Home › Sweet Potato › Grow in North Carolina

Can You Grow Sweet Potato in North Carolina?

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

Grows well here

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

Plant zones

5a–11b

North Carolina last frost

late February

North Carolina first frost

early December

Days to harvest

90–120 days

When to plant Sweet Potatoes in North Carolina

Direct sow

Feb 28

Harvest

May 29 – Jun 28

Dates are approximate, based on North Carolina'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 North Carolina

North Carolina spans the mountains (Zone 5b-6a), Piedmont (Zone 7a-7b), and coastal plain (Zone 8a). Long warm seasons support tobacco, sweet potatoes, and a wide range of vegetables.

See what grows well in North Carolina →

Frequently asked questions

Can you grow Sweet Potato in North Carolina?

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

What zone is North Carolina?

North Carolina spans USDA Zone 7b (5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a).

When do you plant Sweet Potatoes in North Carolina?

Plant Sweet Potatoes Feb 28, harvest May 29 – Jun 28.