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When to plant sweet potatoes in zone 9b

In zone 9b, where the last spring frost typically comes around January 31, plant out March 30 to April 6.

The zone 9b schedule for sweet potatoes

Plant out
March 30 to April 6
Soil warm enough (65°F), about
March 30
First harvest, roughly
June 28 to August 4

From the median frost dates of the NOAA stations assigned to the 1,459 ZIP codes in zone 9b, and the timing recommended by Cooperative Extension guides for sweet potatoes.

Frost risk in zone 9b

Zones are based on winter cold, not on frost dates, so the last spring frost varies a lot within a zone. Across zone 9b, the typical last frost ranges from about January 12 in the earliest tenth of ZIP codes to March 1 in the latest tenth, and the first fall frost from January 8 to December 28. For a typical place in the zone:

  • December 18Risky: a later frost happens in 9 years out of 10
  • January 31Typical: frost after this date in half of years
  • March 1Safe: 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.

Enter your ZIP code

Sweet Potatoes in zone 9b cities

CityTypical last frostPlantFall
Houston, TXJan 30Mar 18 to 25—
Jacksonville, FLFeb 1Mar 19 to 26—
San Jose, CAJan 12May 30 to Jun 6—
Fresno, CAJan 14Apr 27 to May 4—
Sacramento, CAJan 12May 4 to 11—
Bakersfield, CAJan 17Apr 24 to May 1—
New Orleans, LAJan 24Mar 16 to 23—
Henderson, NVJan 20Apr 4 to 11—

How to grow sweet potatoesAll zonesSweet Potatoes in zone 9aAbout zone 9b

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