The article presents the results of a reconnaissance study of the suitability of sweet potato varieties collection for cultivation and breeding process in the conditions of the Central region of the Non-Chernozem zone. Sweet potato cuttings with 4-5 nodes were planted according to the scheme 70 x 40 cm with subsequent watering. During the growing season, sweet potato was watered as necessary. Each variant was tested in 4-fold repetition, 10 plants per plot. The varieties had a high variability of all economically useful traits within the repetitions. For most varieties, the sum of effective temperatures was not enough to accumulate a sufficient amount of plastic substances in the root tubers. As a result of our research, it was found that sweet potato varieties Vinnitskiy rozoviy and Manchzhurskiy are most suitable for cultivation in the CRNZ. They are characterized by a relatively high yield of commercial root tubers. The remaining varieties (Americanskiy begevy, Boregard, Yaponskiy, Germanskiy belyi and O'Henry) are not suitable for cultivation in this zone. Nevertheless, they are characterized by a high potential for the formation of root bulges, which can be used in sweet potato breeding. The possibility of breeding work with sweet potato in the conditions of the CRNZ is shown. Nevertheless, for successful work in this direction, it is necessary to use a greenhouse.