When to plant sweet potato in Melbourne
Sweet potato is frost-tender, so every date keys off Melbourne's last spring frost of Aug 28.
Step 1 · Plant
Transplant outdoors
Sep 18 – Oct 9
Once frost risk has passed and nights stay mild.
Step 2 · Harvest
Harvest window
Dec 17 – Jan 16
Picking runs until conditions turn against the crop.
Window
Days to maturity
90 – 120 d
Melbourne's 270-day season leaves this much room.
Sweet potato on Melbourne's growing year
Frost-bounded season with crops mapped onto the 12-month axis.
Frost risk Growing Harvest
JAN
FEB
MAR
APR
MAY
JUN
JUL
AUG
SEP
OCT
NOV
DEC
FROST
AUG 28
MAY 25
Common questions
When will sweet potato be ready to harvest in Melbourne?
Expect to harvest from around mid December (Dec 17–Jan 16) in Melbourne, based on its local frost dates. Confidence 77%.
When can I transplant sweet potato outdoors in Melbourne?
Transplant outdoors around mid September (Sep 18–Oct 9) in Melbourne, based on its local frost dates. Confidence 86%.
How long is the growing season in Melbourne?
Melbourne has roughly 270 frost-free days, which is enough time to grow sweet potato to maturity outdoors.
The rule of thumb
Sow sweet potato 6–8 weeks before your last spring frost; plant out 2–3 weeks after it. Every date on this page is derived from that rule and Melbourne's frost dates.
Confidence 86/100 · NOAA GHCN-Daily · 1991–2020 normals · frost dates are probabilities, not guarantees.