What happened to my sweet potatoes?

Farmette · October 18, 2013

I grew sweet potatoes last year quite successfully. This yr I grew several varieties in a new raised bed as well as the variety I grew last yr. Most of the potatoes are very long and thin, almost like carrots. There are several have much of the inside missing and in some cases just the skin is left. Along with the debris, there is an abundance of worms. From what I have read, my soil might have been too rich and that would explain the skinny tubers, but what about the hollowed out larger tubers? I've included pictures. Thanks!

kath · October 18, 2013

Well, I hope that someone that really knows sweet potatoes will be along soon to help with regard to what could have caused the damage you describe. So sorry for that loss- hope it didn't affect too many. I can share my experience which is that I've had lots of varieties give me skinny tubers like you show in the same year and in the same soil that produced nice fat Beauregards. After a couple of years of trials, that's the only variety I grow now because it's a season-long experiment that can leave you with nothing for the winter- so disappointing.

Did the return variety do as well as last season?

Farmette · October 18, 2013

I grew Beauregard last yr and some again this yr. Those were the larger ones, I believe, that were eaten (?) out. New to me this yr was /garnet. I also grew some purple and white ones. They were all long and skinny. Thanks for your input.

kath · October 18, 2013

Quote:

Originally Posted by Farmette

I grew Beauregard last yr and some again this yr. Those were the larger ones, I believe, that were eaten (?) out. New to me this yr was /garnet. I also grew some purple and white ones. They were all long and skinny. Thanks for your input.

Well, I wasn't much help but I can say that in many years of growing Beauregard, I've never seen what's in your first photo. Maybe some type of rodent took a liking to them and the worms are just working on the leftovers?

kath

Cole_Robbie · October 18, 2013

Yeah, I would guess it was primarily some sort of animal damage.

Beauregard is the only variety my grandparents will grow. Its ability to produce in poor soils and droughts is remarkable.

Farmette · October 19, 2013

From what I've read, sweet potatoes do not grow well in rich soil. The soil I planted in was poorer than the mix I used this yr. No problems last yr with the Beauregard; this yr there were a lot less and smaller as well as being damaged, The purple and whites, while long and thin, were spared the damage. I wonder if an animal found them more attractive because they are sweeter than the other varieties.

Doug9345 · October 20, 2013

From what I've read sweet potatoes are hot weather crops. Last year we had record amounts of heat. This year record amounts of cold weather in the spring. I was going to try sweet potatoes this year, but seeing how cold it was this spring, didn't even try. I thing Glenn at Sandhill has put together a nice explanation on growing sweet potatoes.
http://www.sandhillpreservation.com/...o_catalog.html

October 18, 2013	#2
kath Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: zone 6b, PA Posts: 5,664	Well, I hope that someone that really knows sweet potatoes will be along soon to help with regard to what could have caused the damage you describe. So sorry for that loss- hope it didn't affect too many. I can share my experience which is that I've had lots of varieties give me skinny tubers like you show in the same year and in the same soil that produced nice fat Beauregards. After a couple of years of trials, that's the only variety I grow now because it's a season-long experiment that can leave you with nothing for the winter- so disappointing. Did the return variety do as well as last season?

October 18, 2013	#3
Farmette Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2009 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 985	I grew Beauregard last yr and some again this yr. Those were the larger ones, I believe, that were eaten (?) out. New to me this yr was /garnet. I also grew some purple and white ones. They were all long and skinny. Thanks for your input.

October 18, 2013	#5
Cole_Robbie Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Illinois, zone 6 Posts: 8,407	Yeah, I would guess it was primarily some sort of animal damage. Beauregard is the only variety my grandparents will grow. Its ability to produce in poor soils and droughts is remarkable.

October 19, 2013	#6
Farmette Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2009 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 985	From what I've read, sweet potatoes do not grow well in rich soil. The soil I planted in was poorer than the mix I used this yr. No problems last yr with the Beauregard; this yr there were a lot less and smaller as well as being damaged, The purple and whites, while long and thin, were spared the damage. I wonder if an animal found them more attractive because they are sweeter than the other varieties.

October 20, 2013	#7
Doug9345 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Durhamville,NY Posts: 2,706	From what I've read sweet potatoes are hot weather crops. Last year we had record amounts of heat. This year record amounts of cold weather in the spring. I was going to try sweet potatoes this year, but seeing how cold it was this spring, didn't even try. I thing Glenn at Sandhill has put together a nice explanation on growing sweet potatoes. http://www.sandhillpreservation.com/...o_catalog.html