Frost dates for ZIP 29031 (Carlisle, SC)
Average last spring and first fall frost dates with 10%, 50% and 90% odds, from NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the nearest weather station, Santuck, SC (6 miles away).
- Average last spring frostApr 450% chance of a 32°F freeze after this date
- Average first fall frostNov 150% chance of a 32°F freeze by this date
- Growing season (frost-free)210 daysmedian, 32°F threshold
- USDA hardiness zone8a10 to 15°F avg. coldest night
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This week in your yard
As of Oct 17, 2026, from your frost dates, zone and soil temperature. Lawn timing · Vegetables · Pruning · Plants
Soil temperature now
2-inch depth
No soil station with a fresh reading within 62 miles.
4-inch depth
No soil station with a fresh reading within 62 miles.
Fall: Texas A&M AgriLife times fall pre-emergent (for winter weeds such as annual bluegrass) to soil cooling to about 70°F for several days. The 50–55°F band is the spring trigger. Always read and follow the product label.
7-day forecast and frost risk
The latest National Weather Service 7-day forecast and any Frost Advisory or Freeze Warning for 29031 load here. You can also open the NWS forecast for this ZIP.
Pre-emergent
No soil reading near this ZIP. Typical extension timing for your region: spring mid-February to early March; fall September to early October.
Fertilizer window
Lawn region: Southeast (warm, humid). Timing only; always follow the product label.
- Centipedegrass (warm-season): Spring: Not before mid-May (NC State); after full green-up (about May 20 here, using green-up about 3–4 weeks after your average last frost); Summer: Optional mid-summer feeding, especially on sandy coastal soils. Avoid: Early-spring feeding, frequent feeding and liming unless a soil test calls for it (centipede decline).
Plant now
Prune now
No frost-timed pruning windows are open this week.
Your average first frost is Nov 1: skip heavy pruning in the 6–8 weeks before it, because new growth may not harden off in time.
Spring-flowering shrubs are pruned right after their flowers fade, not by date. See the pruning guide.
Last spring frost odds
| Chance of a 32°F freeze after this date | Date |
|---|---|
| 90% (early: most years still freeze after this) | Mar 19 |
| 50% (the "average" last frost) | Apr 4 |
| 10% (cautious: only 1 year in 10 freezes later) | Apr 20 |
Most gardeners plant frost-tender crops (tomatoes, peppers, basil) after the 50% date, and closer to the 10% date for less risk.
First fall frost odds
| Chance the first 32°F freeze has happened by this date | Date |
|---|---|
| 10% (early: 1 year in 10 freezes this soon) | Oct 19 |
| 50% (the "average" first frost) | Nov 1 |
| 90% (late: most years have frozen by now) | Nov 13 |
Light frost, freeze and hard freeze
| Threshold | Last spring (50%) | First fall (50%) |
|---|---|---|
| 36°F (light frost possible on clear, calm nights) | Apr 15 | Oct 23 |
| 32°F (freeze) | Apr 4 | Nov 1 |
| 28°F (hard freeze) | Mar 24 | Nov 10 |
n/a means NOAA did not publish a date at that threshold for this station (usually because it rarely gets that cold).
Vegetable planting calendar for 29031
Dates count from your average last spring frost (Apr 4) and first fall frost (Nov 1). Half of years have a frost after the spring date, so give tender crops (tomatoes, peppers, squash) some slack.
| Crop | Start indoors | Spring planting | Fall planting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomato | Feb 7–21 | Apr 11–25 (transplant) | Jul 5–Aug 2 (transplant) |
| Pepper (sweet and hot) | Jan 24–Feb 7 | Apr 18–May 2 (transplant) | Jul 12–Aug 2 (transplant) |
| Eggplant | Jan 24–Feb 7 | Apr 18–May 2 (transplant) | Jul 12–Aug 2 (transplant) |
| Tomatillo | Feb 7–21 | Apr 11–25 (transplant) | – |
| Lettuce | Feb 7–21 | Mar 14–Apr 4 (transplant) Mar 7–Apr 18 (sow outdoors) | Sep 6–27 (transplant) Aug 23–Sep 20 (sowing) |
| Spinach | – | Feb 21–Mar 14 (sow outdoors) | Sep 6–27 (sowing) |
| Kale | Feb 7–21 | Mar 7–21 (transplant) Mar 7–21 (sow outdoors) | Aug 9–Sep 6 (transplant) Jul 26–Aug 23 (sowing) |
| Collards | Feb 7–21 | Mar 7–Apr 4 (transplant) Mar 7–Apr 4 (sow outdoors) | Aug 9–Sep 6 (transplant) Jul 26–Aug 23 (sowing) |
| Broccoli | Jan 24–Feb 7 | Mar 7–21 (transplant) | Jul 26–Aug 23 (transplant) |
| Cabbage | Jan 24–Feb 7 | Mar 7–21 (transplant) | Jul 26–Aug 23 (transplant) |
| Cauliflower | Jan 24–Feb 7 | Mar 21–Apr 4 (transplant) | Jul 26–Aug 23 (transplant) |
| Brussels sprouts | Jan 10–24 | Mar 7–21 (transplant) | Jul 12–Aug 2 (transplant) |
| Kohlrabi | Feb 7–21 | Mar 7–21 (transplant) Mar 7–21 (sow outdoors) | Aug 23–Sep 6 (sowing) |
| Bok choy / Asian greens | – | Mar 7–21 (sow outdoors) | Sep 6–20 (sowing) |
| Arugula | – | Mar 7–Apr 4 (sow outdoors) | Sep 6–Oct 4 (sowing) |
| Mustard greens | – | Mar 7–28 (sow outdoors) | Sep 6–20 (sowing) |
| Swiss chard | Feb 21–Mar 7 | Mar 21–Apr 11 (transplant) Mar 21–Apr 18 (sow outdoors) | Aug 23–Sep 6 (sowing) |
| Beet | – | Mar 7–Apr 4 (sow outdoors) | Aug 23–Sep 6 (sowing) |
| Carrot | – | Mar 14–Apr 11 (sow outdoors) | Aug 9–23 (sowing) |
| Radish | – | Feb 28–Apr 11 (sow outdoors) | Sep 20–Oct 4 (sowing) |
| Turnip | – | Mar 7–28 (sow outdoors) | Aug 23–Sep 6 (sowing) |
| Parsnip | – | Mar 14–Apr 4 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pea (garden, snap, snow) | – | Feb 7–Mar 7 (sow outdoors) | Aug 9–23 (sowing) |
| Onion (bulbing) | Jan 10–24 | Feb 21–Mar 7 (transplant) | – |
| Green onion / scallion | – | Feb 21–Mar 21 (sow outdoors) | Aug 23–Sep 6 (sowing) |
| Leek | Jan 10–24 | Mar 7–21 (transplant) | – |
| Garlic | – | – | Sep 20–Oct 18 (sowing) |
| Shallot | – | Feb 21–Mar 7 (transplant) | Sep 20–Oct 18 (sowing) |
| Potato | – | Mar 7–21 (transplant) | Jul 12–26 (transplant) |
| Sweet potato | – | Apr 25–May 9 (transplant) | – |
| Sweet corn | – | Apr 11–25 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, bush (snap) | – | Apr 11–25 (sow outdoors) | Aug 9–23 (sowing) |
| Bean, pole | – | Apr 11–25 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Lima bean | – | Apr 18–May 2 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Southern pea (cowpea, black-eyed pea) | – | Apr 25–May 16 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cucumber | Mar 7–14 | Apr 11–25 (transplant) Apr 11–25 (sow outdoors) | Aug 9–23 (sowing) |
| Summer squash / zucchini | Mar 7–14 | Apr 11–25 (transplant) Apr 11–25 (sow outdoors) | Aug 9–23 (sowing) |
| Winter squash | Mar 7–14 | Apr 11–25 (transplant) Apr 11–25 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pumpkin | – | Apr 11–25 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Watermelon | Mar 7–14 | Apr 18–May 2 (transplant) Apr 18–May 2 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cantaloupe / muskmelon | Mar 7–14 | Apr 18–May 2 (transplant) Apr 18–May 2 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Okra | Feb 21–Mar 7 | Apr 18–May 2 (transplant) Apr 18–May 2 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Celery | Jan 10–24 | Apr 11–18 (transplant) | – |
| Basil | Feb 21–Mar 7 | Apr 11–25 (transplant) Apr 11–25 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cilantro | – | Mar 21–Apr 18 (sow outdoors) | Sep 6–20 (sowing) |
| Parsley | Jan 24–Feb 7 | Mar 21–Apr 4 (transplant) Mar 14–Apr 4 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Dill | – | Apr 4–18 (sow outdoors) | Sep 6–20 (sowing) |
| Sunflower | – | Apr 4–18 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Asparagus (crowns) | – | Mar 7–21 (transplant) | – |
| Rhubarb (crowns) | – | Mar 7–21 (transplant) | – |
| Strawberry (plants) | – | Mar 7–21 (transplant) | Aug 23–Sep 20 (transplant) |
Typical ranges from university extension planting calendars, adjusted to your frost dates. Probabilities, not guarantees. Fall windows that would overlap spring planting are left out, as are fall crops of frost-tender plants where the frost-free season is under 210 days.
Where these numbers come from
Station: Santuck, SC (NOAA GHCN-Daily ID USC00387722), elevation 520 ft, 5.6 miles from the ZIP's center point. NOAA completeness flag: S (standard, 24+ years).
Nearby stations
| Station | Distance | Last frost (50%) | First frost (50%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Union 8 S, SC | 13 mi | Apr 6 | Oct 30 |
| Chester 1 SE, SC | 14 mi | Apr 3 | Nov 2 |
| Newberry, SC | 24 mi | Mar 31 | Nov 7 |
The average last-frost dates of these stations span 6 days, a rough guide to local variation. See data sources & methods.
Frost questions for 29031
When is the last frost in 29031?
The average (50% chance) last spring freeze of 32°F for ZIP 29031 is April 4. For a more cautious planting date, use April 20, when only 1 year in 10 still sees a later freeze.
When is the first frost in 29031?
The average first fall freeze is November 1. In 1 year in 10 it comes by October 19.
What hardiness zone is 29031?
ZIP 29031 is in USDA zone 8a (10 to 15°F average coldest winter night), per the 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map ZIP listing.
What is the soil temperature in 29031 right now?
This page shows the latest 2-inch and 4-inch soil temperature from the nearest public soil station (USDA SCAN, NOAA USCRN or TexMesonet), or a labeled estimate when no station is close, against the 50–55°F spring pre-emergent band.
Nearby ZIP codes
29379 Union 29178 Whitmire 29015 29364 Lockhart 29706 Chester 29742 Sharon 29014 29126 Pomaria
Other ZIP codes in Chester County
29055 29706 29712 29714 29724 29729 All Chester County frost dates · South Carolina frost dates
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