If you’re a gardener in Georgia, knowing when to plant sweet potatoes is the key to a great harvest. This guide covers the optimal timing for planting and all the steps you need for success.
Sweet potatoes are a fantastic crop for our Georgia climate. They love the heat and can thrive in our long summers. Getting the timing right is crucial because they are very sensitive to cold. Planting too early can stunt them, while planting too late might not give them enough time to develop those big, tasty roots.
Let’s break down the best schedule and methods to ensure your sweet potato patch is the envy of the neighborhood.
When to Plant Sweet Potatoes in Georgia
The single most important factor for planting sweet potatoes is soil temperature. These plants are tropical natives and will not tolerate chill.
You should plant your sweet potato slips only after the soil has warmed up to at least 65°F. A better target is 70°F. This typically happens in Georgia after all danger of frost has passed and night temperatures are consistently above 50°F.
For most of Georgia, the ideal planting window is from early May to mid-June. Here’s a more regional breakdown:
- North Georgia (Mountains & Upper Piedmont): Aim for mid-May to early June. The soil takes a bit longer to warm up here.
- Middle Georgia (Piedmont & Metro Atlanta): Early May to early June is your safe bet.
- South Georgia (Coastal Plain): You can often start as early as late April and plant through June. The warmer climate gives you a longer season.
A good old-fashioned soil thermometer is your best friend here. Don’t rely just on the date on the calendar; check that soil warmth.
Why Timing Matters So Much
Planting into cold soil causes a condition called “cold shock.” The slips will just sit there, not growing. Their roots may even rot. This delays your harvest and can reduce yield.
Sweet potatoes need a long, warm growing season—about 90 to 120 days of frost-free weather. Planting in optimal warm soil gives them a vigorous start so they can make the most of every summer day.
Getting Ready: Choosing Slips and Preparing Soil
You don’t plant sweet potatoes from seeds. You plant from “slips,” which are small rooted sprouts grown from a sweet potato.
You can buy slips from garden centers or reputable online nurseries. Or, you can grow your own from an organic sweet potato. Here’s how to prepare your soil:
- Sunlight: Pick the sunniest spot in your garden. They need full sun, at least 6-8 hours daily.
- Soil Type: Sweet potatoes prefer loose, well-draining soil. Heavy clay is their enemy. If you have clay soil, you’ll need to amend it.
- Amending Soil: Mix in several inches of compost or aged manure. For very poor or dense soil, consider building raised beds or mounded rows. This improves drainage and warms the soil faster.
- Fertilizer: Go easy on nitrogen. Too much nitrogen gives you huge vines but small potatoes. Use a balanced or low-nitrogen fertilizer, or one formulated for root crops.
The Planting Process Step-by-Step
Once your soil is warm and ready, it’s time to plant. Follow these steps:
- Harden Off Slips: If your slips came in the mail or from indoors, acclimate them to outdoor sun and wind for a week.
- Prepare Rows: Create raised rows or mounds about 8-12 inches high. Space the rows 3 feet apart.
- Planting Depth & Spacing: Plant slips deeply, burying the stem up to the first set of leaves. This encourages more root development. Space slips 12-18 inches apart in the row.
- Water Thoroughly: Water them in well right after planting to settle the soil and reduce transplant shock.
Caring for Your Growing Sweet Potatoes
Sweet potatoes are relatively low-maintenance once established.
- Watering: Water regularly for the first few weeks. Once established, they are drought-tolerant but produce best with 1 inch of water per week. Reduce watering in the last 3-4 weeks before harvest to help the roots cure and develop better flavor.
- Weeding: Weed carefully early on. Once the vines spread and create a dense canopy, they will shade out most weeds.
- No Heavy Fertilizing: Avoid adding high-nitrogen fertilizer mid-season. If plants look pale, a side dressing of compost is usually sufficient.
- Pest Watch: Keep an eye out for sweet potato weevils (a major pest in the South) and flea beetles. Rotate your crop location each year to help manage soil pests.
The Harvest and Curing Timeline
Knowing when to harvest is as important as knowing when to plant. Your sweet potatoes are ready when the leaves start to yellow, usually around 100 days after planting or just before your first fall frost.
Use a garden fork to carefully loosen the soil and lift the tubers. Be gentle to avoid bruising them.
Curing is non-negotiable. This process heals wounds and converts starches to sugars, making them sweeter and giving them a longer storage life.
- Brush off excess soil gently—do not wash.
- Place them in a warm (80-85°F), humid place for 10-14 days. A shaded porch or a warm room with a humidifier works.
- After curing, store them in a cool (55-60°F), dark, and well-ventilated place. Properly cured sweet potatoes can last for months.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Even experienced gardeners can make a few errors. Here’s what to watch out for:
- Planting too early in cold, wet soil.
- Using soil that is too heavy and doesn’t drain.
- Over-fertilizing with nitrogen-rich plant food.
- Harvesting too late after a frost has blackened the vines (this can damage the tubers).
- Skipping the curing process, which leads to poor flavor and spoilage.
FAQ: Sweet Potatoes in Georgia
Q: Can I plant sweet potatoes from the grocery store?
A: You can try, but it’s not always reliable. Store-bought potatoes are often treated with sprout inhibitors. For best results, buy certified disease-free slips or use an organic potato to grow your own slips.
Q: What’s the latest I can plant sweet potatoes in Georgia?
A: Early to mid-June is generally the latest safe planting date for most varieties to reach maturity before cooler fall weather arrives.
Q: Do sweet potatoes need a lot of space?
A: Their vines can spread 4-6 feet, so they need room. If space is limited, look for “bush” varieties that have shorter vines and can even be grown in large containers.
Q: Can I save my own slips for next year?
A: Yes! Save a few healthy, medium-sized roots from your harvest. Store them properly over winter, and start them indoors in late winter to produce slips for spring planting.
Q: My vines are huge but I got few potatoes. What happened?
A: This is almost always caused by soil too rich in nitrogen or too much shade. Remember, they prioritize vines over tubers if given excess nitrogen or not enough sun.
By following this timing and care guide, you’ll be well on your way to harvesting a bounty of homegrown sweet potatoes. The perfect timing for planting in Georgia gives your plants the long, warm season they need to produce a generous and flavorful crop for your table.