When to plant sweet potatoes in Virginia

Sweet potatoes
Plant out in Virginia Beach
Apr 19–May 3

Across Virginia the window opens between April 6 and May 15. Find your city below; the dates follow each town's own average last frost.

Plant out, Virginia Beach
Apr 19–May 3
Last sowing for a harvest
Jul 1
Last frost, Virginia Beach
Mar 29

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
Virginia BeachApr 19–May 3
RichmondApr 24–May 8
ArlingtonApr 14–Apr 28
NorfolkApr 6–Apr 20
Newport NewsApr 22–May 6
AlexandriaApr 14–Apr 28
HamptonApr 14–Apr 28
SuffolkApr 17–May 1
RoanokeApr 24–May 8
PortsmouthApr 13–Apr 27
LynchburgMay 8–May 22
Dale CityMay 3–May 17
CentrevilleMay 6–May 20
RestonMay 5–May 19
HarrisonburgMay 12–May 26
McLeanApr 30–May 14
LeesburgMay 7–May 21
TuckahoeMay 1–May 15
AshburnMay 4–May 18
BlacksburgMay 15–May 29
Lake RidgeMay 3–May 17
CharlottesvilleApr 23–May 7
ManassasMay 3–May 17
WoodbridgeApr 18–May 2
BurkeMay 5–May 19
Linton HallMay 3–May 17
AnnandaleMay 5–May 19
DanvilleApr 29–May 13
MechanicsvilleMay 1–May 15
OaktonMay 5–May 19
All 64 cities
CityPlant outLast frost
Virginia BeachApr 19 to May 3Mar 29
RichmondApr 24 to May 8Apr 3
ArlingtonApr 14 to Apr 28Mar 24
NorfolkApr 6 to Apr 20Mar 16
Newport NewsApr 22 to May 6Apr 1
AlexandriaApr 14 to Apr 28Mar 24
HamptonApr 14 to Apr 28Mar 24
SuffolkApr 17 to May 1Mar 27
RoanokeApr 24 to May 8Apr 3
PortsmouthApr 13 to Apr 27Mar 23
LynchburgMay 8 to May 22Apr 17
Dale CityMay 3 to May 17Apr 12
CentrevilleMay 6 to May 20Apr 15
RestonMay 5 to May 19Apr 14
HarrisonburgMay 12 to May 26Apr 21
McLeanApr 30 to May 14Apr 9
LeesburgMay 7 to May 21Apr 16
TuckahoeMay 1 to May 15Apr 10
AshburnMay 4 to May 18Apr 13
BlacksburgMay 15 to May 29Apr 24
Lake RidgeMay 3 to May 17Apr 12
CharlottesvilleApr 23 to May 7Apr 2
ManassasMay 3 to May 17Apr 12
WoodbridgeApr 18 to May 2Mar 28
BurkeMay 5 to May 19Apr 14
Linton HallMay 3 to May 17Apr 12
AnnandaleMay 5 to May 19Apr 14
DanvilleApr 29 to May 13Apr 8
MechanicsvilleMay 1 to May 15Apr 10
OaktonMay 5 to May 19Apr 14
Fair OaksMay 5 to May 19Apr 14
South RidingMay 6 to May 20Apr 15
PetersburgApr 24 to May 8Apr 3
SterlingMay 4 to May 18Apr 13
SpringfieldApr 14 to Apr 28Mar 24
West Falls ChurchMay 5 to May 19Apr 14
FredericksburgApr 27 to May 11Apr 6
WinchesterMay 2 to May 16Apr 11
Short PumpMay 1 to May 15Apr 10
TysonsMay 5 to May 19Apr 14
StauntonMay 6 to May 20Apr 15
FairfaxMay 5 to May 19Apr 14
Cave SpringApr 24 to May 8Apr 3
SalemApr 24 to May 8Apr 3
HerndonMay 6 to May 20Apr 15
Bailey's CrossroadsApr 14 to Apr 28Mar 24
BrambletonMay 4 to May 18Apr 13
WaynesboroMay 12 to May 26Apr 21
ChantillyMay 6 to May 20Apr 15
ChesterApr 24 to May 8Apr 3
Cherry HillApr 18 to May 2Mar 28
HopewellApr 21 to May 5Mar 31
West SpringfieldMay 5 to May 19Apr 14
LeesylvaniaApr 18 to May 2Mar 28
McNairMay 6 to May 20Apr 15
ChristiansburgMay 10 to May 24Apr 19
MontclairApr 18 to May 2Mar 28
CulpeperMay 12 to May 26Apr 21
LortonApr 24 to May 8Apr 3
WoodlawnApr 24 to May 8Apr 3
Rose HillApr 14 to Apr 28Mar 24
MerrifieldMay 5 to May 19Apr 14
BuckhallMay 3 to May 17Apr 12
MeadowbrookApr 24 to May 8Apr 3

Questions

When should I plant sweet potatoes in Virginia?

In Virginia Beach, plant out from April 19 to May 3. Across Virginia the window opens between April 6 and May 15, 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.

More for Virginia

Sweet potatoes in other states

Frost dates for every city in Virginia