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Can You Grow Sweet Potato in California?

US · USDA Zone 9b · zones 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b

Grows well here

Sweet potatoes grow well here — they love the warm season your zone provides.

Plant zones

5a–11b

California last frost

mid-January

California first frost

late December

Days to harvest

90–120 days

When to plant Sweet Potatoes in California

Direct sow

Jan 10

Harvest

Apr 10 – May 10

Dates are approximate, based on California'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 California

California spans more climate zones than any other state. Coastal regions are mild year-round; the Central Valley is hot and productive; mountains are cold; deserts are extreme.