When to plant sweet potato in zone 3a — planting calendar

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Showing USDA Zone 3A

Growing SeasonZone 3a

Last frost ~May 30First frost ~Sep 10Today

Start indoorsTransplant / sowHarvestFrost risk

JUNJULAUGSEP

Transplant Jun 20 · First harvest Sep 18 · Wrap by Sep 3

Last spring frostMay 30

Transplant outJun 20

First harvestSep 18

Last harvestSep 3

First fall frostSep 10

Why these dates work in zone 3a

Zone 3a's last spring frost averages May 30 and first fall frost Sep 10 — about 103 frost-free days. Sweet Potato is frost-sensitive, so the 3w after frost timing builds in a safety margin against a late cold snap — setting plants out too early risks losing them to frost.

Common questions

How long does sweet potato take to grow in zone 3a?

Sweet Potato matures in about 90–120 days from transplanting. In zone 3a that means setting plants out around Jun 20 and first picking around Sep 18.

Will sweet potato survive frost in zone 3a?

No — sweet potato is frost-sensitive. In zone 3a, wait until after the last frost (around May 30) to plant, and harvest before the first fall frost (around Sep 10).

For soil, spacing, pests and companion planting, see the full sweet potato growing guide →