Columbia, South Carolina planting calendar and frost dates

Frost dates in Columbia

NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Columbia Univ Of Sc, 0.9 miles SE 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 Columbia

1. January

   Start indoors: black-eyed susans, broccoli, cabbages, cauliflower, celery, chives, collard greens, eggplants, ginger, kale, leeks, lettuce, marigolds, onions, oregano, parsley, peppers, petunias, ranunculus, rosemary, sage, snapdragons, tomatoes

2. February

   Start indoors: basil, black-eyed susans, cabbages, cantaloupes, chives, cilantro, collard greens, cosmos, cucumbers, eggplants, ginger, lettuce, marigolds, nasturtiums, okra, peppers, ranunculus, sage, snapdragons, spinach, swiss chard, tomatoes, watermelons, zucchini

   Plant or sow outdoors: asparagus, beets, black-eyed susans, blackberries, blueberries, broccoli, cabbages, carrots, cauliflower, chives, cilantro, collard greens, figs, garlic, gladioli, grapes, grass seed, green onions, hollyhocks, kale, leeks, lettuce, onions, parsley, peas, poppies, potatoes, radishes, ranunculus, raspberries, rhubarb, roses, spinach, strawberries, swiss chard, turnips, wildflowers

3. March

   Start indoors: cantaloupes, cosmos, cucumbers, okra, pumpkins, ranunculus, watermelons, winter squash, zinnias, zucchini

   Plant or sow outdoors: asparagus, basil, beets, black-eyed susans, blackberries, broccoli, cabbages, cantaloupes, carrots, cauliflower, chives, cilantro, cucumbers, dahlias, dill, eggplants, figs, garden mums, ginger, gladioli, grapes, green beans, green onions, kentucky bluegrass, lavenders, leeks, lettuce, lilies, marigolds, mints, nasturtiums, onions, oregano, parsley, peppers, perennial ryegrass, petunias, potatoes, pumpkins, radishes, ranunculus, rosemary, roses, sage, snapdragons, spinach, sunflowers, sweet corn, sweet peas, swiss chard, tall fescue, thyme, tomatoes, turnips, watermelons, winter squash, zucchini

4. April

   Start indoors: zinnias

   Plant or sow outdoors: bermudagrass, cantaloupes, celery, centipedegrass, cosmos, cucumbers, eggplants, garden mums, ginger, green beans, green onions, okra, peanuts, peppers, pumpkins, st. augustinegrass, sunflowers, sweet potatoes, tomatoes, watermelons, winter squash, zinnias, zoysiagrass, zucchini

5. May

   Plant or sow outdoors: bermudagrass, centipedegrass, st. augustinegrass, zinnias, zoysiagrass

6. July

   Plant for fall: peppers, potatoes

7. August

   Plant for fall: bearded irises, broccoli, brussels sprouts, carrots, collard greens, cucumbers, green beans, lettuce, peas, peppers, potatoes, snapdragons, sweet corn, swiss chard, tomatoes, zucchini

8. September

   Plant for fall: azaleas, bearded irises, beets, broccoli, cabbages, carrots, cauliflower, clematis, collard greens, coneflowers, daylilies, hostas, hydrangeas, kale, lettuce, peas, radishes, roses, saffron, snapdragons, spinach, swiss chard, turnips, zucchini

9. October

   Plant for fall: azaleas, bearded irises, cabbages, cauliflower, clematis, coneflowers, crocuses, daffodils, daylilies, grass seed, hostas, hyacinths, hydrangeas, kale, kentucky bluegrass, lilies, ornamental alliums, peonies, perennial ryegrass, radishes, roses, saffron, spinach, tall fescue, tulips

10. November

    Start indoors: onions

    Plant for fall: crocuses, daffodils, garlic, hyacinths, lilies, ornamental alliums, peonies, tulips

11. December

    Start indoors: broccoli, cauliflower, collard greens, kale, leeks, onions, petunias, ranunculus

Frost dates and zones by ZIP code in Columbia

All 9 of Columbia's main ZIP codes take their frost dates from Columbia Univ Of Sc, so the dates on this page apply across the city. Every one of them is in zone 8b.

Planting dates for popular crops in Columbia

Nearby cities

• Rock Hill, SC zone 8a, last frost Mar 27
• Charlotte, NC zone 8a, last frost Mar 30
• Augusta-Richmond County, GA zone 8b, last frost Mar 23
• Summerville, SC zone 8b, last frost Mar 22
• Gastonia, NC zone 8a, last frost Mar 24
• Goose Creek, SC zone 8b, last frost Feb 4