When to plant sweet potato in zone 5b — planting calendar

Not your zone?

Showing USDA Zone 5B

Growing SeasonZone 5b

Last frost ~May 15First frost ~Sep 30Today

Start indoorsTransplant / sowHarvestFrost risk

MAYJUNJULAUGSEPOCT

Transplant Jun 5 · First harvest Sep 3 · Wrap by Sep 23

Last spring frostMay 15

Transplant outJun 5

First harvestSep 3

Last harvestSep 23

First fall frostSep 30

Why these dates work in zone 5b

Zone 5b's last spring frost averages May 15 and first fall frost Sep 30 — about 138 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 5b?

Sweet Potato matures in about 90–120 days from transplanting. In zone 5b that means setting plants out around Jun 5 and first picking around Sep 3.

Will sweet potato survive frost in zone 5b?

No — sweet potato is frost-sensitive. In zone 5b, wait until after the last frost (around May 15) to plant, and harvest before the first fall frost (around Sep 30).

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