Rock Hill, South Carolina planting calendar and frost dates
Rock Hill is in USDA hardiness zone 8a. The last spring frost typically comes around March 27 and the first fall frost around November 5, giving about 225 frost-free days a year.
- Hardiness zone
- Zone 8a
- Typical last frost
- March 27
- Typical first frost
- November 5
- Frost-free season
- 225 days
Frost dates in Rock Hill
Last spring frost
- March 10Risky: frost later than this in 9 years out of 10
- March 27Typical: a later frost in half of years
- April 11Safe: a later frost only 1 year in 10
First fall frost
- October 24Risky: frost earlier than this 1 year in 10
- November 5Typical: an earlier frost in half of years
- November 23Late: frost before this in 9 years out of 10
The growing season between the typical last and first frosts is about 225 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 15 and returns around November 18.
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Winthrop Univ, 3.8 miles N 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 Rock Hill
January
Start indoors: black-eyed susans, broccoli, cabbages, cauliflower, 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, cauliflower, celery, chives, cilantro, collard greens, eggplants, ginger, lettuce, marigolds, nasturtiums, peppers, ranunculus, sage, snapdragons, spinach, swiss chard, tomatoes
Plant or sow outdoors: beets, black-eyed susans, blackberries, blueberries, broccoli, cauliflower, chives, cilantro, collard greens, figs, garlic, gladioli, grapes, grass seed, hollyhocks, kale, leeks, onions, peas, poppies, 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, collard greens, dahlias, dill, figs, garden mums, 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, cantaloupes, celery, chives, cilantro, cosmos, cucumbers, dahlias, dill, eggplants, garden mums, ginger, gladioli, grapes, green beans, green onions, kentucky bluegrass, lavenders, lettuce, lilies, marigolds, mints, nasturtiums, okra, oregano, parsley, peanuts, peppers, perennial ryegrass, petunias, pumpkins, ranunculus, rosemary, sage, spinach, sunflowers, sweet corn, sweet peas, sweet potatoes, swiss chard, tall fescue, thyme, tomatoes, watermelons, winter squash, zucchini
May
Plant or sow outdoors: bermudagrass, celery, centipedegrass, cosmos, green onions, okra, peanuts, st. augustinegrass, sweet potatoes, zinnias, zoysiagrass
June
Plant or sow outdoors: bermudagrass, centipedegrass, st. augustinegrass, zoysiagrass
July
Plant for fall: brussels sprouts, peppers, potatoes, sweet corn, tomatoes
August
Plant for fall: bearded irises, beets, broccoli, brussels sprouts, cabbages, carrots, cauliflower, collard greens, cucumbers, green beans, lettuce, peas, peppers, radishes, snapdragons, spinach, sweet corn, swiss chard, turnips, zucchini
September
Plant for fall: azaleas, bearded irises, beets, broccoli, cabbages, carrots, 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, swiss chard, tall fescue, tulips, turnips
October
Plant for fall: cabbages, cauliflower, crocuses, daffodils, daylilies, grass seed, hostas, hyacinths, kale, kentucky bluegrass, lilies, ornamental alliums, peonies, perennial ryegrass, radishes, saffron, spinach, tall fescue, tulips
November
Plant for fall: crocuses, daffodils, garlic, hyacinths, lilies, ornamental alliums, peonies, tulips
December
Start indoors: onions
Frost dates and zones by ZIP code in Rock Hill
Rock Hill's 2 main ZIP codes take their frost dates from 2 different NOAA stations: the typical last frost ranges from March 27 in 29730 to March 31 in 29732. Every one of them is in zone 8a.
Planting dates for popular crops in Rock Hill
| Plant | Start indoors | Plant or sow outdoors | Fall planting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomatoes | Feb 10 to 24 | Apr 7 to 21 | Jul 23 to 30 |
| Strawberries | — | Feb 13 to 27 | — |
| Lettuce | Jan 30 to Feb 13 | Mar 20 to Apr 3 | Aug 6 to Sep 10 |
| Cilantro | Feb 13 to 27 | Mar 27 to Apr 3 | — |
| Basil | Feb 17 to Mar 3 | Apr 7 to 14 | — |
| Potatoes | — | Mar 6 to 13 | Jul 16 to 23 |
| Garlic | — | Feb 13 to 27 | Nov 5 to 19 |
| Onions | Dec 5 to Jan 16 | Feb 27 to Mar 13 | — |
| Cucumbers | Mar 10 to 24 | Apr 7 to 21 | Aug 6 to 20 |
| Pumpkins | Mar 13 to 27 | Apr 10 to 24 | — |
| Peppers | Jan 20 to Feb 17 | Apr 7 to 21 | Jul 16 to Aug 13 |
| Carrots | — | Mar 6 to 27 | Aug 13 to Sep 3 |
| Sweet Potatoes | — | Apr 26 to May 3 | — |
| Watermelons | Mar 3 to 17 | Apr 7 to 21 | — |
| Sweet Corn | — | Mar 27 to Apr 10 | Jul 30 to Aug 13 |
| Green Beans | — | Apr 7 to 21 | Aug 13 to 20 |
| Zucchini | Mar 10 to 24 | Apr 7 to 21 | Aug 13 to 27 |
| Broccoli | Jan 9 to 30 | Feb 27 to Mar 13 | Aug 20 to Sep 17 |
| Peas | — | Feb 13 to 27 | Aug 13 to 27 |
| Spinach | Feb 13 to 20 | Mar 20 to Apr 3 | Aug 27 to Oct 1 |
| Sunflowers | — | Mar 27 to Apr 17 | — |
| Zinnias | Apr 19 to 26 | May 17 to 31 | — |
| Tulips | — | — | Sep 24 to Nov 19 |
| Daffodils | — | — | Sep 24 to Nov 5 |
| Grass Seed | — | Feb 13 to 27 | Sep 24 to Oct 8 |
Nearby cities
- Charlotte, NC zone 8a, last frost Mar 30
- Gastonia, NC zone 8a, last frost Mar 24
- Huntersville, NC zone 8a, last frost Apr 1
- Concord, NC zone 8a, last frost Apr 1
- Kannapolis, NC zone 8a, last frost Apr 1
- Mooresville, NC zone 8a, last frost Apr 9
Planting in South CarolinaAbout zone 8aPrintable calendar for Rock Hill
Questions
When is the last frost in Rock Hill?
Around March 27 in a typical year, based on NOAA's 1991-2020 records for Winthrop Univ. There is still a 1 in 10 chance of frost after April 11.
What planting zone is Rock Hill 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 Rock Hill?
Start seeds indoors February 10 to 24 and set plants out April 7 to 21; the safest date to plant out is after April 11.
When is the first frost in Rock Hill?
Around November 5 in a typical year, and before October 24 about 1 year in 10.