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Can You Grow Sweet Potato in Alaska?

US · USDA Zone 4b · zones 1a, 1b, 2a, 2b

Won't grow here

Sweet potatoes need a long warm season (90+ frost-free days above 18°C) this zone cannot reliably provide.

Plant zones

5a–11b

Alaska last frost

mid-April

Alaska first frost

mid-October

Days to harvest

90–120 days

When to plant Sweet Potatoes in Alaska

Direct sow

Apr 15

Harvest

Jul 14 – Aug 13

Dates are approximate, based on Alaska's average frost dates. Your exact yard may vary by microclimate.

About Sweet Potato

Sweet potatoes need a long warm season and thrive in heat — they are a subtropical crop at heart.

Plant slips (rooted cuttings) after soil warms to 18°C. They sprawl — give them space or train vertically. Cure harvested tubers at 30°C for a week to develop sweetness and improve storage.

Full sweet potato growing guide →

Gardening in Alaska

Alaska ranges from subarctic to maritime climates. The interior has very short summers but intense sunlight. Coastal areas are milder. Cold-hardy crops and greenhouses are key.