Best Sweet Potato Varieties for Pennsylvania

Climate Considerations in Pennsylvania

 Pennsylvania's diverse geography includes USDA Hardiness Zones 5b to 7a, with a typical frost-free period of 130–170 days. Sweet potatoes require a frost-free growing season of at least 90 to 120 days and soil temperatures above 65°F for optimal development. Well-drained, sandy loam soils are preferred, and raised beds with black plastic mulch can improve early-season soil warming and root development.

Recommended Sweet Potato Varieties for Pennsylvania

Several varieties have demonstrated good adaptability and market potential in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic, including trials in Pennsylvania.

1. 'Beauregard'

• Type: Orange-fleshed
• Days to Maturity: ~90–100
• Characteristics: High yield potential, early maturing, uniform roots.
• Strengths: Well-adapted to Northern climates; stores well.
• Considerations: Susceptible to cracking and root rot in poorly drained soils.

2. 'Covington'

• Type: Orange-fleshed
• Days to Maturity: ~105
• Characteristics: Smooth skin, uniform shape, excellent eating quality.
• Strengths: Improved flavor and appearance over ‘Beauregard’; disease resistance to soil rot (Streptomyces). One of the best for handling wet harvest conditions.
• Considerations: Requires slightly longer season.

3. 'Orleans'

• Type: Orange-fleshed
• Days to Maturity: ~90
• Characteristics: Uniform size and shapes, versatile for various culinary uses
• Strengths: Similar disease resistance to Beauregard, including resistance to Fusarium wilt and Rhizopus soft rot. Sweeter than Beauregard, moderately moist
• Considerations: Shorter time to harvest compared to other varieties. Susceptible to root-knot nematodes and Bacterial soft rot.

4. 'Averre'

• Type: Orange-fleshed
• Days to Maturity: ~90-100
• Characteristics: Very high yielding, Moist, smooth, and sweet type baked.
• Strengths: blocky variety with a length like Beauregard, but with straighter roots. Packout of No.1 roots is high.
• Considerations: Susceptible to Wireworm Diabrotica Systena (WDS) Complex includes insects such as wireworms, Diabrotica or cucumber beetles, Systena or flea beetles, and sweet potato flea beetle (Chaetocnema confines).

5. 'Murasaki'

• Type: White-fleshed
• Days to Maturity: >115
• Characteristics: Average yield, lower than orange-fleshed sweet potato, Good source of vitamin C and dietary fiber.
• Strengths: Highly resistant to Soil rot, Root Knot, Fusarium wilt, Rhizopus soft rot, and Fusarium root rot. Sweet and nutty flavor
• Considerations: Late harvest

6. 'Purple Splendor'

• Type: Purple-fleshed
• Days to Maturity: ~110
• Characteristics: Uniform, blocky to round elliptic shapes.
• Strengths: Outstanding combination of yield and shape in a purple-fleshed variety
• Considerations: Some veining under heat stress. It is widely used in organic production.

Trial Results and Grower Experience in Pennsylvania

Small-scale trials conducted by Penn State Extension and individual growers have demonstrated that 'Covington' and 'Beauregard' consistently perform well when grown in raised beds with black plastic mulch and drip irrigation. In southeastern Pennsylvania (USDA Zones 6b/7a), 'Covington' is especially favored for its attractive appearance and strong consumer appeal. Meanwhile, research plots in central Pennsylvania using black plastic mulch have shown excellent yields—exceeding 500 bushels per acre—with varieties such as 'Orleans', 'Beauregard', 'Covington', and 'Averre', all producing well-shaped and marketable roots.

Cultural Tips for Pennsylvania Growers

• Slip Procurement: Sweet potato slips are often purchased because they offer a convenient head start for gardeners. Buying slips eliminates the time-consuming process of sprouting sweet potatoes at home—an advantage for those with limited time or space. Additionally, slips are commonly available at local nurseries and garden centers, making them an accessible and efficient option for establishing a successful crop. Alternatively, you can start slips indoors from disease-free storage roots in late March to early April. Maintain 75–85°F with high humidity (80–90%) for sprouting.
• Transplant Timing: Plant slips outdoors after the last frost, when soil temperatures reach at least 65°F (usually mid- to late May in southern PA and early June in northern regions).
• Spacing: Plant slips 12–18 inches apart within rows, with 3–4 feet between rows (12,000–15,000 plants/acre).
• Season Extension: Use black plastic mulch to increase soil temperature and suppress weeds. Row covers may also be used early in the season to promote early establishment.
• Frost Sensitivity: Sweet potatoes are highly sensitive to cold—avoid early or late planting near frost events.
• Control deer and rodents, which are common pests.
• Cure roots properly (85°F and 85–90% RH for 7–10 days) to improve flavor and storage.
• Niche Opportunities: White- and purple-fleshed varieties are gaining interest in farmers’ markets and CSAs.

Conclusion

 Selecting the right sweet potato variety is essential to optimize yield, marketability, and storage. By implementing targeted cultural practices—especially focusing on soil preparation, season extension, and careful slip production—Pennsylvania growers can successfully produce high-quality sweet potatoes for fresh markets, CSAs, and wholesale channels.