Sweet potatoes can be harvested any time they reach a usable size. Sweet potatoes continue to grow until vines are killed by frost. Harvest the crop when the greatest number of 6- to 8-ounce sweet potatoes are found in the hill. Sample digging will provide this information.

If the crop is grown for the full season, harvest should take place before a frost occurs. A light frost may not damage the sweet potatoes, but a heavy frost that injures the end of the sweet potato will prevent the sweet potato from healing and result in rotting. Frost does not make sweet potatoes poisonous. When harvesting, it helps to cut the vines and remove them prior to digging. The crop can then be harvested easily with less damage to the sweet potatoes. Handle sweet potatoes carefully to avoid bruising and hold them at 80^o to 85^o F with 70% to 90% relative humidity for about 10 days to allow harvesting wounds to heal. To reduce rotting in storage, be sure potatoes are clean, dry, and free of injury.

Browse related Faqs by tag: horticulture, vegetable gardens, sweetpotato