South Carolina vegetable planting calendar 2027: frost dates and when to plant
In South Carolina, the average last spring frost is March 16 in Columbia and February 4 in Charleston (NOAA 1991-2020 normals). Below are planting dates for Columbia and Charleston for 27 common vegetables and herbs, worked out the way the Rowtime app does it: NOAA's average frost dates for the nearest weather station, with the planting rules of state extension guides. Dates are for the 2027 season.
Rowtime: Garden Planner works these dates out for your own ZIP code in South Carolina, shows where each one comes from, and recalculates when a planting slips. Get Rowtime on the App Store.
Dates are estimates. Check your local extension office before you plant, and use your own frost records if you have them. Dates shift by a week or more within a state, so pick the city closest to your conditions.
Columbia
When to plant tomatoes in Columbia?
In Columbia, South Carolina, the average last spring frost is March 16 and the average first fall frost is November 16 (NOAA 1991-2020 normals, COLUMBIA UNIV OF SC station, 1.1 km from ZIP 29201). For tomatoes, start seeds indoors February 18 to April 26, plant out seedlings March 1 to April 30 and plant out seedlings for fall July 1 to July 31, following University of Maryland Extension (Home & Garden Information Center) and Clemson Cooperative Extension Home & Garden Information Center. Dates are for the 2027 season; sources last checked October 24, 2026.
Frost dates for Columbia (29201)
- Last spring frost: Mar 16 on average, Apr 3 for a 10% risk of a later frost.
- First fall frost: Nov 16 on average, Nov 2 for a 10% risk of an earlier frost.
- USDA hardiness zone 8b (PRISM 2023 listing).
| Crop | When |
|---|---|
| Beet | Sow outdoors: Feb 15 to Mar 31 Sow outdoors for fall: Aug 15 to Sep 30 |
| Broccoli | Start seeds indoors: Jan 28 to Mar 6 Plant out seedlings: Mar 1 to Apr 10 Plant out seedlings for fall: Sep 1 to Sep 30 |
| Cabbage | Start seeds indoors: Jan 21 to Feb 17 Plant out seedlings: Feb 1 to Mar 31 Plant out seedlings for fall: Aug 15 to Sep 30 |
| Carrot | Sow outdoors: Feb 1 to Mar 15 Sow outdoors for fall: Sep 1 to Sep 15 |
| Cauliflower | Start seeds indoors: Feb 4 to Mar 6 Plant out seedlings: Mar 1 to Apr 10 Plant out seedlings for fall: Aug 15 to Aug 30 |
| Cucumber | Sow outdoors: Mar 15 to May 15 Sow outdoors for fall: Aug 1 to Aug 30 |
| Eggplant | Start seeds indoors: Mar 7 to Apr 5 Plant out seedlings: Apr 1 to Apr 30 Plant out seedlings for fall: Aug 1 to Aug 31 |
| Green onion | Plant out seedlings: Dec 27 to Mar 10 Plant out seedlings for fall: Sep 7 to Jan 6 |
| Kale | Sow outdoors: Feb 1 to Jun 15 Sow outdoors for fall: Aug 1 to Oct 30 |
| Lettuce | Sow outdoors: Feb 1 to Apr 15 Sow outdoors for fall: Sep 5 to Nov 1 |
| Melon and watermelon | Sow outdoors: Mar 15 to May 15 Sow outdoors for fall: Jul 1 to Jul 30 |
| Okra | Sow outdoors: May 1 to Jun 30 |
| Onion | Plant onion sets: Feb 1 to Mar 15 Plant onion sets for fall: Sep 15 to Nov 15 |
| Pea | Sow outdoors: Feb 1 to Mar 15 Sow outdoors for fall: Aug 15 to Nov 30 |
| Pepper | Start seeds indoors: Feb 18 to Mar 20 Plant out seedlings: Apr 1 to May 15 Plant out seedlings for fall: Jul 10 to Aug 10 |
| Potato | Plant seed potatoes: Feb 1 to Mar 31 |
| Snap bean | Sow outdoors: Apr 1 to Jun 1 Sow outdoors for fall: Aug 1 to Sep 1 |
| Spinach | Sow outdoors: Feb 1 to Apr 1 Sow outdoors for fall: Aug 15 to Oct 15 |
| Summer squash | Sow outdoors: Mar 15 to Jul 31 Sow outdoors for fall: Aug 1 to Aug 31 |
| Sweet corn | Sow outdoors: Mar 1 to Apr 15 |
| Sweet potato | Sprout slips indoors: Mar 21 to Apr 19 Plant out slips: Apr 15 to Jun 15 |
| Tomato | Start seeds indoors: Feb 18 to Apr 26 Plant out seedlings: Mar 1 to Apr 30 Plant out seedlings for fall: Jul 1 to Jul 31 |
| Winter squash and pumpkin | Sow outdoors: Mar 20 to May 1 Sow outdoors for fall: Aug 1 to Aug 31 |
| Basil | Plant outdoors: Apr 19 to Jul 19 |
| Cilantro | Sow outdoors: Jan 20 to Mar 19 Sow outdoors for fall: Sep 24 to Oct 8 |
| Dill | Sow outdoors: Mar 4 to Mar 19 Sow outdoors for fall: Aug 9 to Sep 23 |
| Parsley | Sow outdoors: Feb 2 to Mar 9 Sow outdoors for fall: Jul 27 to Oct 5 |
Charleston
When to plant tomatoes in Charleston?
In Charleston, South Carolina, the average last spring frost is February 4 and the average first fall frost is December 30 (NOAA 1991-2020 normals, CHARLESTON CITY station, 0.3 km from ZIP 29401). For tomatoes, start seeds indoors January 9 to March 17, plant out seedlings January 20 to March 21 and plant out seedlings for fall August 14 to September 13, following University of Maryland Extension (Home & Garden Information Center) and Clemson Cooperative Extension Home & Garden Information Center. Dates are for the 2027 season; sources last checked October 24, 2026.
Frost dates for Charleston (29401)
- Last spring frost: Feb 4 on average, Mar 4 for a 10% risk of a later frost.
- First fall frost: Dec 30 on average, Dec 2 for a 10% risk of an earlier frost.
- USDA hardiness zone 9a (PRISM 2023 listing).
| Crop | When |
|---|---|
| Beet | Sow outdoors: Jan 6 to Feb 19 Sow outdoors for fall: Sep 28 to Nov 13 |
| Broccoli | Start seeds indoors: Dec 19 to Jan 25 Plant out seedlings: Jan 20 to Mar 1 Plant out seedlings for fall: Oct 15 to Nov 13 |
| Cabbage | Start seeds indoors: Dec 12 to Jan 8 Plant out seedlings: Dec 23 to Feb 19 Plant out seedlings for fall: Sep 28 to Nov 13 |
| Carrot | Sow outdoors: Dec 23 to Feb 3 Sow outdoors for fall: Oct 15 to Oct 29 |
| Cauliflower | Start seeds indoors: Dec 26 to Jan 25 Plant out seedlings: Jan 20 to Mar 1 Plant out seedlings for fall: Sep 28 to Oct 13 |
| Cucumber | Sow outdoors: Feb 3 to Apr 5 Sow outdoors for fall: Sep 14 to Oct 13 |
| Eggplant | Start seeds indoors: Jan 26 to Feb 24 Plant out seedlings: Feb 20 to Mar 21 Plant out seedlings for fall: Sep 14 to Oct 14 |
| Green onion | Plant out seedlings: Nov 17 to Jan 29 Plant out seedlings for fall: Oct 21 to Feb 19 |
| Kale | Sow outdoors: Dec 23 to May 6 Sow outdoors for fall: Sep 14 to Dec 13 |
| Lettuce | Sow outdoors: Dec 23 to Mar 6 Sow outdoors for fall: Oct 19 to Dec 15 |
| Melon and watermelon | Sow outdoors: Feb 3 to Apr 5 Sow outdoors for fall: Aug 14 to Sep 12 |
| Okra | Sow outdoors: Mar 22 to May 21 |
| Onion | Plant onion sets: Dec 23 to Feb 3 Plant onion sets for fall: Oct 29 to Dec 29 |
| Pea | Sow outdoors: Dec 23 to Feb 3 Sow outdoors for fall: Sep 28 to Jan 13 |
| Pepper | Start seeds indoors: Jan 9 to Feb 8 Plant out seedlings: Feb 20 to Apr 5 Plant out seedlings for fall: Aug 23 to Sep 23 |
| Potato | Plant seed potatoes: Dec 23 to Feb 19 |
| Snap bean | Sow outdoors: Feb 20 to Apr 22 Sow outdoors for fall: Sep 14 to Oct 15 |
| Spinach | Sow outdoors: Dec 23 to Feb 20 Sow outdoors for fall: Sep 28 to Nov 28 |
| Summer squash | Sow outdoors: Feb 3 to Jun 21 Sow outdoors for fall: Sep 14 to Oct 14 |
| Sweet corn | Sow outdoors: Jan 20 to Mar 6 |
| Sweet potato | Sprout slips indoors: Feb 9 to Mar 10 Plant out slips: Mar 6 to May 6 |
| Tomato | Start seeds indoors: Jan 9 to Mar 17 Plant out seedlings: Jan 20 to Mar 21 Plant out seedlings for fall: Aug 14 to Sep 13 |
| Winter squash and pumpkin | Sow outdoors: Feb 8 to Mar 22 Sow outdoors for fall: Sep 14 to Oct 14 |
| Basil | Plant outdoors: Mar 10 to Jun 9 |
| Cilantro | Sow outdoors: Dec 11 to Feb 7 Sow outdoors for fall: Nov 7 to Nov 21 |
| Dill | Sow outdoors: Jan 23 to Feb 7 Sow outdoors for fall: Sep 22 to Nov 6 |
| Parsley | Sow outdoors: Dec 24 to Jan 28 Sow outdoors for fall: Sep 9 to Nov 18 |
Sources
Planting rules, in the order Rowtime tries them here:
- Clemson Cooperative Extension Home & Garden Information Center, Planning a Garden (Table 1, coastal plain columns) (HGIC 1256). Checked October 21, 2026.
- University of Georgia Extension, Vegetable Gardening in Georgia (Vegetable Planting Chart) (Circular 963). Checked October 21, 2026.
- Texas A&M AgriLife Extension, Texas Home Vegetable Gardening Guide (Table 8) (E-502). Checked October 20, 2026.
- University of Maryland Extension (Home & Garden Information Center), Vegetable Planting Calendar for Central Maryland. Checked October 24, 2026.
- NC State Extension, Central North Carolina Planting Calendar for Annual Vegetables, Fruits, and Herbs (AG-756-01). Checked October 21, 2026.
Frost dates, locations and zones:
- NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 annual/seasonal (freeze probabilities).
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2025 Gazetteer Files: ZIP Code Tabulation Areas.
- PRISM Group, Oregon State University / USDA ARS, 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map ZIP code listings. PRISM Group, Oregon State University, https://prism.oregonstate.edu, accessed 20 Oct 2026.
How the dates are worked out: a guide's rule such as "two weeks after the last frost" is applied to the station's NOAA date. Purdue's dates are 10% dates, so they are counted from the station's 10% date. When a guide gives no last date, the window closes early enough for the crop's longest days to harvest before the first fall frost. When a guide gives no first date for a fall planting, no fall window is shown. "Season too short" means the guide's window would close before it opens at this station's frost dates.
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