Charleston, South Carolina planting calendar and frost dates
Charleston is in USDA hardiness zone 9a. The last spring frost typically comes around February 4 and the first fall frost around December 30, giving about 321 frost-free days a year.
- Typical last frost
- February 4
- Typical first frost
- December 30
- Frost-free season
- 321 days
Frost dates in Charleston
Last spring frost
- January 5Risky: frost later than this in 9 years out of 10
- February 4Typical: a later frost in half of years
- March 4Safe: a later frost only 1 year in 10
First fall frost
- December 2Risky: frost earlier than this 1 year in 10
- December 30Typical: an earlier frost in half of years
- New yearLate: in about 1 year in 10, the first frost waits until after December 31
The growing season between the typical last and first frosts is about 321 days. Frost here means a low of 32°F at the weather station.
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Charleston City, 0.2 miles NNW of the city center. Low-lying and rural spots often frost later in spring and earlier in fall than airports and city centers.
What to plant each month in Charleston
January
Start indoors: celery, cilantro, eggplants, ginger, marigolds, nasturtiums, peppers, ranunculus, tomatoes
Plant or sow outdoors: asparagus, beets, black-eyed susans, blackberries, blueberries, broccoli, cabbages, carrots, cauliflower, chives, cilantro, collard greens, dahlias, dill, figs, garlic, gladioli, grapes, grass seed, green onions, hollyhocks, kale, kentucky bluegrass, leeks, lettuce, onions, parsley, peas, poppies, potatoes, radishes, ranunculus, raspberries, rhubarb, roses, snapdragons, spinach, strawberries, sweet peas, swiss chard, tall fescue, turnips, wildflowers
Plant for fall: crocuses, garlic, hyacinths, ornamental alliums, tulips
February
Start indoors: basil, cantaloupes, celery, cucumbers, eggplants, peppers, pumpkins, tomatoes, watermelons, winter squash, zucchini
Plant or sow outdoors: asparagus, avocados, beets, carrots, chives, cilantro, dahlias, dill, figs, garden mums, ginger, gladioli, grapes, green onions, lavenders, leeks, lettuce, lilies, marigolds, mints, nasturtiums, oregano, parsley, petunias, ranunculus, rosemary, roses, sage, snapdragons, spinach, sunflowers, sweet corn, swiss chard, thyme
March
Start indoors: cantaloupes, cosmos, cucumbers, okra, pumpkins, watermelons, winter squash, zucchini
Plant or sow outdoors: avocados, basil, cantaloupes, cucumbers, eggplants, garden mums, ginger, green beans, green onions, peppers, pumpkins, st. augustinegrass, tomatoes, watermelons, winter squash, zucchini
April
Start indoors: zinnias
Plant or sow outdoors: bermudagrass, cantaloupes, celery, centipedegrass, cosmos, cucumbers, eggplants, green beans, okra, peanuts, peppers, pumpkins, st. augustinegrass, sweet potatoes, tomatoes, watermelons, winter squash, zoysiagrass, zucchini
May
Plant or sow outdoors: bermudagrass, centipedegrass, okra, zinnias, zoysiagrass
September
Plant for fall: brussels sprouts, collard greens, cucumbers, lettuce, peppers, potatoes, sweet corn, swiss chard, tomatoes
October
Start indoors: onions
Plant for fall: bearded irises, beets, broccoli, cabbages, carrots, cauliflower, collard greens, cucumbers, daylilies, green beans, kale, lettuce, peas, peppers, radishes, snapdragons, spinach, sweet corn, swiss chard, turnips, zucchini
November
Start indoors: broccoli, cabbages, cauliflower, collard greens, kale, leeks, onions, oregano, parsley, petunias, ranunculus, rosemary, snapdragons
Plant for fall: azaleas, bearded irises, beets, broccoli, cabbages, cauliflower, clematis, coneflowers, crocuses, daffodils, daylilies, grass seed, hostas, hydrangeas, kale, kentucky bluegrass, lettuce, lilies, ornamental alliums, peonies, perennial ryegrass, radishes, roses, saffron, snapdragons, spinach, tall fescue, tulips, turnips
December
Start indoors: black-eyed susans, broccoli, cabbages, cauliflower, chives, cilantro, collard greens, ginger, kale, leeks, lettuce, marigolds, nasturtiums, oregano, parsley, petunias, ranunculus, rosemary, sage, snapdragons, spinach, swiss chard
Plant or sow outdoors: asparagus, black-eyed susans, blueberries, garlic, grapes, grass seed, green onions, hollyhocks, kale, kentucky bluegrass, onions, peas, poppies, raspberries, rhubarb, strawberries, sweet peas, tall fescue, turnips, wildflowers
Plant for fall: crocuses, daffodils, daylilies, garlic, grass seed, hostas, hyacinths, kale, kentucky bluegrass, lilies, ornamental alliums, peonies, perennial ryegrass, radishes, saffron, tall fescue, tulips
Frost dates and zones by ZIP code in Charleston
All 6 of Charleston's main ZIP codes take their frost dates from Charleston City, so the dates on this page apply across the city. Every one of them is in zone 9a.
| ZIP code | Zone | Weather station | Typical last frost | Typical first frost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 29403 | 9a | Charleston City, 0.2 mi NNW | Feb 4 | Dec 30 |
| 29407 | 9a | Charleston City, 0.2 mi NNW | Feb 4 | Dec 30 |
| 29412 | 9a | Charleston City, 0.2 mi NNW | Feb 4 | Dec 30 |
| 29414 | 9a | Charleston City, 0.2 mi NNW | Feb 4 | Dec 30 |
| 29455 | 9a | Charleston City, 0.2 mi NNW | Feb 4 | Dec 30 |
| 29492 | 9a | Charleston City, 0.2 mi NNW | Feb 4 | Dec 30 |
Charleston City also supplies the frost dates for Mount Pleasant and Goose Creek, so their planting calendars match Charleston's.
Planting dates for popular crops in Charleston
| Plant | Start indoors | Plant or sow outdoors | Fall planting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomatoes | Jan 25 to Feb 8 | Mar 22 to Apr 5 | Sep 16 to 23 |
| Strawberries | — | Dec 24 to Jan 7 | — |
| Lettuce | Dec 10 to 24 | Jan 28 to Feb 11 | Sep 30 to Nov 4 |
| Cilantro | Dec 24 to Jan 7 | Feb 4 to 11 | — |
| Basil | Feb 1 to 15 | Mar 22 to 29 | — |
| Potatoes | — | Jan 14 to 21 | Sep 9 to 16 |
| Garlic | — | Dec 24 to Jan 7 | Dec 30 to Jan 13 |
| Onions | Oct 15 to Nov 26 | Jan 7 to 21 | — |
| Cucumbers | Feb 22 to Mar 8 | Mar 22 to Apr 5 | Sep 30 to Oct 14 |
| Pumpkins | Feb 22 to Mar 8 | Mar 22 to Apr 5 | — |
| Peppers | Jan 4 to Feb 1 | Mar 22 to Apr 5 | Sep 9 to Oct 7 |
| Carrots | — | Jan 14 to Feb 4 | Oct 7 to 28 |
| Sweet Potatoes | — | Apr 12 to 19 | — |
| Watermelons | Feb 15 to Mar 1 | Mar 22 to Apr 5 | — |
| Sweet Corn | — | Feb 4 to 18 | Sep 23 to Oct 7 |
| Green Beans | — | Mar 22 to Apr 5 | Oct 7 to 14 |
| Zucchini | Feb 22 to Mar 8 | Mar 22 to Apr 5 | Oct 7 to 21 |
| Broccoli | Nov 19 to Dec 10 | Jan 7 to 21 | Oct 14 to Nov 11 |
| Peas | — | Dec 24 to Jan 7 | Oct 7 to 21 |
| Spinach | Dec 24 to 31 | Jan 28 to Feb 11 | Oct 21 to Nov 25 |
| Sunflowers | — | Feb 4 to 25 | — |
| Zinnias | Apr 3 to 10 | May 1 to 15 | — |
| Tulips | — | — | Nov 18 to Jan 13 |
| Daffodils | — | — | Nov 18 to Dec 30 |
| Grass Seed | — | Dec 24 to Jan 7 | Nov 18 to Dec 2 |
Nearby cities
- Mount Pleasant, SC zone 9a, last frost Feb 4
- North Charleston, SC zone 8b, last frost Mar 7
- Goose Creek, SC zone 8b, last frost Feb 4
- Summerville, SC zone 8b, last frost Mar 22
- Savannah, GA zone 9a, last frost Mar 2
- Columbia, SC zone 8b, last frost Mar 16
Planting in South CarolinaAbout zone 9aPrintable calendar for Charleston
Questions
When is the last frost in Charleston?
Around February 4 in a typical year, based on NOAA's 1991-2020 records for Charleston City. There is still a 1 in 10 chance of frost after March 4.
What planting zone is Charleston in?
USDA hardiness zone 9a (2023 map), with parts of the city in zone 8b. The zone tells you which perennials survive the winter; planting dates depend on frost dates instead.
When should I plant tomatoes in Charleston?
Start seeds indoors January 25 to February 8 and set plants out March 22 to April 5.
When is the first frost in Charleston?
Around December 30 in a typical year, and before December 2 about 1 year in 10.