Growing Sweet Potatoes: How to Plant, Care, and Harvest

Growing Sweet Potatoes
Growing sweet potatoes starts with choosing slips—those slender shoots sprouting from mature spuds—and tucking them into warm, loose soil. Give these tropical tubers ample sunlight, generous spacing, and consistent moisture, and you'll harvest a bounty of nutrient-packed roots. Read on and uncover how simple, satisfying, and tasty growing sweet potatoes in your own backyard can be.
Cheatsheet: Sweet Potato Success from Start to Finish
🌱 Choose Slips & Prep
- Use certified slips (rooted cuttings), not seeds.
- Sprout slips at home: Place sweet potatoes half-submerged in water until shoots reach 6 in (15 cm).
- Cut slips and root in water before planting.
🌞 Planting Steps
- Wait for soil temps above 65°F (18°C).
- Space slips 12-18 in (30-45 cm) apart in raised beds or mounds.
- Plant 4 in (10 cm) deep; bury ⅔ of the slip.
- Full sun: At least 6 hours daily.
💧 Water & Care
- Water deeply, 1 in (2.5 cm) per week until vines cover ground.
- Mulch for warmth and moisture retention.
- Fertilize with low-nitrogen (high potassium/phosphorus) formula.
- Watch for wireworm, sweet potato weevil; remove by hand if seen.
🕒 Harvest Tips
- Harvest in 90-120 days or after foliage yellows, before frost.
- Use fork to lift tubers; avoid cuts and bruises.
- Cure 1-2 weeks at 80-85°F (27-29°C), 85-90% humidity for sweetness and storage.
- Store at 55-60°F (13-16°C) up to 8 months.
🧰 Tools and Products You'll Need
- Certified sweet potato slips
- Soil thermometer
- Garden fork
- Mulch (straw or compost)
- Fertilizer (low N, high K/P)
🌿 Health & Self-Sufficiency
High in fiber, vitamin A, and potassium. One plant yields enough for ~7 family servings. Tubers and leaves are edible—maximizing crop value.
⚡ Fast Facts
- U.S. harvests 3B+ lbs/year.
- Sweet potatoes rank among top self-sufficiency crops.
- Warm climates (USDA 8-11) suit best, but short season varieties thrive farther north.
Choosing the Perfect Sweet Potato Variety
Before I plant sweet potatoes each spring, my ritual starts by selecting the ideal variety for my garden and climate. Over the years, I've discovered that Beauregard, Covington, and Georgia Jet never disappoint.
Beauregard flourishes in warm climates, bringing consistent yields and vibrant orange flesh. Covington matures a bit earlier, thriving even in cooler northern conditions. And Georgia Jet grows quickly and rewards gardeners in shorter-season areas.
Cultivating Sweet Potato Slips from Scratch
Sweet potatoes don't sprout from seeds or typical seedlings. They start from something called slips, which are sprouts grown directly from a mature sweet potato.
I recall my first attempt—placing a sweet potato halfway submerged in water, supported by toothpicks in a jar placed warmly atop my fridge. Within weeks, slender green vines sprouted skywards.
To grow your own slips at home, it's simple and rewarding:
- Pick a healthy, organic sweet potato free from blemishes or bruises.
- Submerge half of the potato vertically in a jar of water, securing it with toothpicks around its middle to suspend it.
- Place the jar in warm sunlight (around 70-80°F or 21-27°C) and refresh the water weekly.
- Wait patiently for about 4-6 weeks, allowing slips (sprouts and roots) to develop.
- Twist off each slip when it grows about 5-7 inches (13-18 cm) long and place them in water separately to encourage root growth.
Preparing Your Garden Bed for Sweet Potatoes
Sweet potatoes savor warmth, well-drained soil, and sunlight. My own plot gets full sun at least six hours daily, ensuring plants soak in maximum energy.
Optimize your soil by mixing compost—sweet potatoes love nutrient-rich soil that's loose enough for their tubers to grow freely. Raised beds have proven fantastic for me, as they allow for proper drainage and root expansion.
Target a pH between 5.8 and 6.2 for ideal sweet potato soil conditions—slightly acidic hits the sweet spot every time.
Remember: Warm soil is key. Plant slips when outdoor temperatures stabilize above 60°F (15°C) and the soil warms to at least 65°F (18°C).
Planting Sweet Potato Slips
I plant my slips about 3-4 inches (7.5-10 cm) deep, spacing them about 12-18 inches (30-45 cm) apart. Rows should be around 3 feet (1 meter) apart to allow for sprawling vines.
Place slips gently into pre-dug holes, burying roots carefully and leaving a few leaves exposed at the surface. Lightly pat soil around the slips to secure them, watering immediately afterward to help roots settle in.
Ongoing Care for Healthy Sweet Potato Vines
Sweet potato vines are surprisingly independent, asking little more than occasional watering during dry spells. Water deeply about once a week, keeping soil moist but never waterlogged—too much moisture causes rot and disappointment.
Mulching with straw or shredded leaves keeps moisture consistent and weeds at bay. Trust me—the fewer weeds you battle come July, the happier you'll be with your sweet potato harvest.
Harvesting Your Bounty
Give sweet potatoes around 90-120 days to mature fully, though timings always vary. Watch for leaves turning slightly yellow—a clue it's almost showtime.
When harvesting, dig gently with a garden fork to prevent bruising tubers. Handle harvested potatoes with care, as they're delicate and easily damaged when first pulled.
Curing Sweet Potatoes for Flavor and Longevity
I always cure my sweet potatoes post-harvest, boosting flavor and storage life dramatically. To cure, place tubers in a warm, humid area (around 80-85°F or 26-29°C with about 85% humidity) for 10-14 days.
Cured properly, they'll store deliciously for months in a cool, dark place—perfect for savoring long after summer memories fade.
Growing sweet potatoes at home means bringing abundant, nutrient-rich harvests to your table—and there's nothing sweeter than that.
Frequently Asked Questions About Growing Sweet Potatoes
What Kind of Soil Helps Sweet Potatoes Thrive?
Sweet potatoes flourish best in a loose, well-draining soil with plenty of organic matter. Aim for a slightly acidic to neutral pH level of 5.8 to 6.2 and avoid compacted or clay-heavy soil to help roots spread freely.
How Much Sunlight is Needed for Healthy Sweet Potato Growth?
For optimal development, sweet potatoes require at least 6 to 8 hours of direct sunlight per day. Choose a sunny spot in your garden to ensure vigorous vine growth and substantial tuber formation.
When is the Optimal Period to Start Growing Sweet Potatoes?
Begin planting sweet potatoes outdoors once temperatures consistently remain above 60°F (15.5°C), typically about three to four weeks after the last frost date in your region. Warm conditions stimulate rooting and vigorous growth.
How Far Apart Should Sweet Potato Plants Be Spaced?
Space sweet potato slips roughly 12 to 18 inches (30 to 45 cm) apart in rows with approximately 3 to 4 feet (90 to 120 cm) between each row. Proper spacing encourages productive vine expansion and encourages healthy tuber development.
How Often Should Sweet Potatoes Be Watered?
Water sweet potatoes regularly, providing approximately 1 inch (2.5 cm) per week during the growing season. Maintain consistent soil moisture without oversaturating to support steady vine and tuber growth.
When Are Sweet Potatoes Ready for Harvest?
Sweet potatoes are typically ready to harvest 90 to 120 days after planting, depending on the variety. Harvest before frost arrives, as colder temperatures below 50°F (10°C) can damage tubers and reduce storage quality.
Growing sweet potatoes rewards patience and care. You start with slips, give them warmth, loose soil, and steady water, then let time do its thing. Keep weeds out, feed the vines, and watch for pests. When the leaves yellow and the days cool, dig in—literally—for a haul of sweet, earthy roots. The real payoff is flavor that store-bought can’t touch. Growing sweet potatoes isn’t complicated, but it does demand respect for seasons and the slow magic under the soil. If you’re hungry for more homegrown adventure, try your hand at azuki beans or mashua next. The garden, like the kitchen, always has another story to tell.
The Prepper's Guide to Sweet Potato Self-Sufficiency
Nutritious Staple for Food Security
- Sweet potatoes deliver high yields per plant; one slip can yield up to 5 pounds (2.3 kg).
- Rich in fiber, vitamin A, vitamin C, potassium and antioxidants, providing essential nutrients during scarce food periods.
- Leaves are edible and nutrient-packed; cook like spinach for additional food source.
Optimal Storage for Long-Term Survival
- Cure harvested tubers at 80–85°F (26–29°C) and 85–90% humidity for 10–14 days to heal wounds and boost storage lifespan.
- Store cured sweet potatoes between 55–60°F (13–16°C), with moderate humidity; properly cured, they keep edible and nutritious for 6–10 months.
- Check stored potatoes monthly; remove soft or spoiled tubers immediately to maintain overall viability and storage health.
Continuous Harvest Strategy
- Stagger planting dates by 2–3 weeks intervals, extending harvest times and reducing losses due to unpredictable weather events or pests.
- Use raised beds or containers for better drainage and increased pest resistance, ensuring reliable harvests.
- Grow slips from healthy stored potatoes each year, eliminating dependence on external sources and improving crop resilience.
Emergency Sweet Potato Propagation Tips
- If slips aren't available, sprout organic grocery sweet potatoes by suspending halfway submerged in water jars; slips ready within 4–6 weeks.
- In emergencies, sweet potato vines easily propagate by rooting vine cuttings directly in soil; plant cuttings about 6–8 inches (15–20 cm) deep, providing backup planting material in survival situations.
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