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The States Graphic
Brownsville, Haywood County, Tennessee
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C. E. Brehm of the University of Tennessee advises farmers on proper ripening, digging, sorting, handling, and storage of sweet potatoes to prevent significant annual losses from rough treatment and improper conditions.
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Proper Handling and Storing of the Crop Will Result in Success
Greater care should be given to the handling and storing of the sweet potato crop for winter markets, according to C. E. Brehm, marketing specialist of the division of agricultural extension, University of Tennessee. Annually a large percentage of the crop is lost due to rough handling and improper storage.
Sweet potatoes should be thoroughly ripened before digging. The grower can determine if his potatoes are ripe by cutting one in half and exposing the cut surface to the air for a few minutes. If the cut surface dries readily, the potato is mature and ready to dig. In case of danger from frost injury, dig at once, regardless of the stage of maturity.
After digging the potatoes should be sorted into eating stock, seed, and strings, each handled separately. Careful handling is essential for storing with a minimum loss. Bruising or breaking the skin with the finger nails is responsible for a large amount of the loss in storage. If the haul from the field to the storage house is very long, a spring wagon should be used. In no case should sweet potatoes be loaded in sacks, or loaded loosely in the bed of a wagon. Crates should be used.
When storing sweet potatoes for commercial purposes a specially constructed storage house should be provided. Immediately after digging, the crop should be put in storage and light firing should begin. When the entire crop is in the house, the interior should be heated to a temperature of 80 or 90 degrees for ten days, or until the potatoes show signs of sprouting slightly, after which the temperature should be reduced to 60 degrees and held there as uniformly as possible during the rest of the winter.
Home storage of smaller quantities can be handled in a number of ways, but no bruised potatoes should go into any kind of storage.
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Tennessee
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annually a large percentage of the crop is lost due to rough handling and improper storage; proper handling and storing will result in success and minimum loss.
Event Details
Greater care should be given to the handling and storing of the sweet potato crop for winter markets, according to C. E. Brehm, marketing specialist of the division of agricultural extension, University of Tennessee. Sweet potatoes should be thoroughly ripened before digging, determined by cutting one in half and exposing the cut surface to air; if it dries readily, it is mature. Dig at once if frost danger. After digging, sort into eating stock, seed, and strings, handled separately. Careful handling essential; avoid bruising or breaking skin. Use spring wagon for long hauls, crates not sacks or loose loading. For commercial storage, use specially constructed house; put in immediately after digging, light firing, heat to 80-90 degrees for ten days until slight sprouting, then reduce to 60 degrees uniformly. Home storage for smaller quantities in various ways, but no bruised potatoes.