When to plant Sweet potatoes in Gaston County, North Carolina, United States

Sweet potatoes can be planted after May 23, when air temperature is consistently in a range between 60°F and 100°F and soil temperature is above 45°F. For the best results, Sweet potatoes should be planted after June 19, when air temperature is consistently in a range between 65°F and 95°F and soil temperature is above 50°F.

Growing Sweet potatoes in Gaston County

Gaston County has on average 121 continious days, suitable for growing Sweet potatoes. Sweet potatoes needs on average between 90 and 170 days to mature and produce harvest.

Growing season for Sweet potatoes in Gaston County is quite short, with only 121 continious days suitable for growing, so it is really important to time your planting activities, and choose varieties with shorter time to harvest requirements.

Sweet potatoes seeds can be planted between May 23 and June 22. Planting before May 23 without any additional protection is not advised because cold streaks can damage or kill off young plant. When planting after June 22, Sweet potatoes will not have enough time to mature and produce harvest.

Growing season extention

In order to maximize chances for a good harvest of Sweet potatoes in Gaston County, some extra steps can be taken to extend growing season.

Start seeds indoors

When starting seeds indoors, it is possible to guarantee best possible conditions for young seedlings. Consistent temperature range, adequate watering and ample light (natural, supplemented with artifitial grow lights) will ensure you have strong and healthy seedlings just in time for transplanting into soil.

It takes 14 days on average for Sweet potatoes to sprout, and grow big enough to be ready for transplanting.

May 23 is on average first day in Gaston County that has required temperatures for young Sweet potatoes seedlings to grow, without worrying about cold damage.

Seeds can be started indoors beween May 09 and June 22, this way they will be ready just in time for transplanting on May 23.

Seedlings started after June 22 might not have enough time to mature and produce harvest.

Use a cold frame

When using a cold frame in a beggining of growing season You can protect young plants from possible temperature drops, this way growing season can start up to 2 weeks earlier.

Use an additional shading

On days, when air temperatures are expected to raise above 100°F, which is in top of tolerable range for Sweet potatoes, consider using additional shading to prevent heat shock.

Table with days suitable to grow vegetables in Gaston County, North Carolina