Frost dates for ZIP 29401 (Charleston, 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, Charleston City, SC (0 miles away).
- Average last spring frostFeb 450% chance of a 32°F freeze after this date
- Average first fall frostDec 3050% chance of a 32°F freeze by this date
- Growing season (frost-free)321 daysmedian, 32°F threshold
- USDA hardiness zone9a20 to 25°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
73°F 55°F or warmer
24-hour average · latest 69°F, as of Oct 17, 10:00 PM CDT
Estimate Not a measurement at this ZIP: distance-weighted average of McClellanville 7 NE (42 mi).
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 29401 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 Mar 22 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
- Kale: fall sowing Sep 23–Oct 21
- Kale: fall transplant Oct 7–Nov 4
- Collards: fall sowing Sep 23–Oct 21
- Collards: fall transplant Oct 7–Nov 4
- Broccoli: fall transplant Sep 23–Oct 21
- Cabbage: fall transplant Sep 23–Oct 21
- Cauliflower: fall transplant Sep 23–Oct 21
- Carrot: fall sowing Oct 7–21
- Pea (garden, snap, snow): fall sowing Oct 7–21
- Bean, bush (snap): fall sowing Oct 7–21
- Cucumber: fall sowing Oct 7–21
- Summer squash / zucchini: fall sowing Oct 7–21
Coming up in the next 3 weeks
- Lettuce: fall sowing Oct 21–Nov 18
- Lettuce: fall transplant Nov 4–25
- Spinach: fall sowing Nov 4–25
- Kohlrabi: fall sowing Oct 21–Nov 4
- Bok choy / Asian greens: fall sowing Nov 4–18
- Arugula: fall sowing Nov 4–Dec 2
- Mustard greens: fall sowing Nov 4–18
- Swiss chard: fall sowing Oct 21–Nov 4
- Beet: fall sowing Oct 21–Nov 4
- Turnip: fall sowing Oct 21–Nov 4
- Green onion / scallion: fall sowing Oct 21–Nov 4
- Cilantro: fall sowing Nov 4–18
Prune now
No frost-timed pruning windows are open this week.
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) | Jan 5 |
| 50% (the "average" last frost) | Feb 4 |
| 10% (cautious: only 1 year in 10 freezes later) | Mar 4 |
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) | Dec 2 |
| 50% (the "average" first frost) | Dec 30 |
| 90% (late: most years have frozen by now) | Jan 25 (next year) |
Light frost, freeze and hard freeze
| Threshold | Last spring (50%) | First fall (50%) |
|---|---|---|
| 36°F (light frost possible on clear, calm nights) | Feb 25 | Dec 10 |
| 32°F (freeze) | Feb 4 | Dec 30 |
| 28°F (hard freeze) | Jan 24 | Jan 8 (next year) |
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 29401
Dates count from your average last spring frost (Feb 4) and first fall frost (Dec 30). 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 | Dec 10–24 | Feb 11–25 (transplant) | Sep 2–30 (transplant) |
| Pepper (sweet and hot) | Nov 26–Dec 10 | Feb 18–Mar 4 (transplant) | Sep 9–30 (transplant) |
| Eggplant | Nov 26–Dec 10 | Feb 18–Mar 4 (transplant) | Sep 9–30 (transplant) |
| Tomatillo | Dec 10–24 | Feb 11–25 (transplant) | – |
| Lettuce | Dec 10–24 | Jan 14–Feb 4 (transplant) Jan 7–Feb 18 (sow outdoors) | Nov 4–25 (transplant) Oct 21–Nov 18 (sowing) |
| Spinach | – | Dec 24–Jan 14 (sow outdoors) | Nov 4–25 (sowing) |
| Kale | Dec 10–24 | Jan 7–21 (transplant) Jan 7–21 (sow outdoors) | Oct 7–Nov 4 (transplant) Sep 23–Oct 21 (sowing) |
| Collards | Dec 10–24 | Jan 7–Feb 4 (transplant) Jan 7–Feb 4 (sow outdoors) | Oct 7–Nov 4 (transplant) Sep 23–Oct 21 (sowing) |
| Broccoli | Nov 26–Dec 10 | Jan 7–21 (transplant) | Sep 23–Oct 21 (transplant) |
| Cabbage | Nov 26–Dec 10 | Jan 7–21 (transplant) | Sep 23–Oct 21 (transplant) |
| Cauliflower | Nov 26–Dec 10 | Jan 21–Feb 4 (transplant) | Sep 23–Oct 21 (transplant) |
| Brussels sprouts | Nov 12–26 | Jan 7–21 (transplant) | Sep 9–30 (transplant) |
| Kohlrabi | Dec 10–24 | Jan 7–21 (transplant) Jan 7–21 (sow outdoors) | Oct 21–Nov 4 (sowing) |
| Bok choy / Asian greens | – | Jan 7–21 (sow outdoors) | Nov 4–18 (sowing) |
| Arugula | – | Jan 7–Feb 4 (sow outdoors) | Nov 4–Dec 2 (sowing) |
| Mustard greens | – | Jan 7–28 (sow outdoors) | Nov 4–18 (sowing) |
| Swiss chard | Dec 24–Jan 7 | Jan 21–Feb 11 (transplant) Jan 21–Feb 18 (sow outdoors) | Oct 21–Nov 4 (sowing) |
| Beet | – | Jan 7–Feb 4 (sow outdoors) | Oct 21–Nov 4 (sowing) |
| Carrot | – | Jan 14–Feb 11 (sow outdoors) | Oct 7–21 (sowing) |
| Radish | – | Dec 31–Feb 11 (sow outdoors) | Nov 18–Dec 2 (sowing) |
| Turnip | – | Jan 7–28 (sow outdoors) | Oct 21–Nov 4 (sowing) |
| Parsnip | – | Jan 14–Feb 4 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pea (garden, snap, snow) | – | Dec 10–Jan 7 (sow outdoors) | Oct 7–21 (sowing) |
| Onion (bulbing) | Nov 12–26 | Dec 24–Jan 7 (transplant) | – |
| Green onion / scallion | – | Dec 24–Jan 21 (sow outdoors) | Oct 21–Nov 4 (sowing) |
| Leek | Nov 12–26 | Jan 7–21 (transplant) | – |
| Garlic | – | – | Nov 18–Dec 16 (sowing) |
| Shallot | – | Dec 24–Jan 7 (transplant) | Nov 18–Dec 16 (sowing) |
| Potato | – | Jan 7–21 (transplant) | Sep 9–23 (transplant) |
| Sweet potato | – | Feb 25–Mar 11 (transplant) | – |
| Sweet corn | – | Feb 11–25 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, bush (snap) | – | Feb 11–25 (sow outdoors) | Oct 7–21 (sowing) |
| Bean, pole | – | Feb 11–25 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Lima bean | – | Feb 18–Mar 4 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Southern pea (cowpea, black-eyed pea) | – | Feb 25–Mar 18 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cucumber | Jan 7–14 | Feb 11–25 (transplant) Feb 11–25 (sow outdoors) | Oct 7–21 (sowing) |
| Summer squash / zucchini | Jan 7–14 | Feb 11–25 (transplant) Feb 11–25 (sow outdoors) | Oct 7–21 (sowing) |
| Winter squash | Jan 7–14 | Feb 11–25 (transplant) Feb 11–25 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pumpkin | – | Feb 11–25 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Watermelon | Jan 7–14 | Feb 18–Mar 4 (transplant) Feb 18–Mar 4 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cantaloupe / muskmelon | Jan 7–14 | Feb 18–Mar 4 (transplant) Feb 18–Mar 4 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Okra | Dec 24–Jan 7 | Feb 18–Mar 4 (transplant) Feb 18–Mar 4 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Celery | Nov 12–26 | Feb 11–18 (transplant) | – |
| Basil | Dec 24–Jan 7 | Feb 11–25 (transplant) Feb 11–25 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cilantro | – | Jan 21–Feb 18 (sow outdoors) | Nov 4–18 (sowing) |
| Parsley | Nov 26–Dec 10 | Jan 21–Feb 4 (transplant) Jan 14–Feb 4 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Dill | – | Feb 4–18 (sow outdoors) | Nov 4–18 (sowing) |
| Sunflower | – | Feb 4–18 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Asparagus (crowns) | – | Jan 7–21 (transplant) | – |
| Rhubarb (crowns) | – | Jan 7–21 (transplant) | – |
| Strawberry (plants) | – | Jan 7–21 (transplant) | Oct 21–Nov 18 (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: Charleston City, SC (NOAA GHCN-Daily ID USW00013782), elevation 10 ft, 0.2 miles from the ZIP's center point. NOAA completeness flag: S (standard, 24+ years).
Nearby stations
| Station | Distance | Last frost (50%) | First frost (50%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sullivans Is, SC | 4 mi | Mar 13 | Nov 30 |
| Charleston Intl AP, SC | 11 mi | Mar 7 | Nov 27 |
| Summerville 4W, SC | 25 mi | Mar 22 | Nov 12 |
The average last-frost dates of these stations span 49 days, a rough guide to local variation. See data sources & methods.
Frost questions for 29401
When is the last frost in 29401?
The average (50% chance) last spring freeze of 32°F for ZIP 29401 is February 4. For a more cautious planting date, use March 4, when only 1 year in 10 still sees a later freeze.
When is the first frost in 29401?
The average first fall freeze is December 30. In 1 year in 10 it comes by December 2.
What hardiness zone is 29401?
ZIP 29401 is in USDA zone 9a (20 to 25°F average coldest winter night), per the 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map ZIP listing.
What is the soil temperature in 29401 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
29424 Charleston 29425 Charleston 29403 Charleston 29409 Charleston 29407 Charleston 29412 Charleston 29464 Mount Pleasant 29482 Sullivan's Island
Other ZIP codes in Charleston County
29403 29404 29405 29406 29407 29409 29412 29414 29418 29424 29425 29426 29429 29438 29439 29449 29451 29455 29456 29458 29464 29466 29470 29482 All Charleston County frost dates · South Carolina frost dates
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