Georgia Red

Family: Convolvulaceae Root Vegetable

Sink your spoon into Georgia Red’s golden flesh—velvety, richly sweet, and luminous with a warm, honeyed glow.

At maturity, its roots develop a smooth, coppery-red skin that cradles a tender, fine-grained texture prized for roasting to caramel-kissed perfection, mashing into silky spreads, and transforming into vibrant purées and hearty bakes. A dependable 90-day performer for home gardeners who want standout color and a naturally dessert-like sweetness in every harvest.

Light: Full SunMaturity: 90 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 24th
Harvest Ends	Oct 16th

Crop Details

Trait	Value
Days to Maturity	90
Sun Requirements	Full Sun
Growth Habit	Vine
Support Needed	None
Planting Depth	Normal
Germination Temp (°F)	80
Min Soil Temp (°F)	60
Min Night Temp (°F)	55
Harden Off (days)	7

Culinary Notes

Chef's Note

Georgia Red’s fine-grained, velvety flesh turns caramel-kissed without getting gummy, which is why it mashes up like a spread instead of a pile. Its natural honeyed sweetness loves hot roasting and sharp acid—so it stays dessert-adjacent, not cloying.

Best Uses

high-heat roast until bronzed and spoon-tender, then finish with flaky salt and a squeeze of citrus
silky mash or whip for spoonable, sweater-soft sides
thick purée for custardy pies or smooth soups
bakes and gratins where it sets into tender, sliceable sweetness

Flavor Profile

lush, dessert-leaning sweetness fine-grained, velvety interior warm honeyed aroma with mild caramel notes roasted edges that turn jammy and soft rather than starchy

Kitchen Pairings

brown butter lime or lemon zest smoked paprika or cinnamon black pepper maple syrup goat cheese

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I manage sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas) pests or diseases like sweet potato weevil or bacterial soft rot?

Check regularly for small oval weevils or feeding damage on roots, and remove and destroy any heavily infested roots immediately to prevent spread. For rot problems, avoid planting in waterlogged beds and don’t harvest or store tubers that have soft, leaking, or foul-smelling areas; cure freshly harvested roots at warm, humid conditions for about a week to help seal minor wounds. If you see vine wilting that follows stem damage, remove affected plants and improve airflow by spacing slips so foliage dries faster.

How often should I water Ipomoea batatas during the main growing phase to form good tubers?

During active vine growth, keep the bed consistently moist but not soggy—water deeply about 1–2 times per week depending on rainfall and soil type. Let the top 1–2 inches of soil dry slightly between waterings, because steady saturation encourages rot in the developing storage roots. Once vines start setting and bulking, continue the same “moist but not wet” approach, but reduce watering right before harvest to minimize cracking and rotting.

When is Georgia Red (Ipomoea batatas) ready to harvest, and how can I tell?

Harvest around 90 days after planting slips, typically once vines begin to yellow and the weather is cooling. Before lifting, gently feel near the soil surface for tuber size—when you can detect firm, well-formed roots, it’s time. Lift carefully with a fork, cure the roots for about a week in warm, humid conditions, and avoid harvesting if roots are exposed to frost.