Look what I found in my compost bin.

[tarheel]

This spring I threw a couple of sprouting sweet potatoes into the compost bin (leaf litter and corn stalks) and one of them took root. Since the vines were running out into the yard and all over I decided it was time to check out what I had, figuring it to only be a half dozen slips, but was I ever surprised. 22 potatoes totaling 24.4 pounds and filled a 5 gal. bucket, nearly enough to last me the winter. Next year I think I'll plant 4 on purpose and maybe get a bushel or better.

 

[noharleyyet]

Nice sized tubers there tarheel.

 

[idnative1948]

Tubular TH! We have had some crazy stuff take off in ours over the winter.

 

[spook12]

Nice haul Tarheel,make sure that you age them.
Nothing better than a sweet tatter pie.

 

[Gunner46]

Why bother ? Just take a drive through Johnston county shortly after the harvest and the owners will let you walk the fields and pick up all the cast offs you want, by the TON !!

 

[tarheel]

Why bother ? Just take a drive through Johnston county shortly after the harvest and the owners will let you walk the fields and pick up all the cast offs you want, by the TON !!

I live too far from Joco to make it worth while.

 

[RUT JUNKEY]

Nice haul Tarheel,make sure that you age them.
Nothing better than a sweet tatter pie.

Agree with Spook. . . .sweet tater pie. . . .mmmmmmmm!

 

[smalls]

Nice skin finish on those. Don't look like covingtons or beauregards? Maybe willow leaf variety? Compost bin is a pretty good place for them... should have excellent drainage, plenty of nutrients, and not so dense as to cause misshapen root structures.

Is it still hot enough there to let them cure in the garage?

 

[tarheel]

Nice skin finish on those. Don't look like covingtons or beauregards? Maybe willow leaf variety? Compost bin is a pretty good place for them... should have excellent drainage, plenty of nutrients, and not so dense as to cause misshapen root structures.

Is it still hot enough there to let them cure in the garage?

I put them in a half bushel basket and stored them in the utility room. The hot water heater and a small chest freezer are in there, so there will be enough heat to do a good cure, but not too much. There's a 1/2" gap under the outside door for circulation and air for the gas water heater and the temp remains pretty constant year round as it's on the shady side of the house.
I think they're Puerto Rican Reds but can't be sure. The best in the state can be found down in the eastern part where all the sandy loam soil is, but these did fine. Incidentally, they haven't been washed yet in the photo; another advantage to growing tubers in leaf litter. I've done red and Yukon Gold spuds in there before and they do just as well, much better than in all this red clay I have here.