How do you bank sweet potatoes with straw?

Answer 1

After digging, the sweet potato should be stored in a dry area for at least 30 days. To "bank" the potatoes (store for longer periods of time or over winter), find a sloped area of land preferably sloped North to South. Remove the soil to a depth of 6 to 9 inches (save the removed soil for later), and fill with fresh pine straw. The area should be large enough to accommodate the number of potatoes you intend to bank. Lay the 1st layer of potatoes parallel with each other but not touching each other (for ventilation) on the the pine straw about 1/2" apart. The second layer of potatoes should be laid atop the first layer and each potato centered on the space between the layer below in a parallel fashion maintaining the same spacing (If you add enough potatoes, you will end up with a pyramid).

Using the soil you saved from the excavation, build a mound of earth about 12 inches high all around the "banked" potatoes. Then dig a trench about 6 inches deep and 6 inches wide around the entire area near and outside the mound leaving the down hill ends of the trench open for rain water removal. Build a light but waterproof cover of sufficient size to cover the top layer of pine straw to protect it from the wind and rain in whatever configuration you would like.

I "bank" about 20 bushels of sweet potatoes each year and lose very few using the above described process. The pine straw is necessary for ventilation and will keep the potatoes from freezing in any area below the Mason Dixon.