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 New Zealand - cool/mountain regions

  • Plant shoots or cuttings (Slips). Best planted at soil temperatures between 17°C and 35°C. (Show °F/in)
  • Space plants: 40 - 60 cm apart
  • Harvest in 15-17 weeks.
  • Compatible with (can grow beside): Best in Separate bed

Your comments and tips

10 Feb 10, Sandra Rowland (United Kingdom - cool/temperate climate)
Is it possible to grow sweet potatoes in the uk?
01 Jan 13, Jane (United Kingdom - warm/temperate climate)
I didn't think so, but I read on the blog of a Canadian gardener how she had a massive crop last summer, so I'll have a try this year. She cut the sweet potato in half and suspended it with the end in water until it grew shoots, then twisted the shoots off and planted them once all danger of frost was past. She also warmed the soil with black plastic.
11 Feb 10, Liz (New Zealand - temperate climate)
Sandra, have a look at this site www.bbc.co.uk/search/sweet_potato
15 Jun 10, Michele -- Launceston (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
I found a sweet potato tuber with shoots about 2cm long in the vegetable storer in the cupboard. I want to know if it will keep for a couple of months so I can plant it out when the threat of frost has gone . I paln to plant tomatoes, capsicum, peas and chiilis at the same time..... mid October ish.
09 Jul 10, CC (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
My brother grows sweet potato & they grew from shoots, which he planted in the ground.
03 Aug 11, [email protected] (Australia - tropical climate)
next time plant them in a very large pot, wine barrel etc and keep indoors by a sunny window till frost passes. just trim the shoots that over hang or trellis them
13 Jul 10, ben (Australia - temperate climate)
hi everybody i live in western Australia and you can get the orange(anytime), purple(most times) and sometimes the cream coloured ones. I buy them more than normal potatos
23 Jul 10, Karl (Australia - temperate climate)
Hi Ben when you say you can get purple most of the time is that purple on the inside?
19 Jul 10, Joanne Lockyer (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Hi we recently went to NZ for a holiday and were quite impressed by Kumara. Where can I located some plants in Australia as we would like to try and grow our own. thanks
06 Aug 10, Jo Hyland (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
What soil conditions best suit the sweet potato, as far as the pH goes? And are they a high yield plant, or do they produce relatively few tubers, requiring a large crop to be planted? I would like a decent crop, as I go through at least a kilo of them a week - sometimes more.
Showing 21 - 30 of 303 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 GardenGrow 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 GardenGrow and subscribe to the free GardenGrow planting reminders email newsletter.


Home | Vegetables and herbs to plant | Climate zones | About GardenGrow | 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. GardenGrow 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.