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Can You Grow Sweet Potato in Hawaii?

US · USDA Zone 12b · zones 9b, 10a, 10b, 11a, 11b, 12a, 12b

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

Hawaii last frost

no frost

Hawaii first frost

no frost

Days to harvest

90–120 days

When to plant Sweet Potatoes in Hawaii

Direct sow

Jan 1

Harvest

Apr 1 – May 1

Dates are approximate, based on Hawaii'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 Hawaii

Hawaii is tropical with year-round warmth. Zone varies dramatically by elevation — coastal areas are Zone 11-12 while Mauna Kea slopes reach Zone 9. Year-round growing throughout.