How to Grow Sweet Potatoes in Your Home Garden (Beginner-Friendly Guide)

Sweet potatoes are one of the easiest and most rewarding vegetables you can grow at home. They’re rich in nutrients, delicious, and grow well in small garden spaces—even containers!

In this beginner-friendly guide, you’ll learn everything you need to know about growing sweet potatoes in a home garden, from slips to harvest.

Why Grow Sweet Potatoes at Home?

• Nutrient-packed: High in fiber, vitamins A and C, and antioxidants.
• Low-maintenance: Sweet potatoes thrive with minimal care.
• Space-friendly: You can grow them in raised beds, garden plots, or even large containers.
• High yield: A single plant can produce several pounds of sweet potatoes!

Best Time to Plant Sweet Potatoes

Sweet potatoes are warm-weather crops. The ideal time to plant is 2 to 4 weeks after the last frost, when the soil temperature reaches at least 65°F (18°C). In most climates, this means planting in late spring to early summer.

Step-by-Step Guide to Growing Sweet Potatoes

1. Start with Slips, Not Seeds

Unlike most vegetables, sweet potatoes are not grown from seeds. You’ll need sweet potato slips, which are sprouts grown from mature sweet potatoes.

How to get slips:

• Buy certified disease-free slips from a nursery or online.
• Or sprout your own: place a sweet potato half-submerged in water (pointy end down), and let it sit in a sunny spot. After a few weeks, slips will grow from the top.

2. Prepare the Soil

Sweet potatoes love loose, well-drained soil with plenty of organic matter. Follow these tips:

• Soil type: Sandy or loamy soil is best.
• pH range: 5.5 to 6.5.
• Enrich with compost to ensure healthy root development.

Avoid heavy clay soil—it can restrict tuber growth and lead to rot.

3. Planting the Slips

Once your slips are 6–8 inches long:

• Remove them from the parent potato.
• Let the cut ends dry for a day or two to prevent rot.
• Plant each slip 12–18 inches apart in rows 3 feet apart.
• Bury the slip up to the top leaves and water thoroughly.

Pro Tip: Sweet potatoes need full sun—at least 6–8 hours daily.

4. Watering and Care

Sweet potatoes are drought-tolerant but do best with consistent watering:

• Water deeply once or twice a week (about 1 inch/week).
• Reduce watering as harvest time nears to prevent cracking.

Mulch around plants to retain moisture and suppress weeds.

5. Fertilizing Sweet Potatoes

Use a low-nitrogen fertilizer to promote root growth over leafy growth:

• Apply balanced organic fertilizer when planting.
• Side-dress with compost or bone meal halfway through the season.

Avoid over-fertilizing, especially with nitrogen-heavy options.

6. Pest and Disease Control

Common pests:

• Sweet potato weevils
• Wireworms
• Flea beetles

Natural solutions:

• Rotate crops annually.
• Use row covers to deter insects.
• Plant marigolds nearby as a natural repellent.

7. Harvesting Sweet Potatoes

Sweet potatoes are typically ready to harvest 90–120 days after planting, once the leaves begin to yellow.

How to harvest:

• Use a garden fork to gently loosen the soil.
• Be careful not to damage the tubers.
• Cure them in a warm, dry place for 7–10 days to enhance flavor and shelf life.

Properly cured sweet potatoes can last up to 6 months!

Can You Grow Sweet Potatoes in Containers?

Yes! Use a 20-gallon container or larger with drainage holes.

• Use loose, nutrient-rich soil.
• Plant 1–2 slips per container.
• Water regularly and provide plenty of sun.

Container gardening is ideal for small yards, patios, or balconies.

Final Tips for Growing Sweet Potatoes at Home

• Choose disease-resistant varieties like Beauregard, Georgia Jet, or Covington.
• Keep weeds under control, especially early in the season.
• Monitor for pests weekly and act quickly if you see damage.

Conclusion

Growing sweet potatoes in your home garden is simple, rewarding, and perfect for beginners. With the right timing, soil prep, and care, you can enjoy a bountiful harvest of healthy, homegrown sweet potatoes.

Whether you’re gardening in a backyard, raised bed, or container, sweet potatoes are a smart choice for sustainable, delicious living.