How to Grow Sweet Potato 'Covington'

Sweet Potato 'Covington'

Ipomoea batatas 'Covington'

vegetable

Covington is a high-yielding orange-fleshed sweet potato variety prized for its deep orange color, excellent flavor, and impressive nutritional profile. It produces vigorous vines with abundant medium-sized tubers ideal for commercial and home gardens. The variety is known for disease resistance and consistent performance across diverse growing conditions.

Growing Conditions

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Sun: Full sun, 6-8 hours daily minimum

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Water: Consistent moisture during growth, approximately 1-1.5 inches per week. Reduce watering 2-3 weeks before harvest to improve sugar content and storage quality.

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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; tubers for storage planted 4-6 inches deep

Soil

Type: Well-draining sandy loam or loamy soil

pH: 5.8-6.2

Amendments:

Compost or aged manure Potassium-rich fertilizer Avoid excess nitrogen

Growing Zones

Find your zone →

Thrives in zones 7-10; requires warm soil and long growing season

7a 7b 8a 8b 9a 9b 10a 10b

Growth Stages

Slip Development (Propagation)

4-6 weeks

Sweet potato slips (rooted shoots) are generated by bedding mature tubers in warm, moist sand and allowing sprouts to emerge over 4-6 weeks.

Maintain soil temperature at 75-80°F. Keep bedding consistently moist but not waterlogged. Select vigorous, disease-free slips for transplanting.

Establishment (0-4 weeks after planting)

3-4 weeks

Transplanted slips establish root systems and begin vine growth. Plants are tender and vulnerable to transplant shock.

Provide afternoon shade and frequent shallow watering for first 2 weeks. Maintain soil temperature above 65°F. Mulch around plants to retain moisture and warmth.

Vegetative Growth (4-12 weeks)

8-10 weeks

Vigorous vine production with extensive leaf canopy. Plants develop strong root systems and begin tuber initiation.

Water consistently (1-1.5 inches weekly). Provide balanced fertilizer with emphasis on potassium. Monitor for pest damage and disease. Manage vine growth to prevent excessive shading of neighboring plants.

Tuber Development & Bulking (12-20 weeks)

8-10 weeks

Tubers rapidly accumulate starch and sugars, reaching marketable size. Foliage remains green and productive.

Maintain consistent moisture without waterlogging. Reduce nitrogen input; increase potassium. Check soil moisture 6 inches deep—should be moist but not soggy. Begin reducing water 3 weeks before expected harvest.

Harvest Ready (20 weeks onward)

Variable; harvest before frost

Tubers reach full size and optimal sugar content. Foliage may begin yellowing or decline in late season.

Harvest before first frost in zones 7-8. Dig carefully to avoid bruising tubers. Cure at 80-85°F and 85-90% humidity for 10-14 days before storage. Handle gently—damaged tubers spoil quickly.

Companion Planting

Plan your garden →

Plant with:

Pole beans Corn Marigolds Nasturtiums Thyme

Avoid planting near:

Brassicas (cabbage, broccoli) Fennel Black walnut

Common Pests

Use certified weevil-free planting material, rotate crops annually, remove infested tubers immediately, store at temperatures below 60°F to prevent reproduction.
Monitor leaves weekly, apply insecticidal soap or neem oil at first sign, encourage beneficial insects, use reflective mulch.
Apply kaolin clay spray to foliage, use row covers early in season, release beneficial parasitic wasps.
Implement crop rotation (3-year minimum), allow soil to dry between waterings, apply parasitic entomopathogenic nematodes.
Use disease-free planting material, avoid overhead watering, ensure good air circulation, practice 2-3 year crop rotation.

Uses

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Baking, Roasting & Fries

Culinary

Covington's natural sweetness and creamy texture when roasted make it ideal for baked sweet potatoes, fries, chips, and casseroles. The high beta-carotene content (orange pigment) is preserved through cooking. [source]

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Soups & Purees

Culinary

The smooth, dense flesh purées easily for velvety soups, baby food, and dessert applications. Flavor pairs well with warming spices like cinnamon, nutmeg, and ginger. [source]

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Nutritional & Antioxidant Support

Medicinal

Covington contains high levels of beta-carotene, vitamin C, potassium, and fiber, supporting immune function, vision health, and digestive wellness. The deep orange flesh indicates elevated carotenoid content. [source]

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Starch Production & Biodegradable Packaging

Household

Sweet potato starch is used commercially in biodegradable packaging, natural adhesives, and food thickening applications. Home gardeners can extract starch for natural cooking or craft purposes. [source]

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Livestock & Poultry Feed

Wildlife

Sweet potato vines and surplus tubers serve as nutritious forage for chickens, goats, pigs, and other farm animals, providing both energy and beta-carotene. [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 after 90-120 days when soil temperature drops below 65°F or at first frost warning. Dig gently with a garden fork to avoid bruising. Handle tubers carefully during harvest and curing. Cure at 80-85°F and 85-90% humidity for 10-14 days to heal wounds and improve storage. Store in cool (55-60°F), humid conditions for up to 6 months.

Fun Facts

🌱 Covington was developed by USDA researchers and released in 2004; it has become one of the most widely grown commercial varieties in the United States due to its disease resistance and consistent yield.
🌱 Sweet potatoes are not potatoes—they belong to the morning glory family (Convolvulaceae) and are more closely related to bindweed than to white potatoes, making them less susceptible to late blight.
🌱 The 10-14 day curing period at warm, humid temperatures is crucial: it heals surface wounds, increases sugar content by up to 30%, and can extend storage life to 6 months or more.

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