Growing Sweet Potato, also Kumara

Ipomoea batatas : Convolvulaceae / the morning glory family

Jan F M A M J J A S O N Dec

Not recommended for growing in USA - Zone 5a regions

  • Plant shoots or cuttings (Slips). Best planted at soil temperatures between 63°F and 95°F. (Show °C/cm)
  • Space plants: 16 - 24 inches apart
  • Harvest in 15-17 weeks.
  • Compatible with (can grow beside): Best in Separate bed

Your comments and tips

08 Mar 18, Mary (Australia - temperate climate)
Pop it in the ground, that way you will have slips for next Spring. However, if you get cold winters over there, pop it in a pot, so you can move it to the garage or shed during the cold days and nights.
24 Feb 18, Val Clark (Australia - temperate climate)
When is the best time to plant out the new growth from a tubar. I have a sweet potato that has sprung heaps of shoots. I'd like to put them into pots. Will they grow over winter in I keep them warm or am I wasting my time?
08 Mar 18, Mary (Australia - temperate climate)
I am in Adelaide -Temperate, and I leave mine in the ground over winter.
26 Feb 18, Mike (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Put them in the ground if you have a garden. Cover with some shade until they start to establish themselves. Sweet spuds are grown all year round in Bundaberg - 30-35 degrees in summer.
02 Feb 18, Geoff (Australia - tropical climate)
Does growing sweet potato deplete the soil of any particular mineral. I have grown a good crop of the sweet potato & intend to plant some sweet corn on the next full moon. Is there a particular fertiliser that’s advisable to add, prior to or as planting? I understand that all soils are different, but assuming all things are equal, is there something to add?
05 Feb 18, Mike (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
A bit of fert in the soil now and when the plants are about 12-15
07 Feb 18, Mike (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
When the plants are about 12-15
05 Feb 18, Mike (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Someone recently told me sweet potatoes take a lot out of the soil - NPK and trace elements etc. A general all round fert should have about 10-14 N 3-10 P and 12-15 K with 1-2 S. You can then up grade to a fert with trace elements. I buy from a farmers fert depot. 25Kg bags cost $20-25 and $30-35 with elements in it. You can buy stuff from supermarkets or Bunnings but you pay 2-4 times the price for smaller 2-5kg bags. Or you can go the organic way with manures et.
19 Oct 17, Allan (New Zealand - cool/mountain climate)
Do you progressively mound up Kumara like growing potatoes?
25 Sep 17, Kathy charles (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Where do you buy sweet potato tubers in Toowoomba - can you grow them but cutting up a sweet potato and planting them. Only eat sweet potatos now do would dearly love to grow some. Planted some last year but only got 2 small ones. What am I doing wrong? Please help!!!!!!!!
Showing 131 - 140 of 306 comments

Ask a question or post a comment or advice about Sweet Potato

Please provide your email address if you are hoping for a reply


All comments are reviewed before displaying on the site, so your posting will not appear immediately

Gardenate App

Put Gardenate in your pocket. Get our app for iPhone, iPad or Android to add your own plants and record your plantings and harvests

Planting Reminders

Join 60,000+ gardeners who already use Gardenate and subscribe to the free Gardenate planting reminders email newsletter.


Home | Vegetables and herbs to plant | Climate zones | About Gardenate | Contact us | Privacy Policy

This planting guide is a general reference intended for home gardeners. We recommend that you take into account your local conditions in making planting decisions. Gardenate is not a farming or commercial advisory service. For specific advice, please contact your local plant suppliers, gardening groups, or agricultural department. The information on this site is presented in good faith, but we take no responsibility as to the accuracy of the information provided.
We cannot help if you are overrun by giant slugs.