How to Grow Beauregard Sweet Potato

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Beauregard Sweet Potato

Ipomoea batatas 'Beauregard'

vegetable

Beauregard is a widely cultivated sweet potato variety prized for its deep orange flesh, excellent flavor, and high beta-carotene content. It produces vigorous vining growth with heart-shaped leaves and underground tubers that reach harvest maturity in 90-120 days. This variety is a favorite among home gardeners and commercial growers due to its consistent yields and disease resistance.

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Example Beauregard Sweet Potato timeline · Pittsburgh, PA (Zone 6b)

Plant Beauregard Sweet Potato
Around Apr 17

Near Pittsburgh's average last spring frost.
Tend & protect
Late spring–summer

Watering, feeding, and pest-watch reminders.
Harvest Beauregard Sweet Potato
Around Jul 16

≈ 90 days after planting

Sample dates for Pittsburgh, PA. Sign up to get exact Beauregard Sweet Potato dates for your own zip code.

Growing Conditions

☀️

Sun: Full sun, 6-8 hours daily minimum; 8+ hours ideal for best yields

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Water: Moderate and consistent watering; 1-1.5 inches per week. Keep soil evenly moist during tuber formation (weeks 6-10 after planting). Reduce watering in final 3-4 weeks before harvest to encourage maturity and sweetness.

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Spacing: 12 inches

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Days to maturity: 90-120 days

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Planting depth: Slips planted 1-2 inches deep; hills or rows mounded 8-10 inches high

Soil

Type: Well-draining, loose, sandy loam soil

pH: 5.8-6.2

Amendments:

Compost or aged manure Perlite or sand for drainage Avoid fresh manure (promotes forking) Phosphorus-rich fertilizer

Growing Zones

Find your zone →

Thrives in zones 5b-10b, with best performance in zones 7-9

5b 6a 6b 7a 7b 8a 8b 9a 9b 10a 10b

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Growth Stages

Slip Establishment

2-3 weeks

Transplanted slips develop roots and establish primary shoots with 2-4 leaves

Keep soil consistently moist but not waterlogged. Provide warm conditions (65-75°F minimum). Harden off slips before field planting. Avoid transplant shock by planting in late afternoon or cloudy days.

Vegetative Growth

4-6 weeks

Vines rapidly expand with vigorous foliage development; heart-shaped leaves cover trellises or ground; minimal tuber formation

Ensure adequate spacing to prevent crowding. Provide consistent moisture and balanced fertilizer. Monitor for pests. Maintain weed-free environment.

Tuber Initiation & Expansion

4-8 weeks

Underground tubers begin forming at nodes and stolons; visible swelling occurs as potatoes develop; vines continue spreading

Maintain even soil moisture (critical period). Avoid high nitrogen fertilizer (promotes vine growth over tubers). Hill soil around base if tubers become exposed. Water deeply but less frequently.

Tuber Bulking & Maturation

3-4 weeks

Tubers reach full size and develop characteristic deep orange color; skin thickens and hardens; vine growth slows

Reduce watering frequency in final 3-4 weeks. Stop fertilizing. Monitor for storage rot diseases. Prepare harvest equipment.

Harvest & Curing

1-2 weeks (curing period)

Mature tubers ready for digging; roots completely developed with thick, set skin

Harvest before first frost (temps below 55°F damage tubers). Cure at 80-85°F and 85-90% humidity for 10-14 days to heal skin wounds and improve storage. Handle gently to prevent bruising.

Companion Planting

Plan your garden →

Plant with:

Beans Corn Squash Lettuce Parsley Nasturtiums

Avoid planting near:

Potatoes Tomatoes Peppers Brassicas (cabbage, broccoli)

Common Pests

Use weevil-resistant varieties; inspect slips before planting; destroy infested tubers; rotate crops; apply neem oil or pyrethrin sprays; use pheromone traps for monitoring
Reflective mulches; insecticidal soap; neem oil; encourage beneficial insects; avoid excessive nitrogen
Row covers for seedlings; diatomaceous earth; neem oil; remove debris where they overwinter
Increase humidity; spray with water; neem oil; sulfur dust; encourage natural predators
Hand-pick larvae; encourage parasitic wasps; Bt (Bacillus thuringiensis) spray; remove nightshade weeds
Prevent tuber damage during harvest; proper curing and storage; maintain 55-60°F and 85-95% humidity in storage; disinfect tools

Uses

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Roasting & Sweet Dishes

Culinary

Beauregard's deep orange flesh and naturally sweet flavor make it ideal for roasting, baking, frying, and desserts. The high beta-carotene content is enhanced by cooking, making it nutritionally superior when prepared this way. [source]

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Purees & Sauces

Culinary

The smooth, creamy texture when cooked makes Beauregard perfect for purées, soups, and baby food. Its natural sweetness reduces the need for added sugars in recipes. [source]

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Nutritional & Antioxidant Benefits

Medicinal

Rich in beta-carotene (vitamin A), vitamin C, potassium, and antioxidants. Regular consumption supports eye health, immune function, and may aid blood sugar regulation due to its resistant starch content. [source]

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Long-term Storage & Preservation

Household

Beauregard's excellent storage capabilities make it ideal for preserving the harvest through winter months. Properly cured tubers can be stored 4-6 months, providing fresh produce well into spring. [source]

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Beneficial Insect Habitat

Wildlife

The dense vine foliage provides shelter and food sources for beneficial insects, including parasitic wasps and hoverflies that control garden pests. [source]

This is not medical advice. LizPlants is not a medical resource. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before using plants medicinally.

Harvest Tips

Harvest 90-120 days after planting, before first frost (soil temp drops below 55°F, which causes chilling damage). Dig carefully with a garden fork to avoid puncturing tubers. Harvest in mid-morning on a dry day. Cure tubers immediately at 80-85°F and 85-90% humidity for 10-14 days before storage. Store at 55-60°F and 85-95% humidity; properly cured Beauregards keep 4-6 months.

Fun Facts

🌱 Beauregard was developed in Louisiana in the 1980s and is now the most widely cultivated sweet potato variety in North America, accounting for over 70% of commercial production.
🌱 Sweet potatoes are not botanically potatoes at all—they're the tuberous roots of a morning glory plant (Ipomoea batatas), while potatoes are tubers of Solanum tuberosum from the nightshade family.
🌱 Beauregard tubers can continue to cure and improve in flavor for 2-3 weeks after harvest as starches convert to sugars, making them sweeter if stored properly before eating.

Gardening Terms

New to gardening? Learn about terms used in this guide:

Full Sun Transplant Trellis

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