calories per potato. Whether it is an edible or ornamental sweet potato, flowers are not usually part of the equation. Brush off excess soil with your fingers, but do not wash or rinse the harvested tubers. For these reasons, the purple sweet potato growing season only runs during the summer months in most of the country. Here are some key instructions on curing and storing sweet potatoes. Beauregard is one of the world’s most popular sweet potatoes. Much like all sweet potato varieties, purple types need to be cured before long-term storage. The thing that sets purple sweet potatoes apart when it comes to their nutritional value is that they are packed with antioxidants. Their unique colors come from natural anthocyanin pigments; some Peruvian potatoes are naturally purple, while others are bred for deeper shades. The variety was unidentified and Mike began propagating it. I am so thankful that I got to harvest my sweet potatoes in November while most part of our country is covered in snow! Short on garden space? Finding slips online can be a challenge, but if potatoes are found it would be easy to produce slips at home. Horticulturist Jessica Walliser is an award-winning radio host on KDKA Radio’s “The Organic Gardeners” in Pittsburgh. If you live in a cooler climate, harvest time will be shortly before the first fall frost (as early as 90 days, and as many as 120 days). Before planting, soak the roots of the slips in water for a few hours. In 2003, he was awarded these purple sweet potatoes as a prize at the state fair. The bag you see pictured was purchased at Trader Joe’s in Manhattan Beach, CA (Los Angeles). Here are some of the other varieties to consider that are easier to find and work well in U.S. gardens. The young potato tubers begin to form at flowering. Look for popular cultivars such as ‘Purple Passion’, ‘Molokai Purple’, ‘All Purple’, ‘Purple Delight’ and ‘Purple Knight’. Do not plant purple sweet potatoes until well after the danger of frost has passed. The other more recent purple sweet that has made it to the grocery is Stokes Purple sweet potato. Sweet potatoes grow by forming tubers along their roots. Once they’re settled into their new home, purple sweet potato vines will grow fairly quickly. You love to DIY. In northern gardening zones, you’ll need to start your purple sweet potato crop by warming the soil for a few weeks before planting. This root crop has hundreds of varieties, some bred for their showy vines and others for the tasty potatoes (Fig. What to Avoid with Sweet Potatoes. All rights reserved. To harvest, use a pitchfork or digging fork to lift the tubers out of the soil. Purple sweet potatoes are poised to become as popular as kale at trendy restaurants and farmers markets, even in northern climates where they’re more challenging to grow. Sweet potatoes are typically grown from rooted slips, and purple varieties are no different. Like other types, purple sweet potatoes are best planted in hilled rows. The variety was unidentified and Mike began propagating it. They are a good source of vitamin C and contain a high level of anthocyanins—the antioxidant compound also … You can harvest new potatoes about three weeks after flowering – dig carefully to avoid bruising tubers or damaging roots. If you’d like, you can mulch newly planted slips with straw, untreated grass clippings or shredded leaves, but if you’re using the plastic, there’s no need to add extra mulch. 1). Please try again. Copyright © 2020 EG Media Investments LLC. Mike Sizemore, who lives in Stokes County, North Carolina, is noted for discovering this variety. It prefers to be watered multiple times per day, likes rich, nutritious soil and sunny, warm conditions. New potatoes don’t store well and should be eaten within a day or two. Mature potatoes are usually ready three or four weeks after the tops die down. The plastic should be in place for two to four weeks before planting. Today, they are widely grown in Hawaii and exported to the United States mainland where they are popular with Asian and Lati… The other more recent purple sweet that has made it to the grocery is Stokes Purple sweet potato. Don't miss your favorite shows in real time online. Your email address will not be published. Growing ‘Okinawan’ sweet potatoes in U.S. climates can be done, but the variety was specifically bred for the weather that is consistent of the islands such as Okinawa and Hawaii. Purple-fleshed sweet potatoes need a long, warm season to produce a good crop, but the starchy, deep-purple roots of varieties such as ‘Violetta’ and ‘All Purple’ are worth the wait. Most purple potato varieties grow as early, midseason or late-season varieties. Sweet potatoes that have brown, red-orange, or white skin with orange or white flesh are native to Colombia and southern Central America. Harvesting Purple Potatoes. The potatoes are easy to find due to the plant’s own website (stokesfood.com) where you are able to buy them directly or locate a store nearby to purchase them. All rights reserved. Although not grown in the same quantities as the African yams, it has the largest distribution worldwide of any cultivated yam, being grown in Asia, the Pacific islands, Africa, and the West Indies. This will cause your sweet potatoes to turn a darker color and ruin them. © 2020 Discovery or its subsidiaries and affiliates. Roasted Purple Potatoes. In 2003, he was awarded these purple sweet potatoes as a prize at the state fair. Usually, sweet potatoes are ready to harvest when the leaves and ends of the vines have started turning yellow, but you can leave them in the ground up until the fall frost. The part we eat is the tuberous root of a vining plant that is closely related to morning glories (Ipomoea tricolor) and youll easily see the similarity in leaves to the sweet potato vines we now grow as ornamentals. You can follow the process above and then plant the tuber in the ground or you can grow sweet potatoes from a seedling. A good rule of thumb is to watch for the first signs of yellowing leaves. She’s the author of five gardening books, including the Amazon-bestseller, 3 Recipes For Homemade Holiday Chicken Treats, Build This DIY Weasel Box To Keep Your Hens Safe, 6 Christmas Gift Ideas For Farmers In 2020, Recipe: Cinnamon & Sugar Brioche Is A Rich, Tender Treat, What To Do If Your Goat Has A Rare Disease. However, it is noted that ‘Okinawan’ is drier, lighter in purple color and less meaty when cooked compared to Stokes. Pick a site that receives full sun and is well-drained. When to Harvest Purple Potatoes Growing Time. Much like all sweet potato varieties, purple types need to be cured before long-term storage. How to plant. Please let us know a convenient time to call you on, (*All time slots are available in CDT zone.). Purple sweet potatoes are grown in the same manner as more traditional sweet potato varieties. Planting purple sweet potatoes. Once the temperatures drop down into the 50s at night, it’s time to start checking your tubers. Sweet potatoes prefer a slightly acidic soil pH—somewhere between 5.5 and 6.5 is best, as it’s less inviting to the soil-borne pathogens that sometimes attack sweet potatoes. Sweet potatoes are easy to grow but they do need a few things to grow really well. After Columbus' discoveries, they were brought to Asia, and varieties with white skin and speckled pale purple flesh were developed on the Japanese island of Okinawa. Build 10-inch-high, berm-shaped rows by mounding the soil up, after it’s been tilled and amended with compost or well-aged manure. 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