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

16 Feb 17, Africanaussie (Australia - tropical climate)
You can eat the tender shoots like spinach!
29 Dec 16, Robwyn Mugg (Australia - temperate climate)
When is the best time to plant sweet potato for Adelaide, S.A.? I have grown them in the past and only got a few as Curl Grubs ate the rest of my produce, they were planted in a raised bed.
24 Sep 16, Kay (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
I have planted slips that I grew about 2-3 months ago, The slips are in soil, in large plastic tubes with holes in the bottom & sides to drain as much water I can. We have had soooo much rain, & I checked the top & bottom soil. The top soil is dry, but the bottom soil is very wet. Should I leave them to do what it automatically do itself to grow, or remove the soil & slips & start again? I dug to bottom of the vines to see how they have been growing. The slips have lots of roots.
19 Sep 16, gwen (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
how long does it take to harvest the sweet potato, i planted mine in august and they are starting to grow now
19 Sep 16, Gabrielle (Australia - temperate climate)
Lol... Not suitable for growing in Oz? Yams are a staple diet for our Indigenous Peoples, they've been growing them for centuries in Australia.
09 Sep 16, Darla (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Growing orange sweet potato from sprouting end cut off. I have been told if I do it this way you will only get vines & no sweet potatoes. Told it was best to plant vines with roots to start with. I have rapidly growing vines, just waiting for it to die off so I can see the results.
17 Sep 16, Lou Cowan (Australia - tropical climate)
Hi Darla. Sweet potato can be grown this way, but the shoots need to be detached from the tuber and planted out separately, otherwise all you get will be vines. We did it this way, and from one sweet potato to grow the sprouts (slips) we ended up with about 15-20 plants.
25 Aug 16, Pono (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Is that white when raw or cooked because real kumara are yellow or lemon if you like in the inside.
19 Aug 16, Alexander (Australia - temperate climate)
Kumara or sweet potato is so easy to grow here in Perth WA, It grows like a weed , and spreads out through your garden over two years.
12 Aug 16, Karnry (Australia - temperate climate)
I am living in henley beach SA & wondering if anyone localyl has grown kumara with success? If so what is your success recipe Thanks Karney
Showing 91 - 100 of 194 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.