Bonita

Family: Convolvulaceae Root Vegetable

Warm, honeyed orange flesh glows with a velvety sweetness in Bonita, delivering a tender bite and a smooth, creamy texture once fully developed.

This Orange Sweet Potato forms attractive, uniform roots with a rich color that stays vivid from harvest through storage, making it a standout for roasting, mashing, and silky sauces. Grow Bonita for a dependable 95-day season and a harvest you’ll look forward to—root after root of radiant color and comforting flavor.

Light: Full SunMaturity: 95 DaysHabit: Vine

Planting schedules and alerts are optimized for Columbus (Zone 6b).

Crop Dates

Milestone	Date
Start Indoors	Direct Sow
Last Frost	Apr 25th
Transplant / Sow Outdoors	Apr 25th
Harvest Begins	Jul 29th
Harvest Ends	Oct 16th

Crop Details

Trait	Value
Days to Maturity	95
Sun Requirements	Full Sun
Growth Habit	Vine
Support Needed	None
Planting Depth	Normal
Germination Temp (°F)	80
Min Soil Temp (°F)	65
Min Night Temp (°F)	55
Harden Off (days)	10

Culinary Notes

Chef's Note

Bonita’s orange flesh leans into honeyed sweetness with a noticeably creamy, velvety bite, which means it turns plush without needing much fuss. Roast it hard enough for caramel at the edges, then use its natural sugars to round out acid like lime or heat like ginger.

Best Uses

hot oven roasting until the edges caramelize and the center turns buttery
mashing for a smooth, spoonable texture (not watery)
silky purées or curry bases that need natural sweetness to balance spice
thick wedges with a crisp exterior and tender core—great for hot holding

Flavor Profile

honeyed sweetness velvety, creamy interior gentle earthy warmth roasty caramel edges when baked

Kitchen Pairings

cinnamon brown butter lime smoked paprika ginger maple syrup

Frequently Asked Questions

Why are my Bonita plants developing a fuzzy gray mold and rotting stems near the crown?

This is commonly gray mold (Botrytis) and it thrives when leaves stay wet and airflow is poor. Remove any visibly moldy leaves and avoid overhead watering; water the soil only and keep the crown dry. Improve spacing and thin so plants have airflow, and if wet weather persists, apply a labeled fungicide that targets Botrytis according to the package directions.

How often should I water Bonita during the main growing phase to keep fruit and roots healthy?

During active growth (after seedlings establish until about 2–3 weeks before harvest), keep soil consistently moist but not soggy—aim for about 1 inch of water per week, split into 1–2 sessions. Water when the top 1 inch of soil feels dry; Bonita roots rot if the crown sits in waterlogged soil. Mulch helps stabilize moisture, but keep mulch pulled back slightly from the crown to prevent stem problems.

How can I tell when Bonita is ready to harvest at ~95 days?

Bonita is ready when the fruit has reached its full color and size listed for your variety, and the skin feels firm but not rock-hard. Look for a slight color deepening and a consistent glossy finish; avoid harvesting when fruits are still pale or the surface looks matte and underdeveloped. If you can gently twist and the fruit releases with minimal resistance, that’s a good sign it’s at peak ripeness.