When to plant sweet potato in California
California spans USDA zones 6b–11a, so the right time to plant sweet potato shifts by weeks across the state. The window to transplant seedlings outdoors runs from about January 19 in San Mateo to June 30 in Truckee — below are local dates for 497 cities, each computed from its own frost dates.
| City | Zone | Last frost | First frost | Transplant out |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles | 10b | January 2 | December 26 | January 23 – February 6 |
| San Diego | 10b | January 6 | December 21 | January 27 – February 10 |
| San Jose | 9b | January 2 | December 25 | January 23 – February 6 |
| San Francisco | 10a | December 30 | December 25 | January 20 – February 3 |
| Fresno | 9b | January 14 | December 14 | February 4 – February 18 |
| Sacramento | 9b | January 12 | December 16 | February 2 – February 16 |
| Long Beach | 10b | January 9 | January 5 | January 30 – February 13 |
| Oakland | 10a | January 7 | December 23 | January 28 – February 11 |
Sweet Potato in California: FAQ
When can I plant sweet potato in California?
Across California, the time to transplant sweet potato spans roughly January 19 in San Mateo to June 30 in Truckee, each following that city's local frost dates.
Does the sweet potato planting date vary across California?
Yes. California publishes 497 cities with their own frost dates, so the right sweet potato planting window shifts by weeks between the warmest and coldest parts of the state — use your city's page for the exact dates.
How long does sweet potato take to grow in California?
Sweet Potato takes about 90–120 days to reach harvest once planted — check that this fits inside your city's frost-free season on its place page.
Never miss a window in your area
An email when it’s time to start seeds, transplant, and sow — timed to your frost dates. Double opt-in, one-click unsubscribe, no spam.