When to plant sweet potato in Chicago
Sweet potato is frost-tender, so every date keys off Chicago's last spring frost of Apr 10.
Step 1 · Plant
Transplant outdoors
Jun 4 – Jun 25
Once frost risk has passed and nights stay mild.
Step 2 · Harvest
Harvest window
Sep 2 – Oct 2
Picking runs until conditions turn against the crop.
Window
Days to maturity
90 – 120 d
Chicago's 206-day season leaves this much room.
Sweet potato on Chicago'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
FROST
APR 10
OCT 31
Common questions
When will sweet potato be ready to harvest in Chicago?
Expect to harvest from around early September (Sep 2–Oct 2) in Chicago, based on its local frost dates. Confidence 76%.
When can I transplant sweet potato outdoors in Chicago?
Transplant outdoors around early June (Jun 4–Jun 25) in Chicago, based on its local frost dates. Confidence 81%.
How long is the growing season in Chicago?
Chicago has roughly 206 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 Chicago's frost dates.
Confidence 84/100 · Curated · based on NOAA GHCN-Daily 1991–2020 normal · frost dates are probabilities, not guarantees.