Sunnyside

Family: Convolvulaceae Root Vegetable

Warm, sunset-orange flesh fills Sunnyside sweet potatoes with a velvety sweetness and a gently creamy bite—rich enough to savor straight from the garden, yet beautifully responsive to heat.

The roots develop a smooth, uniform shape with a golden-orange interior that turns tender and fragrant, making Sunnyside a standout for roasting and mash-style preparations, as well as for silky sauces and spoonable sides. Plant for the long, satisfying season—about 105 days—to harvest a harvest-ready crop that looks as glorious as it tastes.

Light: Full SunMaturity: 105 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	Aug 8th
Harvest Ends	Oct 16th

Crop Details

Trait	Value
Days to Maturity	105
Sun Requirements	Full Sun
Growth Habit	Vine
Support Needed	None
Planting Depth	Normal
Germination Temp (°F)	70
Min Soil Temp (°F)	65
Min Night Temp (°F)	55
Harden Off (days)	10

Culinary Notes

Chef's Note

Sunnyside sweet potatoes lean toward creamy and evenly tender, so they hold texture in mash and turn truly velvety when pureed. Roast them hot for caramel edges and use bright acid like lime to keep the sweetness from going flat.

Best Uses

hot roasting until edges caramelize and centers collapse for a fork-sweet profile
mashing or whipped sides where it turns smooth and cohesive without needing heavy mixing
silky purées and spoonable sauces for coating gnocchi or roasted proteins
bake-and-butter applications (whole or split) where the flesh stays creamy at the core

Flavor Profile

velvety sweet with warm, caramel-adjacent notes creamy interior that goes silky when cooked through gentle starchy bite that turns tender—not gummy—under heat fragrant roasted aroma with a soft, spoonable mouthfeel

Kitchen Pairings

brown butter lime smoked paprika cinnamon ginger yogurt

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I manage sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas) slips/vines for common pests like sweet potato weevils?

Watch for damage at the crown and on tubers-in-progress, including tunnels and roughened skin that can appear when the soil is disturbed near harvest. To reduce weevil buildup, plant disease-free slips and keep the area free of volunteer sweet potato plants and cull tubers. If you see ongoing infestation, treat storage/harvested roots promptly and avoid replanting in the same spot for several years to break the pest life cycle.

How often should I water sweet potatoes during the main growing phase (after slip establishment)?

Water deeply after planting so slips establish, then keep soil consistently moderately moist—aim for about 1–2 inches of water per week depending on heat and soil drainage. Once vines start spreading, reduce to lighter, less frequent watering so roots form well and aren’t sitting in waterlogged soil. If leaves droop during the hottest part of the day, water in the morning, but avoid soaking the bed as that encourages rot.

When are sweet potatoes (Ipomoea batatas) ready to harvest, and how can I tell?

Harvest at around 105 days, typically after foliage begins to yellow and before the first hard frost—roots are fully sized by then. Confirm readiness by gently digging near the base of a vine and checking that tubers have filled out with firm, well-formed skin. After harvest, cure the roots in warm, humid conditions for about a week to toughen the skin and improve sweetness.