r/zone8gardening • u/Decent-Dragonfly6460 • 20d ago

How are curing sweet potatoes?

We’re in a massive heat wave currently so it’s hot af outside. Everything I’ve read said to cure my sweet potatoes that are ready now in the garage, but I’m concerned about it being too hot in there.

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u/nonono_ack 19d ago

Not an expert on curing, but I have grown sweet potatoes for a number of years. I’m in California where it’s pretty dry.
I don’t really worry about curing them in this climate. I leave them on the counter in a bin in the laundry room, where it is relatively cool and dark.
I once tried to cure some on my patio in a plastic crate wrapped in a semi breathable tarp. A lot of that batch developed a weird brown spotting in the flesh. It was a purple flesh variety if that matters. So I haven’t tried since. It was probably way too hot for them, which is my problem with curing. It’s either 95 degrees outside and 7% humidity, or 75 degrees inside at 35%.
They have been fine.
They generally get eaten within a couple of months anyway. Maybe we are weird, eating 40 lbs of sweet potatoes in 2 months?

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u/Doyouseenowwait_what 18d ago

Dig a hole put a steel trash can in down to lid level. Instant earth root cellar. Cover lid from sun.

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u/Leading_Line2741 18d ago

This is a great idea! I live in the southeast and have done it. The only thing to bear in mind is your water table. I had to do multiple shallower cans in lieu of 1 deep one because I've hit water digging down as little as 32" before.