When to plant sweet potatoes in zone 6a
In zone 6a, where the last spring frost typically comes around April 29, plant out June 4 to 11.
The zone 6a schedule for sweet potatoes
- Plant out
- June 4 to 11
- Soil warm enough (65°F), about
- June 4
- First harvest, roughly
- September 2 to October 9
From the median frost dates of the NOAA stations assigned to the 4,514 ZIP codes in zone 6a, and the timing recommended by Cooperative Extension guides for sweet potatoes.
Frost risk in zone 6a
Zones are based on winter cold, not on frost dates, so the last spring frost varies a lot within a zone. Across zone 6a, the typical last frost ranges from about April 16 in the earliest tenth of ZIP codes to May 11 in the latest tenth, and the first fall frost from October 4 to October 24. For a typical place in the zone:
- April 16Risky: a later frost happens in 9 years out of 10
- April 29Typical: frost after this date in half of years
- May 14Safe: a later frost only 1 year in 10
Sweet Potatoes are killed by frost, so if you want to be safe, plant out after the safe date rather than the typical one, or be ready to cover plants on a cold night.
Your dates for sweet potatoes
Set your ZIP code at the top of the page and we will work out when to plant sweet potatoes where you live, from the frost records of the nearest NOAA weather station. Your ZIP code is remembered on this device only.
Sweet Potatoes in zone 6a cities
| City | Typical last frost | Plant | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago, IL | Apr 11 | May 27 to Jun 3 | — |
| Indianapolis city, IN | Apr 15 | May 21 to 28 | — |
| Denver, CO | May 4 | Jun 5 to 12 | — |
| Colorado Springs, CO | May 3 | Jun 8 to 15 | — |
| Omaha, NE | Apr 18 | May 20 to 27 | — |
| Aurora, CO | May 4 | Jun 5 to 12 | — |
| Lincoln, NE | Apr 24 | May 21 to 28 | — |
| Fort Wayne, IN | Apr 24 | May 28 to Jun 4 | — |
| Grand Rapids, MI | Apr 29 | Jun 2 to 9 | — |
| Lakewood, CO | May 5 | Jun 9 to 16 | — |
| Springfield, MA | May 3 | Jun 7 to 14 | — |
| Joliet, IL | Apr 19 | May 30 to Jun 6 | — |
How to grow sweet potatoesAll zonesSweet Potatoes in zone 5bSweet Potatoes in zone 6bAbout zone 6a
Sources
- Sweetpotato (HGIC 1322) · Clemson Cooperative Extension, Home & Garden Information Center
- How to Grow Sweet Potatoes in Your Garden · Utah State University Extension
- Easy Gardening: Sweet Potatoes (EHT-026) · Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service
- Florida Vegetable Gardening Guide (SP 103/VH021) · UF/IFAS Extension
- Vegetable Planting Calendar for Maricopa County (AZ1005) · University of Arizona Cooperative Extension
- Ipomoea batatas · NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox