Sweet Potatoes
Dates below are counted from the average last spring frost or the average first fall frost. Enter a ZIP in the calendar for NOAA 1991–2020 station averages, or pick a zone and use the zone table.
When to plant
Soil and site
Loose, sandy, low-nitrogen soil in raised ridges — rich ground grows vines instead of roots.
Seedlings
Plant slips (rooted cuttings) well after frost, once soil is thoroughly warm. Water daily the first week while they take.
In the garden
The vines smother weeds for you. Ease off water in the last month to prevent splitting.
Picking
Dig before frost, or immediately after vines blacken. Cure at 80–85°F for 10 days — curing is what creates the sweetness.
Gear placeholders
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Dates by zone
These pages turn the same frost offsets into calendar dates for each zone the calendar covers.