North Charleston, South Carolina planting calendar and frost dates
North Charleston is in USDA hardiness zone 8b. The last spring frost typically comes around March 7 and the first fall frost around November 27, giving about 266 frost-free days a year.
- Typical last frost
- March 7
- Typical first frost
- November 27
- Frost-free season
- 266 days
Frost dates in North Charleston
Last spring frost
- February 12Risky: frost later than this in 9 years out of 10
- March 7Typical: a later frost in half of years
- March 27Safe: a later frost only 1 year in 10
First fall frost
- November 8Risky: frost earlier than this 1 year in 10
- November 27Typical: an earlier frost in half of years
- December 21Late: frost before this in 9 years out of 10
The growing season between the typical last and first frosts is about 266 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 February 20 and returns around December 15.
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Charleston International Airport, 4.9 miles NW 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 North Charleston
January
Start indoors: black-eyed susans, broccoli, cabbages, cauliflower, celery, chives, cilantro, collard greens, eggplants, ginger, kale, leeks, lettuce, marigolds, nasturtiums, oregano, parsley, peppers, petunias, ranunculus, rosemary, sage, snapdragons, spinach, swiss chard, tomatoes
Plant or sow outdoors: asparagus, black-eyed susans, blueberries, garlic, grapes, grass seed, green onions, hollyhocks, kale, onions, peas, poppies, raspberries, rhubarb, strawberries, turnips, wildflowers
February
Start indoors: basil, cantaloupes, celery, cilantro, cucumbers, eggplants, marigolds, nasturtiums, peppers, pumpkins, ranunculus, tomatoes, watermelons, winter squash, zucchini
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
March
Start indoors: cantaloupes, cosmos, cucumbers, okra, pumpkins, watermelons, winter squash, zucchini
Plant or sow outdoors: asparagus, basil, beets, cantaloupes, carrots, 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, oregano, parsley, peppers, petunias, pumpkins, ranunculus, rosemary, roses, sage, snapdragons, spinach, sunflowers, sweet corn, sweet peas, swiss chard, tall fescue, thyme, tomatoes, watermelons, winter squash, zucchini
April
Start indoors: zinnias
Plant or sow outdoors: bermudagrass, cantaloupes, celery, centipedegrass, cosmos, cucumbers, eggplants, garden mums, green beans, green onions, okra, peanuts, peppers, pumpkins, st. augustinegrass, sweet potatoes, tomatoes, watermelons, winter squash, zoysiagrass, zucchini
May
Plant or sow outdoors: bermudagrass, centipedegrass, okra, st. augustinegrass, zinnias, zoysiagrass
August
Plant for fall: brussels sprouts, collard greens, cucumbers, lettuce, peppers, potatoes, sweet corn, swiss chard, tomatoes
September
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
October
Plant for fall: azaleas, bearded irises, beets, broccoli, cabbages, cauliflower, clematis, coneflowers, crocuses, daffodils, daylilies, grass seed, hostas, hyacinths, hydrangeas, kale, kentucky bluegrass, lettuce, lilies, ornamental alliums, peonies, perennial ryegrass, radishes, roses, saffron, snapdragons, spinach, tall fescue, tulips, turnips
November
Start indoors: onions
Plant for fall: crocuses, daffodils, daylilies, garlic, hyacinths, lilies, ornamental alliums, peonies, tulips
December
Start indoors: broccoli, cabbages, cauliflower, collard greens, kale, leeks, onions, oregano, parsley, petunias, ranunculus, rosemary, snapdragons
Plant for fall: crocuses, garlic, hyacinths, ornamental alliums, tulips
Frost dates and zones by ZIP code in North Charleston
North Charleston's 8 main ZIP codes take their frost dates from 2 different NOAA stations: the typical last frost ranges from February 4 in 29414 to March 7 in 29485. The hardiness zone is 8b in 29456, 29485, and 9a in 29404, 29405, 29406, 29414, 29418, 29420.
| ZIP code | Zone | Weather station | Typical last frost | Typical first frost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 29404 | 9a | Charleston International Airport, 4.9 mi NW | Mar 7 | Nov 27 |
| 29405 | 9a | Charleston International Airport, 4.9 mi NW | Mar 7 | Nov 27 |
| 29406 | 9a | Charleston International Airport, 4.9 mi NW | Mar 7 | Nov 27 |
| 29414 | 9a | Charleston City, 0.2 mi NNW | Feb 4 | Dec 30 |
| 29418 | 9a | Charleston International Airport, 4.9 mi NW | Mar 7 | Nov 27 |
| 29420 | 9a | Charleston International Airport, 4.9 mi NW | Mar 7 | Nov 27 |
| 29456 | 8b | Charleston International Airport, 4.9 mi NW | Mar 7 | Nov 27 |
| 29485 | 8b | Charleston International Airport, 4.9 mi NW | Mar 7 | Nov 27 |
Planting dates for popular crops in North Charleston
| Plant | Start indoors | Plant or sow outdoors | Fall planting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomatoes | Jan 26 to Feb 9 | Mar 23 to Apr 6 | Aug 14 to 21 |
| Strawberries | — | Jan 24 to Feb 7 | — |
| Lettuce | Jan 10 to 24 | Feb 28 to Mar 14 | Aug 28 to Oct 2 |
| Cilantro | Jan 24 to Feb 7 | Mar 7 to 14 | — |
| Basil | Feb 2 to 16 | Mar 23 to 30 | — |
| Potatoes | — | Feb 14 to 21 | Aug 7 to 14 |
| Garlic | — | Jan 24 to Feb 7 | Nov 27 to Dec 11 |
| Onions | Nov 15 to Dec 27 | Feb 7 to 21 | — |
| Cucumbers | Feb 23 to Mar 9 | Mar 23 to Apr 6 | Aug 28 to Sep 11 |
| Pumpkins | Feb 23 to Mar 9 | Mar 23 to Apr 6 | — |
| Peppers | Jan 5 to Feb 2 | Mar 23 to Apr 6 | Aug 7 to Sep 4 |
| Carrots | — | Feb 14 to Mar 7 | Sep 4 to 25 |
| Sweet Potatoes | — | Apr 13 to 20 | — |
| Watermelons | Feb 16 to Mar 2 | Mar 23 to Apr 6 | — |
| Sweet Corn | — | Mar 7 to 21 | Aug 21 to Sep 4 |
| Green Beans | — | Mar 23 to Apr 6 | Sep 4 to 11 |
| Zucchini | Feb 23 to Mar 9 | Mar 23 to Apr 6 | Sep 4 to 18 |
| Broccoli | Dec 20 to Jan 10 | Feb 7 to 21 | Sep 11 to Oct 9 |
| Peas | — | Jan 24 to Feb 7 | Sep 4 to 18 |
| Spinach | Jan 24 to 31 | Feb 28 to Mar 14 | Sep 18 to Oct 23 |
| Sunflowers | — | Mar 7 to 28 | — |
| Zinnias | Apr 5 to 12 | May 3 to 17 | — |
| Tulips | — | — | Oct 16 to Dec 11 |
| Daffodils | — | — | Oct 16 to Nov 27 |
| Grass Seed | — | Jan 24 to Feb 7 | Oct 16 to 30 |
Nearby cities
- Goose Creek, SC zone 8b, last frost Feb 4
- Charleston, SC zone 9a, last frost Feb 4
- Summerville, SC zone 8b, last frost Mar 22
- Mount Pleasant, SC zone 9a, last frost Feb 4
- Savannah, GA zone 9a, last frost Mar 2
- Columbia, SC zone 8b, last frost Mar 16
Planting in South CarolinaAbout zone 8bPrintable calendar for North Charleston
Questions
When is the last frost in North Charleston?
Around March 7 in a typical year, based on NOAA's 1991-2020 records for Charleston International Airport. There is still a 1 in 10 chance of frost after March 27.
What planting zone is North Charleston in?
USDA hardiness zone 8b (2023 map), with parts of the city in zone 9a. The zone tells you which perennials survive the winter; planting dates depend on frost dates instead.
When should I plant tomatoes in North Charleston?
Start seeds indoors January 26 to February 9 and set plants out March 23 to April 6; the safest date to plant out is after March 27.
When is the first frost in North Charleston?
Around November 27 in a typical year, and before November 8 about 1 year in 10.