Sweet Potato, Covington

One of America's favorite sweet potatoes for a reason.

Covington combines everything gardeners look for in a great sweet potato: beautiful color, excellent flavor, high yields and remarkably uniform roots.

Developed by North Carolina State University and released in 2005, Covington was bred in response to the need for a more consistent table-stock sweet potato. Today, it is the major table-stock cultivar in North Carolina and has become one of the most widely grown sweet potatoes in the United States.

Beautiful Roots with Excellent Uniformity

Covington produces attractive light-rose-skinned roots with rich orange flesh. The roots are generally blocky to fusiform and tend to size very evenly.

That uniformity is one of Covington's greatest strengths. NC State reports a high packout of No. 1 roots, meaning a large proportion of the harvest falls into desirable marketable sizes and shapes. Compared with Beauregard, Covington tends to produce fewer oversized roots and more evenly sized storage roots.

Sweet, Moist & Delicious

In the kitchen, Covington delivers the classic sweet potato experience. The flesh cooks up moist, smooth and sweet, making it excellent for everything from a simple baked sweet potato to mashed potatoes, roasted wedges and fries.

NC State specifically describes Covington as moist, smooth and sweet when baked, while variety trials have rated its eating quality very highly.

Excellent Storage

Covington isn't just a variety for harvest day. Properly cured roots can store exceptionally well, allowing gardeners to enjoy their crop for months after harvest. NC State notes that Covington stores and ships well, while NC State Extension reports that properly cured and stored roots can keep for up to 12 months under appropriate conditions.

Strong Disease Resistance

Covington also offers a useful disease-resistance package. It is resistant to Fusarium wilt and southern root-knot nematode, with moderate resistance to Streptomyces soil rot. It is susceptible to guava root-knot nematode.

Plants are vigorous and spreading, and the variety reaches harvest in approximately 105–115 days under typical growing conditions.

Covington at a Glance

Days to Maturity: 105–115 days Skin: Light rose Flesh: Orange Flavor: Sweet, rich and smooth Texture: Moist and tender

Root Shape: Blocky to fusiform Root Uniformity: Excellent Growth Habit: Vigorous, spreading vines Yield: High No. 1 Packout: Excellent Sun: Full sun Soil: Loose, fertile, well-drained soil Uses: Baking, roasting, mashing, fries and fresh eating Storage: Excellent Disease Resistance: Fusarium wilt and southern root-knot nematode resistant; moderately resistant to Streptomyces soil rot Special Feature: Highly uniform roots with excellent eating quality

Covington is an excellent all-around sweet potato—high yielding, beautifully uniform and exceptionally good to eat. If you want a dependable orange-fleshed variety with the classic sweet, moist texture and excellent storage potential, Covington is a standout choice.