Sweet Potato in Zone 8a & 8b

Ipomoea batatas

When to plant sweet potato in zone 8b

Zones 8a and 8b share the same average frost dates in our data, so this page covers both.

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	Jan 28–Feb 4
Direct sow / transplant outside	Apr 15–Apr 22
Estimated harvest	Aug 3–Aug 10 (~110 days after transplanting)

Spacing: about 4 square feet per plant (square-foot-gardening spacing). Mature height: 0.5-1 ft.

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 8's season

Zone 8b's frost-free window runs about 230 days, from March 25 to November 10. Sweet Potato needs about 110 days from transplant to first harvest.

Good companions

Bush Beans: Beans fix nitrogen that heavy-feeding sweet potato vines use.

Where to buy sweet potato seeds

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 genuine consensus of positive, independent reviews. See the sources cited on each item.