First time sweet potato harvest what went wrong

I think I might have picked them too early. Should I have waited another month? My sweet potatoes came out looking like this, and I feel like the soil was too compacted. What do you think?

The soil is too hard or rocky. The tubers just grow in the path of least resistance, so softer soils will let them grow nicely straight.

Indie said:
The soil is too hard or rocky. The tubers just grow in the path of least resistance, so softer soils will let them grow nicely straight.

Exactly. They need a mix of peat moss and perlite, and you could also add tilled leaves. I’d say straw, but then they’ll just be growing straw, haha. Seasoned manure could work, but peat moss is the best although it costs a bit more. Mixing in plant debris will boost nitrogen levels, but if your soil is as bad as it looks, it could definitely use it. I suggest a planters box with loamy soil. Knowing the cubic yardage also helps in adjusting everything.

@Torrance
This person is a gardener.

@Torrance
What do you season it with?

Merrick said:
@Torrance
What do you season it with?

It just takes thyme.

Indie said:
The soil is too hard or rocky. The tubers just grow in the path of least resistance, so softer soils will let them grow nicely straight.

Yep. The same thing happens with carrots.

My family calls these ugly but edible.

Bela said:
My family calls these ugly but edible.

A double meaning is trying to get my attention, but I’ll ignore it.

Anyone else seeing intestines?

Skyler said:
Anyone else seeing intestines?

I first thought it looked like an umbilical cord.

Skyler said:
Anyone else seeing intestines?

My wife thought the same.

I can’t help, but mine look just the same. Haha!

Homegrown sweet potatoes don’t always look like the smooth ones you see at the store.

Next time, plant them in loose soil. I grow mine in an 8 inch high 4’ X 8’ raised bed filled with bagged topsoil. I still get a few weird-looking ones, but most are rounded.

Even if they are misshapen, they are still edible. Just be sure to eat the small, skinny, or damaged ones first. The larger ones can last longer before you eat them.

I also put large cages over the slips when I plant them, so the vines grow up the cages instead of touching the ground and re-rooting.

And remember to dig them up before the first hard frost. If the vines get frosted, the damage can affect the sweet potatoes below.

@Dara
But I thought we wanted them to touch the ground to re-root and grow more sweet potatoes?

I think you accidentally planted mandrakes. Hope you had earmuffs on.

Carrots go weird if the soil is too hard.

Wren said:
Carrots go weird if the soil is too hard.

That makes sense.

Not enough fiber. Seriously, the soil might be too compacted and hard.

Keaton said:
Not enough fiber. Seriously, the soil might be too compacted and hard.

Sounds like a constipation issue.