Sweet potatoes planting calendar for USDA Zone 8a

Wilmington NC, Columbia SC, Atlanta, Dallas, Norfolk. Average last spring frost March 28, first fall frost November 5 — a 222-day frost-free season.

Zone fit: excellent

Sweet potatoes is well suited to Zone 8a. Standard planting dates work with minor adjustments for microclimates.

Key dates

Start seeds indoors

February 7 – February 21

Transplant outdoors

April 11 – May 2

Expected first harvest

July 27 – August 24

Windows are calculated from your zone's average frost dates. Adjust ±1 week for microclimates, elevation, and your own frost records.

Spacing and soil

Plant spacing: 12″
Row spacing: 42″
Seed depth: 4″
Soil temperature: 75–90°F
Frost tolerance: tender
Days to harvest: 100 days

Grower notes for Zone 8a

Set slips on 6–8 inch hills for better tuber shape. Cure at 85°F and 85% humidity for 7–10 days after harvest.

Plant near: beans, peas

Keep away from: squash

Other root crops for Zone 8a

Same crop, other zones

Track your own plantings

BAU Farm Intelligence turns these windows into per-field tasks — indoor seed-start reminders, transplant dates, harvest projections — using your farm's actual frost history.

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