Sweet potato plants, scientifically known as Ipomoea batatas, have a unique growth habit that varies depending on the climate and growing conditions. In warmer regions, typically USDA zones 8 through 11, sweet potato plants can indeed come back every year. However, in colder climates, they are typically grown as annuals.
In warmer growing zones, sweet potato plants are perennial, meaning they have the ability to survive and regrow year after year. This is because they are native to tropical and subtropical regions, where the climate remains warm throughout the year. If you live in such an area, you can enjoy the benefits of a continuous sweet potato harvest without having to replant them annually.
One important aspect to note is that sweet potato plants are not true potatoes. They are actually related to morning glories and are grown from tuberous roots. These tubers are the part of the plant that is harvested and eaten. When you plant sweet potato slips (young plants) or cuttings from mature vines, they will develop into a sprawling vine with heart-shaped leaves and eventually produce tubers.
The growth cycle of sweet potatoes starts with the planting of slips or cuttings in the spring when the soil has warmed up. It takes about 90 to 120 days for the tubers to fully develop, depending on the variety and growing conditions. During this time, the vines will spread and cover a considerable area.
Once the tubers have reached their full size, they can be harvested. Carefully dig up the tubers, being cautious not to damage them, and store them in a cool, dry place. These harvested tubers can be used for eating or saved for replanting in the following growing season.
In warmer climates, the sweet potato vines will naturally die back as temperatures cool, but the tubers in the ground will remain dormant until spring. When the weather warms up again, the tubers will sprout new shoots, and the cycle continues. This ability to regrow from dormant tubers allows sweet potato plants to come back year after year in suitable climates.
It’s worth noting that sweet potato plants are relatively slow-growing compared to some other vegetables. They require warm temperatures to develop their full-size tubers. If you live in a cooler climate, you can still grow sweet potatoes as an annual crop by starting them indoors or in a greenhouse and transplanting them outside once the soil has warmed up.
Sweet potato plants can come back every year if you live in a warmer growing zone (USDA zones 8 through 11). They are slow-growing and require warm temperatures to develop full-size tubers. You can usually get three to five tubers per plant and more if you’re in a warmer climate. However, in colder regions, sweet potatoes are typically grown as annuals, starting from slips or cuttings each year.
