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Sweet Potato
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Vegetables
Intermediate
Perennial (grown as annual)

Sweet Potato

Ipomoea batatas

Photo: winterfamily · CC BY

About Plant: Sweet Potato

One of the most nutritious and rewarding root crops. Sweet potatoes are surprisingly easy once you understand their love for warmth and long seasons. The harvest reveal—digging up hidden treasure—is pure garden magic.

Growing Profile

SunlightFull Sun (8+ hrs)
WaterModerate
SoilSandy, well-drained, loose (5.8–6.2)
Spacing12–18 inches
HeightVines: 8–12 inches tall, spreading 6–10 feet
Time to Harvest90-120
Planting Depth3–4 inches deep (slips)
Germination TimeN/A (grown from slips)

Expert Growing Tips

Grow from slips, not seeds. Need 90+ days of warm weather. Cure after harvest for best flavor and storage. Vines make excellent ground cover.