Root Vegetable

When to Plant Sweet Potatoes in South Carolina

Not related to regular potatoes at all. Sweet potatoes need heat and a long growing season but reward with incredible harvests.

The Short Answer

In South Carolina, soil conditions are an important factor for sweet potatoes. Red clay in Piedmont. Sandy soils on coast. Acidic throughout. Rich alluvial soils in river valleys.

South Carolina Frost Dates

Your planting dates depend on which part of South Carolina you're in. Here are the frost date ranges by region:

Region Zones Last Frost (Spring) First Frost (Fall)
Upstate 7a, 7b Mar 25 - Apr 10 Oct 20 - Nov 5
Midlands 7b, 8a Mar 15 - Apr 1 Nov 1 - Nov 15
Coastal 8a, 8b, 9a Feb 25 - Mar 15 Nov 10 - Dec 1

Sweet Potatoes Planting Schedule for South Carolina

Upstate (Zones 7a, 7b)

Average last frost: Mar 25 - Apr 10 · Average first frost: Oct 20 - Nov 5

Start Seeds Indoors
8 wks before frost
Transplant Outside
3 wks after frost

Midlands (Zones 7b, 8a)

Average last frost: Mar 15 - Apr 1 · Average first frost: Nov 1 - Nov 15

Start Seeds Indoors
8 wks before frost
Transplant Outside
3 wks after frost

Coastal (Zones 8a, 8b, 9a)

Average last frost: Feb 25 - Mar 15 · Average first frost: Nov 10 - Dec 1

Start Seeds Indoors
8 wks before frost
Transplant Outside
3 wks after frost

Growing Sweet Potatoes in South Carolina

Sweet Potatoes in South Carolina's Climate

Sweet potatoes thrive in your climate. The long, warm growing season gives them all the time and heat they need. Plant slips from April and enjoy one of the easiest, most productive crops available in warm zones. Sweet potatoes are remarkably drought-tolerant once established — they handle dry spells better than most vegetables.

Soil Considerations for South Carolina

Red clay in Piedmont. Sandy soils on coast. Acidic throughout. Rich alluvial soils in river valleys. Loose, well-drained soil is especially important for sweet potatoes since the edible portion grows underground. If your soil is heavy clay, consider raised beds.

South Carolina Climate & Growing Season

Long, hot growing season. Subtropical on coast. Two main planting seasons. Summer heat can stress cool-season crops. Sweet Potatoes cannot tolerate any frost, so wait until all frost danger has passed before transplanting outside. Watch local forecasts carefully in spring.

Growing season length varies across South Carolina: Upstate (7a, 7b) has a last frost around Mar 25 - Apr 10, while Coastal (8a, 8b, 9a) sees frost end around Feb 25 - Mar 15. This difference matters for sweet potatoes — transplant timing shifts by several weeks across the state.

Growing Tips

Grow from slips, not seeds. Start slips from a sweet potato in water 8 weeks before transplanting. Cure harvested tubers in warmth for 10 days.

Companion Planting

Plant sweet potatoes alongside these companions for better growth:

Beans Corn

Keep sweet potatoes away from:

Squash

The Bottom Line

Sweet Potatoes can be grown successfully across South Carolina, but your exact planting dates depend on which region you're in. Upstate gardeners should plan around a Mar 25 - Apr 10 last frost, while those in Coastal can typically plant earlier. For exact dates based on your zip code, use our free planting date finder.

Related Guides

Sweet Potatoes Growing Guide National planting guide with all states South Carolina Planting Calendar All plants for South Carolina Sweet Potatoes in Alabama Alabama planting dates Sweet Potatoes in Alaska Alaska planting dates Sweet Potatoes in Arizona Arizona planting dates Sweet Potatoes in Arkansas Arkansas planting dates
Note: All dates are based on NOAA 30-year Climate Normals and represent historical averages, not predictions for any specific year. Always check your local weather forecast before planting frost-sensitive crops. Learn about our data sources.

Last reviewed: March 29, 2026

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