Sweet potatoes are normally poorly handled after harvesting which rapidly reduces their shelf lives but with proper storage, sweet potatoes normally last up to 10 days when stored in good conditions.
After harvesting, the sweet potatoes should be sorted or graded by choosing those in good shape and conditions an discarding the rotten sweet potatoes and the very small or those that are not yet matured.
In tropical areas like Africa, the sweet potato's worst enemy is the sunshine; the sweet potato can be highly perishable when exposed to excessive sunshine or excessive moist but if these conditions can be controlled, then you can store your sweet potatoes for up to ten days and they will still be healthy for consumption. Also when harvesting the sweet potatoes, avoid throwing them onto each other, instead collect them carefully and pack them in bags. Bruising of sweet potatoes might rapidly lead to rotting if accompanied by poor storage conditions. When harvesting, always keep them in a shade.
Here are few tips to avoid when storing sweet potatoes:
After harvesting, the sweet potatoes should be sorted or graded by choosing those in good shape and conditions an discarding the rotten sweet potatoes and the very small or those that are not yet matured.
In tropical areas like Africa, the sweet potato's worst enemy is the sunshine; the sweet potato can be highly perishable when exposed to excessive sunshine or excessive moist but if these conditions can be controlled, then you can store your sweet potatoes for up to ten days and they will still be healthy for consumption. Also when harvesting the sweet potatoes, avoid throwing them onto each other, instead collect them carefully and pack them in bags. Bruising of sweet potatoes might rapidly lead to rotting if accompanied by poor storage conditions. When harvesting, always keep them in a shade.
Here are few tips to avoid when storing sweet potatoes:
- Remove the soil from the sweet potatoes and if possible wash them clean.
- Leave them in a well aerated place to dry; ensure all the moist is gone as moist contributes to rotting of the sweet potato.
- Pack the sweet potatoes carefully in a well aerated basket; make sure they are not bruised.
- CAUTION: Never place raw sweet potatoes(tubers) in a freezer!If you live in temperate climates, ensure you harvest the crop before the frost sets in.
- Make sure the storage area is completely free of moist otherwise shoots will begin sprouting from the sweet potato.
- Ensure the storage area is very cool; 25 degrees Celsius (Room temperature) is adequate.
- Please note, the best storage container for a sweet potato is a well aerated basket, like the ones shown below. They are normally made using reeds or light wooden material in most parts of Africa:
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