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Greenville, South Carolina planting calendar and frost dates

Greenville is in USDA hardiness zone 8a. The last spring frost typically comes around March 16 and the first fall frost around November 20, giving about 250 frost-free days a year.

Hardiness zone
Zone 8a
Typical last frost
March 16
Typical first frost
November 20
Frost-free season
250 days

Frost dates in Greenville

Last spring frost

  • February 26Risky: frost later than this in 9 years out of 10
  • March 16Typical: a later frost in half of years
  • April 2Safe: a later frost only 1 year in 10

First fall frost

  • November 4Risky: frost earlier than this 1 year in 10
  • November 20Typical: an earlier frost in half of years
  • December 7Late: frost before this in 9 years out of 10

The growing season between the typical last and first frosts is about 250 days. Frost here means a low of 32°F at the weather station. A hard freeze (28°F), which damages most hardy crops too, typically ends around March 3 and returns around December 3.

NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Greenville Dwtn Airport, 2.7 miles NNW of the city center and 116 feet higher. 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 Greenville

  1. January

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

  2. February

    Start indoors: basil, black-eyed susans, cabbages, celery, chives, cilantro, collard greens, eggplants, ginger, lettuce, marigolds, nasturtiums, peppers, ranunculus, sage, snapdragons, spinach, swiss chard, tomatoes

    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: basil, cantaloupes, cosmos, cucumbers, okra, pumpkins, ranunculus, watermelons, winter squash, zucchini

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

  4. April

    Start indoors: zinnias

    Plant or sow outdoors: asparagus, basil, bermudagrass, cantaloupes, celery, centipedegrass, cosmos, cucumbers, eggplants, garden mums, ginger, green beans, green onions, kentucky bluegrass, okra, peanuts, peppers, perennial ryegrass, pumpkins, st. augustinegrass, sunflowers, sweet peas, sweet potatoes, tall fescue, tomatoes, watermelons, winter squash, zoysiagrass, zucchini

  5. May

    Plant or sow outdoors: bermudagrass, celery, centipedegrass, cosmos, green onions, okra, peanuts, st. augustinegrass, zinnias, zoysiagrass

  6. July

    Plant for fall: peppers, potatoes

  7. August

    Plant for fall: bearded irises, 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, cucumbers, daylilies, green beans, hostas, hydrangeas, kale, lettuce, peas, radishes, roses, saffron, snapdragons, spinach, swiss chard, turnips, zucchini

  9. October

    Plant for fall: azaleas, bearded irises, beets, broccoli, 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, turnips

  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

    Plant for fall: crocuses, garlic, hyacinths, ornamental alliums, tulips

Frost dates and zones by ZIP code in Greenville

Greenville's 5 main ZIP codes take their frost dates from 2 different NOAA stations: the typical last frost ranges from March 16 in 29601 to March 28 in 29615. Every one of them is in zone 8a.

ZIP codeZoneWeather stationTypical last frostTypical first frost
296018aGreenville Dwtn Airport, 3.2 mi EMar 16Nov 20
296058aGreenville Dwtn Airport, 5.1 mi NNEMar 16Nov 20
296078aGreenville Dwtn Airport, 2.7 mi NNWMar 16Nov 20
296098aGreenville Dwtn Airport, 5.2 mi SSEMar 16Nov 20
296158aGreer, 4.7 mi ENEMar 28Nov 7

Planting dates for popular crops in Greenville

PlantStart indoorsPlant or sow outdoorsFall planting
TomatoesFeb 8 to 22Apr 5 to 19Aug 7 to 14
Strawberries—Feb 2 to 16—
LettuceJan 19 to Feb 2Mar 9 to 23Aug 21 to Sep 25
CilantroFeb 2 to 16Mar 16 to 23—
BasilFeb 15 to Mar 1Apr 5 to 12—
Potatoes—Feb 26 to Mar 5Jul 31 to Aug 7
Garlic—Feb 2 to 16Nov 20 to Dec 4
OnionsNov 24 to Jan 5Feb 16 to Mar 2—
CucumbersMar 8 to 22Apr 5 to 19Aug 21 to Sep 4
PumpkinsMar 8 to 22Apr 5 to 19—
PeppersJan 18 to Feb 15Apr 5 to 19Jul 31 to Aug 28
Carrots—Feb 23 to Mar 16Aug 28 to Sep 18
Sweet Potatoes—Apr 22 to 29—
WatermelonsMar 1 to 15Apr 5 to 19—
Sweet Corn—Mar 16 to 30Aug 14 to 28
Green Beans—Apr 5 to 19Aug 28 to Sep 4
ZucchiniMar 8 to 22Apr 5 to 19Aug 28 to Sep 11
BroccoliDec 29 to Jan 19Feb 16 to Mar 2Sep 4 to Oct 2
Peas—Feb 2 to 16Aug 28 to Sep 11
SpinachFeb 2 to 9Mar 9 to 23Sep 11 to Oct 16
Sunflowers—Mar 16 to Apr 6—
ZinniasApr 13 to 20May 11 to 25—
Tulips——Oct 9 to Dec 4
Daffodils——Oct 9 to Nov 20
Grass Seed—Feb 2 to 16Oct 9 to 23

Nearby cities

Planting in South CarolinaAbout zone 8aPrintable calendar for Greenville

Questions

When is the last frost in Greenville?

Around March 16 in a typical year, based on NOAA's 1991-2020 records for Greenville Dwtn Airport. There is still a 1 in 10 chance of frost after April 2.

What planting zone is Greenville in?

USDA hardiness zone 8a (2023 map). The zone tells you which perennials survive the winter; planting dates depend on frost dates instead.

When should I plant tomatoes in Greenville?

Start seeds indoors February 8 to 22 and set plants out April 5 to 19.

When is the first frost in Greenville?

Around November 20 in a typical year, and before November 4 about 1 year in 10.