Which Sweet Potato Variety Should I Grow?

The choice of sweet potato variety matters more in temperate, short-season climates than for almost any other vegetable. The wrong variety in a cool summer produces lush vines and tiny tubers; the right variety in the same summer produces a full, satisfying harvest. Matching variety to climate — specifically, days to maturity and cold tolerance — is the single most important variety decision for growers in the UK, northern Europe, Canada or the northern United States.

Key selection criteria

The two most important factors for temperate climate growers are days to maturity (choose varieties rated 90–100 days, not 120+) and tuber type (orange, white or purple flesh). Cold tolerance during establishment is also relevant — some varieties establish faster in cool spring soil than others. Disease resistance (particularly to fusarium wilt and root knot nematodes) is worth considering if these are known problems in your garden.

Orange-fleshed varieties

Beauregard (90–100 days) is one of the most widely grown varieties in the USA and has become popular in the UK for its reliability in shorter seasons, orange-red skin, deep orange flesh, and sweet flavour. Georgia Jet (90 days) is an excellent choice for short seasons — it was specifically developed for northern US growing and performs well in the UK. Both are widely available as certified slips from UK and European suppliers.

White and cream-fleshed varieties

Bonita is a white-fleshed variety with 90–100 day maturity, suitable for temperate climates. White-fleshed varieties tend to have a milder, starchier flavour than orange types — preferred by some cuisines (West African, Japanese). O'Henry is another white-fleshed option where available. Flavour is less sweet and more potato-like than orange varieties.

Purple-fleshed varieties

Stokes Purple (90–100 days) produces striking deep purple flesh rich in anthocyanins. It has a slightly drier, more earthy flavour than orange-fleshed types. Murasaki is a Japanese variety with purple skin and white flesh. Purple varieties are increasingly available as slips in the UK and Europe but sourcing can be more challenging than for orange types.