Well, it wasn't very impressive:
(As an aside, don't you think the lid of our blue wheelie-bin makes a good photo background?!)
That's it. There are four tubers of a useable size, and about a dozen wispy "tiddlers". However, you have to see this in the light of the fact that they were grown from some sprouts on some Past-Their-Sell-By-Date supermarket vegetables. And by someone with zero prior experience of growing this vegetable. And in a year in which we had no perceptible Summer!
I think in future I will leave growing Sweet Potatoes to people who live in warmer climes.
I will be completing the procedure in the approved manner by "curing" the tubers for 10 days or so before attempting to cook them. Apparently this improves their flavour and sweetness, as well as their keeping properties (though this latter will not be of much concern to me!)
If you are interested in reading more about how I grew these things, you might want to read or re-read this: Planting Sweet Potatoes.
Not too shabby considering the stock, I would have another go next year. I intend to try some in my greenhouse with some fleece over a frame to cover them up if we have a cold snap like this year.
ReplyDeleteNot a brilliant harvest but very promising. As you say, we haven't had a summer to speak of this year so with a bit more sunshine, perhaps they'd do considerably better.
ReplyDeleteI was curious as to how it would work out for you. I find they grow about twice as well for me if I put them in the hottest part of the garden versus the coldest. So warmth really matters - very much like melons for me. With your weather I'm really surprised you got that much.
ReplyDeleteI'm waiting as long as possible to dig mine up (we are having another bit of a warm spell this week)but I have a feeling that my harvest will be very similar to yours. I'm not ready to give up, though. I snipped some stems yesterday and am hoping that I can overwinter them for next year.
ReplyDeleteI would say that's great for a first try at growing them! Our growing season here is long and warm so it's pretty easy to do. But getting them to grow in a cooler climate is challenging indeed.
ReplyDeleteAbout the same as my experience Mark. They can't all be great successes! Enjoy the ones you have.
ReplyDeleteOh ! Well done you ! They look good to me : )
ReplyDeleteWhen we have tried to grow sweet potatoes they have never managed to achieve a decent size of tuber.
ReplyDeleteHmm, I'll have to share this post with my wife; she is trying to persuade me to grow sweet potatoes next year and I'm not keen!
ReplyDeleteLooks good to me as you were a bit early to harvest. They don't develop the tubers until day length shortens, but then, in UK, the frosts are imminent. Mine were looking good in 50 litre pots in polytunnel until some furry wildlife ate clean through all the stems, bang on the Equinox! Next year.......
ReplyDelete