VARDAMAN, Miss. (WTVA) – It is harvest time for Mississippi’s state vegetable: the sweet potato.

While it’s hot and dry now, some timely rain helped their crops thrive.

Farmers planted nearly 10 percent more acreage this year, and early reports point to a promising crop.

Planting got underway smoothly, with many growers getting into the fields in late April.

That early start, combined with cooler temperatures, helped young plants become established before summer heat arrived.

“We got in the fields earlier than normal,” said Topashaw Farms owner Trent Edmondson. “That boosted us to be able to harvest a little earlier. So that is working out good so far. We had just enough rain to keep us going. So that helps us a lot.”

Harvest will continue through the fall, with farmers expecting to have all the sweet potatoes out of the ground by early November.