Frost dates for Charleston, South Carolina
In a typical year, Charleston’s last spring frost lands around Feb 4 and the first fall frost around Dec 30, a growing season of about 329 days. These are odds drawn from 30-year NOAA climate normals, not a promise. USDA zone 9a.
Right now the growing season is open, with about 66 days until the typical first fall frost.
| Odds | Last spring frost | First fall frost |
|---|---|---|
| 10 percent | Jan 5 | Dec 2 |
| 50 percent | Feb 4 | Dec 30 |
| 90 percent | Mar 4 | Jan 25 |
A 10 percent year is an early year, a 90 percent year a late one. Frost-sensitive planting usually waits for the 90 percent side of the last-frost band.
Soil in Charleston is typically around 67°F at 4 inches this time of year, estimated from the last two weeks of normal air temperatures.
Plantable now in Charleston
- Radish (Cherry Belle)
- Lettuce (Buttercrunch)
- Beet (Detroit Dark Red)
- Spinach (Space)
- Swiss chard (Bright Lights)
- Kale (Lacinato)
- Bok choy (Joi Choi)
- Pea (Sugar Ann)
Timing comes from the same temperature engine the app uses, run against Charleston’s normals for today.
Common questions
When is the last frost in Charleston, South Carolina?
Charleston’s last spring frost falls around February 4 in a typical year. One year in ten it is done by January 5, and one year in ten frost holds on until March 4. Frost-sensitive planting usually waits for the late side of that band.
When is the first fall frost in Charleston?
The first fall frost arrives around December 30 in a typical year, as early as December 2 in an early year and as late as January 25 in a late one.
How long is the growing season in Charleston?
About 329 days, counted between the typical last spring frost and the typical first fall frost.
What USDA zone is Charleston in?
Charleston is in USDA hardiness zone 9a under the 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map.
Dates come from 30-year NOAA climate normals for the nearest reporting station. They describe odds, not a forecast.
Nearby cities
- North Charleston, SC (around Mar 7 to Nov 27)
- Mount Pleasant, SC (around Mar 13 to Nov 30)
- Hilton Head Island, SC (around Mar 3 to Dec 9)
- Savannah, GA (around Mar 2 to Nov 30)
- Florence, SC (around Mar 19 to Nov 13)
Row & Bed is a plant reference built around your garden: your zone, your frost dates, your forecast, and a cited page for every variety in your beds.
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