How to grow sweet potato in a raised bed

Sweet potato is a rambling, easy-going crop that thrives on warmth and neglect — give it a long, hot season and it'll reward you with a big underground harvest and a mat of edible leaves.

Quick facts

• Position: full sun, loves heat
• Spacing: 30–40 cm apart
• Tub depth: our 41 cm depth for a big root crop
• Time to harvest: 4–6 months

When should I plant sweet potato?

Sweet potato needs a long warm season — plant slips (rooted cuttings) from spring into early summer. It's frost-tender, so wait until the soil is warm. Our free garden calendar shows the right months for your postcode.

• Subtropical (Brisbane & SEQ): September to January
• Temperate (Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, Perth): October to December
• Cool & mountain (Tasmania, Canberra, highlands): November to December
• Tropical (Cairns, Darwin): September to March
• Arid inland: September to November

How do I grow sweet potato in a raised bed?

Plant slips into loose, free-draining mix and let the vines ramble out of the bed. Don't over-feed with nitrogen or you'll get all leaf and little root. The vines will trail happily along the ground.

How often should I water and feed sweet potato?

Water regularly while the plants establish and bulk up, then ease off towards harvest. They're not fussy once away.

What pests attack sweet potato?

Keep an eye out for aphids and cutworms. Most are easily managed — see our safe pest guide.

What diseases affect sweet potato?

The main ones are leaf spot. Good airflow, morning watering and steady moisture prevent most.

What grows well with sweet potato?

Give it a bed of its own to ramble in; the young leaves are edible too, cooked like spinach. See our companion planting guide.

When do I harvest sweet potato?

Harvest before the first frost, once the leaves start to yellow. Dig gently, then 'cure' the tubers in a warm, humid spot for a week or two to sweeten them.

More growing guides: carrots, beetroot and radishes.

Plan your patch: our free garden calendar shows what to plant now where you live. Ready to grow? Browse our raised garden beds or build your own with the garden bed builder.

Image: Vmenkov, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.