When to plant sweet potato in zone 6b — planting calendar

Not your zone?

Showing USDA Zone 6B

Growing SeasonZone 6b

Last frost ~Apr 20First frost ~Oct 15Today

Start indoorsTransplant / sowHarvestFrost risk

MAYJUNJULAUGSEP

Transplant May 11 · First harvest Aug 9 · Wrap by Aug 30

Last spring frostApr 20

Transplant outMay 11

First harvestAug 9

Last harvestAug 30

First fall frostOct 15

Why these dates work in zone 6b

Zone 6b's last spring frost averages Apr 20 and first fall frost Oct 15 — about 178 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 6b?

Sweet Potato matures in about 90–120 days from transplanting. In zone 6b that means setting plants out around May 11 and first picking around Aug 9.

Will sweet potato survive frost in zone 6b?

No — sweet potato is frost-sensitive. In zone 6b, wait until after the last frost (around Apr 20) to plant, and harvest before the first fall frost (around Oct 15).

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