Summerville, South Carolina planting calendar and frost dates
Summerville is in USDA hardiness zone 8b. The last spring frost typically comes around March 22 and the first fall frost around November 12, giving about 238 frost-free days a year.
- Typical last frost
- March 22
- Typical first frost
- November 12
- Frost-free season
- 238 days
Frost dates in Summerville
Last spring frost
- March 1Risky: frost later than this in 9 years out of 10
- March 22Typical: a later frost in half of years
- April 7Safe: a later frost only 1 year in 10
First fall frost
- October 29Risky: frost earlier than this 1 year in 10
- November 12Typical: an earlier frost in half of years
- December 3Late: frost before this in 9 years out of 10
The growing season between the typical last and first frosts is about 238 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 7 and returns around November 29.
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Summerville 4w, 0.5 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 Summerville
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, cauliflower, 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, cauliflower, chives, cilantro, collard greens, figs, garlic, gladioli, grapes, grass seed, green onions, 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, 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, grapes, green beans, green onions, lavenders, lilies, marigolds, mints, nasturtiums, okra, oregano, parsley, peanuts, peppers, petunias, pumpkins, rosemary, sage, st. augustinegrass, sunflowers, sweet corn, sweet potatoes, thyme, tomatoes, watermelons, winter squash, zoysiagrass, zucchini
May
Plant or sow outdoors: bermudagrass, celery, centipedegrass, cosmos, okra, peanuts, st. augustinegrass, sweet potatoes, zinnias, zoysiagrass
July
August
Plant for fall: bearded irises, broccoli, brussels sprouts, carrots, collard greens, cucumbers, green beans, lettuce, peas, peppers, snapdragons, sweet corn, swiss chard, tomatoes, zucchini
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
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
November
Start indoors: onions
Plant for fall: crocuses, daffodils, garlic, hyacinths, lilies, ornamental alliums, peonies, tulips
December
Start indoors: collard greens, leeks, onions, petunias, ranunculus
Frost dates and zones by ZIP code in Summerville
Summerville's 4 main ZIP codes take their frost dates from 2 different NOAA stations: the typical last frost ranges from March 7 in 29456 to March 22 in 29486. Every one of them is in zone 8b.
Planting dates for popular crops in Summerville
| Plant | Start indoors | Plant or sow outdoors | Fall planting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomatoes | Feb 10 to 24 | Apr 7 to 21 | Jul 30 to Aug 6 |
| Strawberries | — | Feb 8 to 22 | — |
| Lettuce | Jan 25 to Feb 8 | Mar 15 to 29 | Aug 13 to Sep 17 |
| Cilantro | Feb 8 to 22 | Mar 22 to 29 | — |
| Basil | Feb 17 to Mar 3 | Apr 7 to 14 | — |
| Potatoes | — | Mar 1 to 8 | Jul 23 to 30 |
| Garlic | — | Feb 8 to 22 | Nov 12 to 26 |
| Onions | Nov 30 to Jan 11 | Feb 22 to Mar 8 | — |
| Cucumbers | Mar 10 to 24 | Apr 7 to 21 | Aug 13 to 27 |
| Pumpkins | Mar 10 to 24 | Apr 7 to 21 | — |
| Peppers | Jan 20 to Feb 17 | Apr 7 to 21 | Jul 23 to Aug 20 |
| Carrots | — | Mar 1 to 22 | Aug 20 to Sep 10 |
| Sweet Potatoes | — | Apr 25 to May 2 | — |
| Watermelons | Mar 3 to 17 | Apr 7 to 21 | — |
| Sweet Corn | — | Mar 22 to Apr 5 | Aug 6 to 20 |
| Green Beans | — | Apr 7 to 21 | Aug 20 to 27 |
| Zucchini | Mar 10 to 24 | Apr 7 to 21 | Aug 20 to Sep 3 |
| Broccoli | Jan 4 to 25 | Feb 22 to Mar 8 | Aug 27 to Sep 24 |
| Peas | — | Feb 8 to 22 | Aug 20 to Sep 3 |
| Spinach | Feb 8 to 15 | Mar 15 to 29 | Sep 3 to Oct 8 |
| Sunflowers | — | Mar 22 to Apr 12 | — |
| Zinnias | Apr 15 to 22 | May 13 to 27 | — |
| Tulips | — | — | Oct 1 to Nov 26 |
| Daffodils | — | — | Oct 1 to Nov 12 |
| Grass Seed | — | Feb 8 to 22 | Oct 1 to 15 |
Nearby cities
- North Charleston, SC zone 8b, last frost Mar 7
- Goose Creek, SC zone 8b, last frost Feb 4
- Charleston, SC zone 9a, last frost Feb 4
- Mount Pleasant, SC zone 9a, last frost Feb 4
- Columbia, SC zone 8b, last frost Mar 16
- Savannah, GA zone 9a, last frost Mar 2
Planting in South CarolinaAbout zone 8bPrintable calendar for Summerville
Questions
When is the last frost in Summerville?
Around March 22 in a typical year, based on NOAA's 1991-2020 records for Summerville 4w. There is still a 1 in 10 chance of frost after April 7.
What planting zone is Summerville 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 Summerville?
Start seeds indoors February 10 to 24 and set plants out April 7 to 21.
When is the first frost in Summerville?
Around November 12 in a typical year, and before October 29 about 1 year in 10.