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Can You Grow Sweet Potato in Pennsylvania?

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

Grows well here

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

Plant zones

5a–11b

Pennsylvania last frost

early April

Pennsylvania first frost

late October

Days to harvest

90–120 days

When to plant Sweet Potatoes in Pennsylvania

Direct sow

Apr 1

Harvest

Jun 30 – Jul 30

Dates are approximate, based on Pennsylvania'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 Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania has a humid continental climate. Philadelphia is Zone 7a; Pittsburgh is Zone 6a; northern Pennsylvania is Zone 5a-5b. Four distinct seasons with a 6-7 month growing window.