Sweet Potato in Zone 11a & 11b
Ipomoea batatas
Yes, sweet potato grows in zones 11a and 11b. Start seeds indoors in Oct–Jul and plant out in Dec–Sep. For a fall crop, start seeds indoors in Oct–Jul and plant out in Dec–Sep.
When to plant sweet potato in zone 11b
Zones 11a and 11b share the same average frost dates, so this page covers both.
Method: Start indoors: Start indoors from seed, then transplant outside. It needs a head start most zones can't give it by direct-sowing alone.
| Window | Fall window |
|---|---|
| Start indoors | Oct–Jul |
| Direct sow / transplant outside | Dec–Sep |
| Estimated harvest | ~110 days after transplanting |
Spacing: about 4 square feet per plant (square-foot-gardening spacing). Mature height: 0.5-1 ft.
Zone 11b dates sourced from edis.ifas.ufl.edu.
Fall window: the last sowing date is the average first frost minus days to maturity, the method in Purdue Extension's fall garden guide, which lists sweet potato for late-summer planting.
Plant alongside it in zone 11b
These go outside within two weeks of sweet potato in zone 11b, so one planting day can cover them.
- Broccoli Rabe (Raab)Dec 11–Dec 18
- MizunaDec 11–Dec 18
- TatsoiDec 11–Dec 18
- CantaloupeDec–Mar
- WatermelonDec–Mar
- Mâche (Corn Salad)Dec 4–Dec 11
Sweet potato isn't related to the regular potato at all. It's grown from slips, which are rooted sprouts started from a mature sweet potato, rather than from seed or a cut tuber. It also wants more heat and a longer season than most gardeners expect, which is why an early indoor start matters even though the plant itself is a vigorous, sprawling vine once it's established.
How sweet potato fits zone 11's season
Zone 11b is frost-free, so frost is not what limits the calendar here. What you can plant, and when, comes down to summer heat and daylength instead.
Sweet Potato planting windows in every zone
Zone 11b is highlighted. Useful for comparing against a neighbouring zone, or for a garden somewhere else.
| Zone | Start indoors | Sow or plant out | Harvest |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6a & 6b | Feb 28–Mar 7 | May 16–May 23 | Sep 3–Sep 10 |
| 7a & 7b | Feb 13–Feb 20 | May 1–May 8 | Aug 19–Aug 26 |
| 8a & 8b | Jan 28–Feb 4 | Apr 15–Apr 22 | Aug 3–Aug 10 |
| 9a & 9b | Dec 21–Dec 28 | Mar 8–Mar 15 | Jun 26–Jul 3 |
| 10a & 10bSpring window | Jan–Apr | Mar–Jun | ~110 days after transplanting |
| 11a & 11bFall window (your zone) | Oct–Jul | Dec–Sep | ~110 days after transplanting |
Harvest dates are about 110 days after the sow or plant-out date, not after starting seeds indoors.
Good companions
- Bush Beans: Beans fix nitrogen that heavy-feeding sweet potato vines use.
Where to buy sweet potato seeds
None of the seed suppliers we list carries sweet potato seeds right now. A local garden center or a specialty seed house is the place to look.
See why we recommend these suppliers →
As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. Some links on this page also go to other retailers we may earn a commission from as an affiliate, at no extra cost to you. We only recommend products with a clear consensus of positive, independent reviews, or ones we bought and use ourselves. Each item on our gear page says which.
See it growing
Search YouTube for "growing sweet potato" videos → (a live search, not a hand-picked video; results vary and aren't vetted by us)
← Back to the full zone 11b calendar · Plan your beds in the Garden Designer →
Pin this for later
Growing Sweet Potato in USDA zone 11b: when to start seeds indoors, when to direct-sow, and when to expect a harvest.
Save to Pinterest