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Last and first frost dates in Charleston

United States

In Charleston the last spring frost usually comes around 4 February and the first autumn frost around 20 December, which leaves about 319 frost-free days (median of 2016–2025). Tomato seedlings can go into open ground from 11 February to 30 August.

Last spring frostaround 4 February
First autumn frostaround 20 December
Frost-free days319 days
Hardiness zone (USDA-equivalent)official USDA map: 9a

Median of 2016–2025 for the 25 km grid cell of the city: the last day at or below 0 °C in spring and the first in autumn (ERA5 reanalysis via Open-Meteo). In a cold year a frost can come a week or two later — Greenly warns 48 hours ahead.

When is the last frost in Charleston?

The last frost in Charleston usually comes around 4 February: that is the median of 2016–2025, so in about half of those years the last night at or below 0 °C came later. Hardy crops start before it and frost-tender ones only after it: in the table below arugula can go into open ground from 14 January, while corn waits until 11 February. The first autumn frost follows around 20 December, about 319 days later: harvest or cover frost-tender crops before then.

When to sow and plant

CropSow for seedlingsPlant out in a greenhouseOpen ground
Achocha12 December – 11 September21 January – 21 October11 February – 21 October
Ageratumfrom 26 November—from 11 February
Arugula——sow 14 January – 15 November
Basil12 January – 18 October19 February – 25 November12 March – 25 November
Beet——sow 14 January – 21 October
Bell Pepper21 December – 1 July19 February – 30 August12 March – 30 August
Black-eyed Susanfrom 20 November—from 11 February
Bok Choy17 December – 29 October21 January – 3 December11 February – 3 December
Borage——sow 11 February – 26 October
Broad bean——sow 14 January – 11 September
Broccoli——sow 14 January – 4 September
Brussels Sprouts9 November – 2 August24 December – 16 September14 January – 16 September
Busy Lizziefrom 19 November—from 11 February
Cabbage——sow 14 January – 12 August
Calendula——sow from 14 January
Carrot——sow 14 January – 27 September
Cauliflower12 November – 4 September24 December – 16 October14 January – 16 October
Celeriac5 November – 2 July21 January – 17 September11 February – 17 September
Celery5 November – 12 July21 January – 27 September11 February – 27 September
Celosiafrom 17 Decemberfrom 31 Januaryfrom 21 February
Chamomile——sow 14 January – 16 October
Chayote25 October – 25 June21 January – 21 September11 February – 21 September
Chickpea——sow 14 January – 1 September
Chicory29 November – 26 September—14 January – 21 October
Chili Pepper21 December – 7 August19 February – 6 October12 March – 6 October
China asterfrom 29 Decemberfrom 19 Februaryfrom 12 March
Chives——sow 14 January – 7 October
Cilantro——sow 14 January – 17 October
Corn——sow 11 February – 1 September
Corn poppy——sow from 14 January
Cosmosfrom 17 Decemberfrom 31 Januaryfrom 21 February
Cucumber22 January – 7 September19 February – 5 October12 March – 5 October
Daikon——sow 14 January – 14 October
Delphiniumfrom 26 October—from 14 January
Dill——sow 14 January – 27 October
Edging lobeliafrom 19 November—from 11 February
Eggplant21 December – 1 July19 February – 30 August12 March – 30 August
Florence fennel7 December – 11 September21 January – 26 October11 February – 26 October
Foxglovefrom 8 October—from 14 January
Garden sorrel——sow 14 January – 15 October
Green Beans——sow 21 February – 9 September
Hollyhock——sow from 14 January
Hyssop——sow 14 January – 7 September
Kale——sow 14 January – 9 October
Kiwano20 December – 14 September21 January – 16 October11 February – 16 October
Kohlrabi——sow 14 January – 19 October
Leek15 October – 23 June24 December – 1 September14 January – 1 September
Lemon balm——sow 14 January – 11 October
Lettuce——sow 14 January – 24 October
Lisianthusfrom 28 Septemberfrom 24 Decemberfrom 14 January
Lovage——sow from 14 January
Luffa8 January – 9 July19 February – 20 August12 March – 20 August
Marigoldfrom 10 Decemberfrom 21 Januaryfrom 11 February
Marjoram21 December – 26 September—12 March – 25 November
Melon22 January – 25 August19 February – 22 September12 March – 22 September
Microgreens——sow 21 February – 6 December
Moringa23 January – 1 October19 March – 25 November9 April – 25 November
Moss rosefrom 26 November—from 11 February
Mustard greens——sow 14 January – 5 November
Napa cabbage19 December – 6 October21 January – 8 November11 February – 8 November
Nasturtiumfrom 14 Decemberfrom 21 Januaryfrom 11 February
Okra8 January – 19 September19 February – 31 October12 March – 31 October
Oregano25 October – 16 September24 December – 15 November14 January – 15 November
Pansyfrom 29 Octoberfrom 24 Decemberfrom 14 January
Parsley——sow 14 January – 5 October
Parsnip——sow 14 January – 24 August
Peanut13 January – 15 August19 February – 21 September12 March – 21 September
Peas——sow 14 January – 7 October
Petuniafrom 18 Decemberfrom 19 Februaryfrom 12 March
Physalis7 December – 12 August21 January – 26 September11 February – 26 September
Pumpkin8 January – 14 July19 February – 25 August12 March – 25 August
Purple coneflowerfrom 23 October—from 14 January
Radish——sow 14 January – 20 November
Sage5 November – 12 September24 December – 31 October14 January – 31 October
Scarlet sagefrom 30 November—from 11 February
Snapdragonfrom 20 Octoberfrom 24 Decemberfrom 14 January
Soybean——sow 12 March – 1 October
Spinach——sow 14 January – 26 October
Stevia3 December – 3 August21 January – 21 September11 February – 21 September
Stock——sow from 14 January
Sunflower——sow from 21 February
Sweet alyssum——sow from 14 January
Sweet Corn30 December – 26 September21 January – 18 October11 February – 18 October
Sweet peafrom 12 Novemberfrom 24 Decemberfrom 14 January
Sweet William——sow from 14 January
Swiss Chard——sow 14 January – 21 October
Thyme——sow 14 January – 1 September
Tomato30 November – 9 July21 January – 30 August11 February – 30 August
Turnip——sow 14 January – 23 October
Watercress——sow 14 January – 3 November
Watermelon22 January – 13 August19 February – 10 September12 March – 10 September
Zinniafrom 12 Februaryfrom 19 Marchfrom 9 April
Zucchini29 January – 12 September19 February – 3 October12 March – 3 October

Planting out: a week after the last frost once the soil is warm enough for the crop; frost-hardy crops three weeks before it; an unheated greenhouse three weeks earlier. Seedlings are sown so they are ready on that day. Each window starts on the Greenly calendar date and ends on the last day that still leaves the crop’s days to harvest (from its card) before the average first autumn frost, plus six weeks of picking for crops harvested over weeks (tomatoes, peppers, aubergines, cucumbers, courgettes, pumpkins, watermelons, beans) — our rule; earlier in the window is safer.

What planting zone is Charleston?

The official USDA map (2023, 1991–2020 data) puts the centre of Charleston (ZIP 29401) in zone 9a. Zone 9a stands for an average coldest night of 20 to 25 °F (-6.7 to -3.9 °C), so perennials hardy to zone 9a or a colder zone should come through a typical winter here.

Check the official USDA map for Charleston: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map.

When the soil warms up in Charleston

The day the top 7 cm of soil first averages each temperature over a week, median of 2016–2025 (ERA5 via Open-Meteo).

SoilDateAgainst the last spring frost
5 °Calready in the first week of January—
10 °Calready in the first week of January—
15 °C11 February7 days later
18 °C12 March36 days later

Frost dates near Charleston

Of the nearest cities on our list, the last spring frost ends earliest in Jacksonville (23 January) and latest in Charlotte (19 March).

CityDistanceLast spring frostFirst autumn frost
Savannah135 km10 February24 December
Columbia170 km9 March29 November
Wilmington247 km8 March1 December
Charlotte285 km19 March13 November
Jacksonville318 km23 January27 December

Seeds, seedlings and markets in Charleston

Within 15 km of Charleston OpenStreetMap lists 7 garden centres, 5 markets and 3 farm shops (collected 20 October 2026). The nearest garden centre to the city centre is Roots and Shoots Nursery, 8 km away.

Places: © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL.

What to grow at home in winter in Charleston

Frosts in Charleston usually come from about 20 December to about 4 February. These plants have indoor care in their Greenly cards and are harvested quickly, so they can be sown on a windowsill in winter.

Weather in Charleston by month

Average weather in Charleston over 2016–2025: the warmest month is July. Months that average 20 °C or more by day: March–October (20.1–31 °C). Months that average 30 °C or more by day: July (31 °C). No month averages below 0 °C at night; the coldest nights, in January, average 6.3 °C. About 1383 mm of rain falls in a year, on 138 days; August is the wettest month (201 mm) and November the driest (76 mm).

MonthDay, °CNight, °CRain, mmRainy days
January14.66.3789
February17.89.4809
March20.111.6808
April23.415997
May2719.410712
June29.522.814616
July3124.715320
August29.924.120120
September28.321.715513
October24.717877
November19.911.4768
December16.58.41219

Average of the daily highs and lows, rain per month and days with at least 1 mm (ERA5 via Open-Meteo, the same grid cell as the frost dates).

Planted in autumn

CropWhen to plant
Bearded Irisby 20 November
Crocusby 20 November
Daffodilby 20 November
Garlicby 20 November
Grape hyacinthby 20 November
Helleboreby 20 November
Hyacinthby 20 November
Lilyby 20 November
Ornamental onionby 20 November
Peonyby 20 November
Saffronby 20 November
Snowdropby 20 November
Tulipby 20 November
Wild garlicby 20 November

From a month before the first autumn frost, so the roots grow before winter, to the late-planting limit on each crop’s page (about two weeks before the ground freezes, by ten years of weather).