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Can You Grow Sweet Potato in Minnesota?

US · USDA Zone 4a · zones 2b, 3a, 3b, 4a, 4b

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

Minnesota last frost

late April

Minnesota first frost

early October

Days to harvest

90–120 days

When to plant Sweet Potatoes in Minnesota

Direct sow

Apr 25

Harvest

Jul 24 – Aug 23

Dates are approximate, based on Minnesota'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 Minnesota

Minnesota has a cold humid continental climate. The Twin Cities are Zone 4b-5a; northern Minnesota reaches Zone 2b-3a. Cold winters but warm productive summers.