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 to plant: 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 planting calendar shows the right months for your postcode.
Growing them 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.
Watering and feeding: Water regularly while the plants establish and bulk up, then ease off towards harvest. They're not fussy once away.
Common pests: keep an eye out for aphids and cutworms. Most are easily managed — see our safe pest guide.
Common diseases: the main ones are leaf spot. Good airflow, morning watering and steady moisture prevent most.
Companion plants: Give it a bed of its own to ramble in; the young leaves are edible too, cooked like spinach. See our companion planting guide.
Harvest and storage: 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 planting 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: Yercaud-elango, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
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