View Larger Sweet Potato

Planted at Mount Vernon

Planted at Mount Vernon Fruit Garden & Nursery Lower Garden Pioneer Farm Upper Garden

  • Fruit Garden & Nursery
  • Lower Garden
  • Pioneer Farm
  • Upper Garden

  • Hardiness Zones

    USDA basemap

    Average annual extreme minimum temperature 1976-2005

    map legend

    Sweet potatoes are vigorous, running plants that will easily exceed their allotted space in the garden if not kept under control. They should be grown in mounds, much the way one would grow potatoes. They are extremely cold sensitive and should be planted after the soil has warmed in the spring and harvested before the first frost in the fall.

    Latin Name

    Ipomoea batatas


    Family

    Convolvulaceae


    Also Known As

    Yam


    Type of Plant

    Annuals Annuals
    Vegetables Vegetables
    Vines Vines

    Seasons

    Summer Summer
    Fall Fall

    Specifications

    Max height Max Height: 1'
    Max spread Max Spread: 10'

    Uses

  • Annual
  • Vegetable

  • Sunlight Exposure

    Full Sun Full Sun

    Tolerances

  • Drought
  • Dry Soil

  • Colors


    Native Range

    Indonesia


    History

    George Washington planted sweet potatoes at Muddy Hole in April of 1787.


    Other Details

    Grown by Washington Grown by Washington

    Bartlett Tree Expert Company has been working with Mount Vernon Estate since 2011 providing expert arboricultural care and GPS mapping for the estate’s historic trees, as well as support from their research facility.   Mount Vernon is proud to partner with Bartlett Tree Experts and appreciates their sponsorship of George Washington’s Mount Vernon Plant Finder App.

    Bring Washington's Garden Home

    Purchase our historic seeds, collected from plants grown at Mount Vernon and plant them in your own garden.

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