Fall in zone 8bPhoto: George Chernilevsky, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Frost dates for ZIP 29843 (Olar, 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, Barnwell 5 ENE, SC (6 miles away).
- Average last spring frostMar 2250% chance of a 32°F freeze after this date
- Average first fall frostNov 950% chance of a 32°F freeze by this date
- Growing season (frost-free)233 daysmedian, 32°F threshold
- USDA hardiness zone8b15 to 20°F avg. coldest night
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This week in your yard
As of Oct 18, 2026, from your frost dates, zone and soil temperature. Lawn timing · Vegetables · Pruning · Plants
Soil temperature now
2-inch depth
69°F 55°F or warmer
24-hour average · latest 65°F, as of Oct 18, 2:00 AM CDT
Measured at NOAA USCRN station Blackville 3 W, 15 mi away. Daily averages: Thu 72°, Fri 72°, Sat 70°.
4-inch depth
70°F 55°F or warmer
24-hour average · latest 68°F, as of Oct 18, 2:00 AM CDT
Measured at NOAA USCRN station Blackville 3 W, 15 mi away. Daily averages: Thu 72°, Fri 72°, Sat 71°.
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 29843 load here. You can also open the NWS forecast for this ZIP.
Pre-emergent
Soil is 70°F at 4 inches. Fall pre-emergent (annual bluegrass, winter weeds): window open as soil cools through the 70s and 60s.
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 7 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 9: 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 1 |
| 50% (the "average" last frost) | Mar 22 |
| 10% (cautious: only 1 year in 10 freezes later) | Apr 9 |
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 30 |
| 50% (the "average" first frost) | Nov 9 |
| 90% (late: most years have frozen by now) | Nov 25 |
Light frost, freeze and hard freeze
| Threshold | Last spring (50%) | First fall (50%) |
|---|---|---|
| 36°F (light frost possible on clear, calm nights) | Apr 4 | Nov 1 |
| 32°F (freeze) | Mar 22 | Nov 9 |
| 28°F (hard freeze) | Mar 8 | Nov 20 |
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 29843
Dates count from your average last spring frost (Mar 22) and first fall frost (Nov 9). 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 | Jan 25–Feb 8 | Mar 29–Apr 12 (transplant) | Jul 13–Aug 10 (transplant) |
| Pepper (sweet and hot) | Jan 11–25 | Apr 5–19 (transplant) | Jul 20–Aug 10 (transplant) |
| Eggplant | Jan 11–25 | Apr 5–19 (transplant) | Jul 20–Aug 10 (transplant) |
| Tomatillo | Jan 25–Feb 8 | Mar 29–Apr 12 (transplant) | – |
| Lettuce | Jan 25–Feb 8 | Mar 1–22 (transplant) Feb 22–Apr 5 (sow outdoors) | Sep 14–Oct 5 (transplant) Aug 31–Sep 28 (sowing) |
| Spinach | – | Feb 8–Mar 1 (sow outdoors) | Sep 14–Oct 5 (sowing) |
| Kale | Jan 25–Feb 8 | Feb 22–Mar 8 (transplant) Feb 22–Mar 8 (sow outdoors) | Aug 17–Sep 14 (transplant) Aug 3–31 (sowing) |
| Collards | Jan 25–Feb 8 | Feb 22–Mar 22 (transplant) Feb 22–Mar 22 (sow outdoors) | Aug 17–Sep 14 (transplant) Aug 3–31 (sowing) |
| Broccoli | Jan 11–25 | Feb 22–Mar 8 (transplant) | Aug 3–31 (transplant) |
| Cabbage | Jan 11–25 | Feb 22–Mar 8 (transplant) | Aug 3–31 (transplant) |
| Cauliflower | Jan 11–25 | Mar 8–22 (transplant) | Aug 3–31 (transplant) |
| Brussels sprouts | Dec 28–Jan 11 | Feb 22–Mar 8 (transplant) | Jul 20–Aug 10 (transplant) |
| Kohlrabi | Jan 25–Feb 8 | Feb 22–Mar 8 (transplant) Feb 22–Mar 8 (sow outdoors) | Aug 31–Sep 14 (sowing) |
| Bok choy / Asian greens | – | Feb 22–Mar 8 (sow outdoors) | Sep 14–28 (sowing) |
| Arugula | – | Feb 22–Mar 22 (sow outdoors) | Sep 14–Oct 12 (sowing) |
| Mustard greens | – | Feb 22–Mar 15 (sow outdoors) | Sep 14–28 (sowing) |
| Swiss chard | Feb 8–22 | Mar 8–29 (transplant) Mar 8–Apr 5 (sow outdoors) | Aug 31–Sep 14 (sowing) |
| Beet | – | Feb 22–Mar 22 (sow outdoors) | Aug 31–Sep 14 (sowing) |
| Carrot | – | Mar 1–29 (sow outdoors) | Aug 17–31 (sowing) |
| Radish | – | Feb 15–Mar 29 (sow outdoors) | Sep 28–Oct 12 (sowing) |
| Turnip | – | Feb 22–Mar 15 (sow outdoors) | Aug 31–Sep 14 (sowing) |
| Parsnip | – | Mar 1–22 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pea (garden, snap, snow) | – | Jan 25–Feb 22 (sow outdoors) | Aug 17–31 (sowing) |
| Onion (bulbing) | Dec 28–Jan 11 | Feb 8–22 (transplant) | – |
| Green onion / scallion | – | Feb 8–Mar 8 (sow outdoors) | Aug 31–Sep 14 (sowing) |
| Leek | Dec 28–Jan 11 | Feb 22–Mar 8 (transplant) | – |
| Garlic | – | – | Sep 28–Oct 26 (sowing) |
| Shallot | – | Feb 8–22 (transplant) | Sep 28–Oct 26 (sowing) |
| Potato | – | Feb 22–Mar 8 (transplant) | Jul 20–Aug 3 (transplant) |
| Sweet potato | – | Apr 12–26 (transplant) | – |
| Sweet corn | – | Mar 29–Apr 12 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, bush (snap) | – | Mar 29–Apr 12 (sow outdoors) | Aug 17–31 (sowing) |
| Bean, pole | – | Mar 29–Apr 12 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Lima bean | – | Apr 5–19 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Southern pea (cowpea, black-eyed pea) | – | Apr 12–May 3 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cucumber | Feb 22–Mar 1 | Mar 29–Apr 12 (transplant) Mar 29–Apr 12 (sow outdoors) | Aug 17–31 (sowing) |
| Summer squash / zucchini | Feb 22–Mar 1 | Mar 29–Apr 12 (transplant) Mar 29–Apr 12 (sow outdoors) | Aug 17–31 (sowing) |
| Winter squash | Feb 22–Mar 1 | Mar 29–Apr 12 (transplant) Mar 29–Apr 12 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pumpkin | – | Mar 29–Apr 12 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Watermelon | Feb 22–Mar 1 | Apr 5–19 (transplant) Apr 5–19 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cantaloupe / muskmelon | Feb 22–Mar 1 | Apr 5–19 (transplant) Apr 5–19 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Okra | Feb 8–22 | Apr 5–19 (transplant) Apr 5–19 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Celery | Dec 28–Jan 11 | Mar 29–Apr 5 (transplant) | – |
| Basil | Feb 8–22 | Mar 29–Apr 12 (transplant) Mar 29–Apr 12 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cilantro | – | Mar 8–Apr 5 (sow outdoors) | Sep 14–28 (sowing) |
| Parsley | Jan 11–25 | Mar 8–22 (transplant) Mar 1–22 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Dill | – | Mar 22–Apr 5 (sow outdoors) | Sep 14–28 (sowing) |
| Sunflower | – | Mar 22–Apr 5 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Asparagus (crowns) | – | Feb 22–Mar 8 (transplant) | – |
| Rhubarb (crowns) | – | Feb 22–Mar 8 (transplant) | – |
| Strawberry (plants) | – | Feb 22–Mar 8 (transplant) | Aug 31–Sep 28 (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: Barnwell 5 ENE, SC (NOAA GHCN-Daily ID USC00380490), elevation 245 ft, 6.0 miles from the ZIP's center point. NOAA completeness flag: R (representative, 10+ years).
Nearby stations
| Station | Distance | Last frost (50%) | First frost (50%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bamberg, SC | 11 mi | Mar 18 | Nov 12 |
| Allendale 2 NW, SC | 14 mi | Mar 28 | Nov 7 |
| Blackville 3 W, SC | 15 mi | Mar 20 | Nov 13 |
The average last-frost dates of these stations span 10 days, a rough guide to local variation. See data sources & methods.
Frost questions for 29843
When is the last frost in 29843?
The average (50% chance) last spring freeze of 32°F for ZIP 29843 is March 22. For a more cautious planting date, use April 9, when only 1 year in 10 still sees a later freeze.
When is the first frost in 29843?
The average first fall freeze is November 9. In 1 year in 10 it comes by October 30.
What hardiness zone is 29843?
ZIP 29843 is in USDA zone 8b (15 to 20°F average coldest winter night), per the 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map ZIP listing.
What is the soil temperature in 29843 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
29849 Ulmer 29042 Denmark 29003 Bamberg 29081 Ehrhardt 29812 Barnwell 29817 Blackville 29827 Fairfax 29082 Lodge
Other ZIP codes in Bamberg County
29003 29042 29081 All Bamberg County frost dates · South Carolina frost dates
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Free. One weekly email plus alerts when your ZIP has a frost or a soil-temperature change worth acting on. After you submit, Kit (our email provider) sends a confirmation email: check your email and click the link to confirm. You aren't subscribed until you do. We collect only your email address and ZIP, sent to Kit to deliver The Dial. Unsubscribe anytime.