When to plant sweet potatoes in Oregon

Sweet potatoes
Plant out in Portland
Mar 18–Apr 1

Across Oregon the window opens between March 4 and June 30. Find your city below; the dates follow each town's own average last frost.

Plant out, Portland
Mar 18–Apr 1
Last sowing for a harvest
Jul 20
Last frost, Portland
Feb 25

Plant out 3–5 weeks after the last frost. Set out slips when the soil is warm, around 65°F. They need a long, hot season.

Sweet potatoes planting dates by city

Start indoorsPlant outSow outdoorsFall plantingAverage last and first frost
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PortlandMar 18–Apr 1
SalemApr 24–May 8
EugeneMay 2–May 16
GreshamApr 6–Apr 20
HillsboroMay 7–May 21
BendJun 27–Jul 11
BeavertonApr 22–May 6
MedfordApr 29–May 13
CorvallisMay 8–May 22
SpringfieldMay 2–May 16
TigardApr 22–May 6
AlbanyMay 8–May 22
AlohaMar 4–Mar 18
Lake OswegoApr 8–Apr 22
Grants PassApr 29–May 13
KeizerApr 24–May 8
RedmondJun 30–Jul 14
Oregon CityApr 8–Apr 22
McMinnvilleApr 26–May 10
WoodburnApr 6–Apr 20
BethanyMar 4–Mar 18
Happy ValleyApr 8–Apr 22
TualatinApr 22–May 6
WilsonvilleApr 8–Apr 22
Forest GroveMay 7–May 21
NewbergApr 11–Apr 25
West LinnApr 8–Apr 22
RoseburgApr 13–Apr 27
HayesvilleApr 24–May 8
MilwaukieMar 18–Apr 1
All 34 cities
CityPlant outLast frost
PortlandMar 18 to Apr 1Feb 25
SalemApr 24 to May 8Apr 3
EugeneMay 2 to May 16Apr 11
GreshamApr 6 to Apr 20Mar 16
HillsboroMay 7 to May 21Apr 16
BendJun 27 to Jul 11Jun 6
BeavertonApr 22 to May 6Apr 1
MedfordApr 29 to May 13Apr 8
CorvallisMay 8 to May 22Apr 17
SpringfieldMay 2 to May 16Apr 11
TigardApr 22 to May 6Apr 1
AlbanyMay 8 to May 22Apr 17
AlohaMar 4 to Mar 18Feb 11
Lake OswegoApr 8 to Apr 22Mar 18
Grants PassApr 29 to May 13Apr 8
KeizerApr 24 to May 8Apr 3
RedmondJun 30 to Jul 14Jun 9
Oregon CityApr 8 to Apr 22Mar 18
McMinnvilleApr 26 to May 10Apr 5
WoodburnApr 6 to Apr 20Mar 16
BethanyMar 4 to Mar 18Feb 11
Happy ValleyApr 8 to Apr 22Mar 18
TualatinApr 22 to May 6Apr 1
WilsonvilleApr 8 to Apr 22Mar 18
Forest GroveMay 7 to May 21Apr 16
NewbergApr 11 to Apr 25Mar 21
West LinnApr 8 to Apr 22Mar 18
RoseburgApr 13 to Apr 27Mar 23
HayesvilleApr 24 to May 8Apr 3
MilwaukieMar 18 to Apr 1Feb 25
Klamath FallsJun 30 to Jul 14Jun 9
AshlandMay 27 to Jun 10May 6
SherwoodApr 11 to Apr 25Mar 21
LebanonApr 4 to Apr 18Mar 14

In Bend, Redmond, Klamath Falls the frost-free season is shorter than sweet potatoes need. Start plants indoors and pick early varieties.

Questions

When should I plant sweet potatoes in Oregon?

In Portland, plant out from March 18 to April 1. Across Oregon the window opens between March 4 and June 30, depending on the local last frost.

How is this date worked out?

Plant out 3–5 weeks after the last frost. Frost dates are NOAA 1991–2020 averages for the weather station nearest each city.

Is the season long enough for sweet potatoes everywhere in Oregon?

Not quite. In Bend, Redmond, Klamath Falls the frost-free season is shorter than the time sweet potatoes need to ripen. Start plants indoors and pick an early variety.

More for Oregon

Sweet potatoes in other states

Frost dates for every city in Oregon