When to plant sweet potato in zone 8a — planting calendar

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Showing USDA Zone 8A

Growing SeasonZone 8a

Last frost ~Mar 25First frost ~Nov 10Today

Start indoorsTransplant / sowHarvestFrost risk

APRMAYJUNJULAUG

Transplant Apr 15 · First harvest Jul 14 · Wrap by Aug 4

Last spring frostMar 25

Transplant outApr 15

First harvestJul 14

Last harvestAug 4

First fall frostNov 10

Why these dates work in zone 8a

Zone 8a's last spring frost averages Mar 25 and first fall frost Nov 10 — about 230 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 8a?

Sweet Potato matures in about 90–120 days from transplanting. In zone 8a that means setting plants out around Apr 15 and first picking around Jul 14.

Will sweet potato survive frost in zone 8a?

No — sweet potato is frost-sensitive. In zone 8a, wait until after the last frost (around Mar 25) to plant, and harvest before the first fall frost (around Nov 10).

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