How To Grow Sweet Potatoes Indoors (& The Best Varieties To Try)

If you're looking for the right plant to grow indoors, sweet potatoes (Ipomoea batatas) may not be the first choice to come to mind. Still, these tasty root vegetables can thrive indoors when given the proper care, giving you access to homegrown vegetables without ever leaving your kitchen. Not all sweet potatoes are equally cut out for a life indoors, and some varieties perform better than others.

As with other indoor plants, one of the biggest factors to pay attention to when choosing the right sweet potato variety is size. Sweet potato vines can grow to be up to 20 feet long, and depending on the size of your home, that may not be feasible for indoor growing. As a result, you may want to look for smaller, more compact varieties. Good options include Vardaman and Centennial sweet potatoes. Beauregard is another sweet potato variety that does great in containers. Because it's important to pick the right variety for indoor growing, you may not be able to simply regrow a sweet potato from the store.

Choosing the right sweet potato variety to grow indoors is only part of the process. You'll also need to learn how to properly care for your sweet potato, including replicating any outdoor conditions — like sunlight — that you may not be able to achieve indoors. While care varies by variety, the following general guide can help you get started with growing sweet potatoes indoors.

One of the most important factors to keep in mind when growing sweet potatoes indoors is their need for sunlight. While it may be surprising, sweet potatoes are full-sun plants. This means they need a minimum of six hours of sunlight each day. However, for the best results, aim for eight to 10 hours of direct light. While outdoor plants easily receive this much light, achieving it indoors can be more challenging. If you're relying on natural sunlight alone, choose a window that provides ample light throughout the day. In the Northern Hemisphere, this will be a south-facing window; in the Southern Hemisphere, opt for a north-facing window instead. Depending on where you live and how much light you receive each day, you may need to supplement with a grow light for your plants to create optimal conditions.

Soil is another key factor to consider. Sweet potatoes thrive when given well-draining soil with plenty of space. After all, they'll need room for their roots to grow and spread out. Fortunately, when you're growing sweet potatoes in a container, you can have more control over their soil conditions — from selecting the right mix to providing enough depth for root growth.

Other than sunlight and soil, sweet potatoes aren't too picky when it comes to care. Growing your sweet potatoes indoors eliminates one of the most notable concerns: exposure to cold weather. Water sweet potatoes regularly, keeping the soil moist but never waterlogged. You can also skip pruning, saving you the hassle of one garden chore.