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

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Showing USDA Zone 8B

Growing SeasonZone 8b

Last frost ~Mar 15First frost ~Nov 15Today

Start indoorsTransplant / sowHarvestFrost risk

MARAPRMAYJUNJULAUG

Transplant Apr 5 · First harvest Jul 4 · Wrap by Jul 25

Last spring frostMar 15

Transplant outApr 5

First harvestJul 4

Last harvestJul 25

First fall frostNov 15

Why these dates work in zone 8b

Zone 8b's last spring frost averages Mar 15 and first fall frost Nov 15 — about 245 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 8b?

Sweet Potato matures in about 90–120 days from transplanting. In zone 8b that means setting plants out around Apr 5 and first picking around Jul 4.

Will sweet potato survive frost in zone 8b?

No — sweet potato is frost-sensitive. In zone 8b, wait until after the last frost (around Mar 15) to plant, and harvest before the first fall frost (around Nov 15).

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