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
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
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
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
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
May
Plant or sow outdoors: bermudagrass, celery, centipedegrass, cosmos, green onions, okra, peanuts, st. augustinegrass, zinnias, zoysiagrass
July
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
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
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
November
Start indoors: onions
Plant for fall: crocuses, daffodils, garlic, hyacinths, lilies, ornamental alliums, peonies, tulips
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 code | Zone | Weather station | Typical last frost | Typical first frost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 29601 | 8a | Greenville Dwtn Airport, 3.2 mi E | Mar 16 | Nov 20 |
| 29605 | 8a | Greenville Dwtn Airport, 5.1 mi NNE | Mar 16 | Nov 20 |
| 29607 | 8a | Greenville Dwtn Airport, 2.7 mi NNW | Mar 16 | Nov 20 |
| 29609 | 8a | Greenville Dwtn Airport, 5.2 mi SSE | Mar 16 | Nov 20 |
| 29615 | 8a | Greer, 4.7 mi ENE | Mar 28 | Nov 7 |
Planting dates for popular crops in Greenville
| Plant | Start indoors | Plant or sow outdoors | Fall planting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomatoes | Feb 8 to 22 | Apr 5 to 19 | Aug 7 to 14 |
| Strawberries | — | Feb 2 to 16 | — |
| Lettuce | Jan 19 to Feb 2 | Mar 9 to 23 | Aug 21 to Sep 25 |
| Cilantro | Feb 2 to 16 | Mar 16 to 23 | — |
| Basil | Feb 15 to Mar 1 | Apr 5 to 12 | — |
| Potatoes | — | Feb 26 to Mar 5 | Jul 31 to Aug 7 |
| Garlic | — | Feb 2 to 16 | Nov 20 to Dec 4 |
| Onions | Nov 24 to Jan 5 | Feb 16 to Mar 2 | — |
| Cucumbers | Mar 8 to 22 | Apr 5 to 19 | Aug 21 to Sep 4 |
| Pumpkins | Mar 8 to 22 | Apr 5 to 19 | — |
| Peppers | Jan 18 to Feb 15 | Apr 5 to 19 | Jul 31 to Aug 28 |
| Carrots | — | Feb 23 to Mar 16 | Aug 28 to Sep 18 |
| Sweet Potatoes | — | Apr 22 to 29 | — |
| Watermelons | Mar 1 to 15 | Apr 5 to 19 | — |
| Sweet Corn | — | Mar 16 to 30 | Aug 14 to 28 |
| Green Beans | — | Apr 5 to 19 | Aug 28 to Sep 4 |
| Zucchini | Mar 8 to 22 | Apr 5 to 19 | Aug 28 to Sep 11 |
| Broccoli | Dec 29 to Jan 19 | Feb 16 to Mar 2 | Sep 4 to Oct 2 |
| Peas | — | Feb 2 to 16 | Aug 28 to Sep 11 |
| Spinach | Feb 2 to 9 | Mar 9 to 23 | Sep 11 to Oct 16 |
| Sunflowers | — | Mar 16 to Apr 6 | — |
| Zinnias | Apr 13 to 20 | May 11 to 25 | — |
| Tulips | — | — | Oct 9 to Dec 4 |
| Daffodils | — | — | Oct 9 to Nov 20 |
| Grass Seed | — | Feb 2 to 16 | Oct 9 to 23 |
Nearby cities
- Greer, SC zone 8a, last frost Mar 28
- Asheville, NC zone 7b, last frost Apr 6
- Gastonia, NC zone 8a, last frost Mar 24
- Rock Hill, SC zone 8a, last frost Mar 27
- Athens-Clarke County, GA zone 8a, last frost Mar 23
- Charlotte, NC zone 8a, last frost Mar 30
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.