Sweet Potato in Zone 5b
Ipomoea batatas
Method: Start indoors — Start indoors from seed, then transplant outside — Sweet Potato needs a head start most zones can't give it by direct-sowing alone.
| Start indoors | Mar 15–Mar 22 |
|---|---|
| Direct sow / transplant outside | May 31–Jun 7 |
| Estimated harvest | ~110 days after transplanting |
Spacing: about 4 square feet per plant (square-foot-gardening spacing).
Good companions
- Bush Beans — Beans fix nitrogen that heavy-feeding sweet potato vines use.
Where to buy sweet potato seeds
Some links on this page go to retailers we may eventually earn a commission from as an affiliate, at no extra cost to you. We only recommend products with a genuine consensus of positive, independent reviews — see the sources cited on each item.
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 5b calendar · Full companion planting guide · Full plant profile · Plan your beds in the Garden Designer →