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Last and first frost dates in Columbia

United States

In Columbia the last spring frost usually comes around 9 March and the first autumn frost around 29 November, which leaves about 265 frost-free days (median of 2016–2025). Tomato seedlings can go into open ground from 16 March to 9 August.

Last spring frostaround 9 March
First autumn frostaround 29 November
Frost-free days265 days

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 Columbia?

The last frost in Columbia usually comes around 9 March: 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 16 February, while corn waits until 16 March. The first autumn frost follows around 29 November, about 265 days later: harvest or cover frost-tender crops before then.

When to sow and plant

CropSow for seedlingsPlant out in a greenhouseOpen ground
Achocha14 January – 21 August23 February – 30 September16 March – 30 September
Ageratumfrom 29 December—from 16 March
Arugula——sow 16 February – 25 October
Basil28 January – 27 September7 March – 4 November28 March – 4 November
Beet——sow 16 February – 30 September
Bell Pepper6 January – 10 June7 March – 9 August28 March – 9 August
Black-eyed Susanfrom 23 December—from 16 March
Bok Choy19 January – 8 October23 February – 12 November16 March – 12 November
Borage——sow 16 March – 5 October
Broad bean——sow 16 February – 21 August
Broccoli——sow 16 February – 14 August
Brussels Sprouts12 December – 12 July26 January – 26 August16 February – 26 August
Busy Lizziefrom 22 December—from 16 March
Cabbage——sow 16 February – 22 July
Calendula——sow from 16 February
Carrot——sow 16 February – 6 September
Cauliflower15 December – 14 August26 January – 25 September16 February – 25 September
Celeriac8 December – 11 June23 February – 27 August16 March – 27 August
Celery8 December – 21 June23 February – 6 September16 March – 6 September
Celosiafrom 9 Januaryfrom 23 Februaryfrom 16 March
Chamomile——sow 16 February – 25 September
Chayote27 November – 4 June23 February – 31 August16 March – 31 August
Chickpea——sow 16 February – 11 August
Chicory1 January – 5 September—16 February – 30 September
Chili Pepper6 January – 17 July7 March – 15 September28 March – 15 September
China asterfrom 14 Januaryfrom 7 Marchfrom 28 March
Chives——sow 16 February – 16 September
Cilantro——sow 16 February – 26 September
Corn——sow 16 March – 11 August
Corn poppy——sow from 16 February
Cosmosfrom 9 Januaryfrom 23 Februaryfrom 16 March
Cucumber7 February – 17 August7 March – 14 September28 March – 14 September
Daikon——sow 16 February – 23 September
Delphiniumfrom 28 November—from 16 February
Dill——sow 16 February – 6 October
Edging lobeliafrom 22 December—from 16 March
Eggplant6 January – 10 June7 March – 9 August28 March – 9 August
Florence fennel9 January – 21 August23 February – 5 October16 March – 5 October
Foxglovefrom 10 November—from 16 February
Garden sorrel——sow 16 February – 24 September
Green Beans——sow 16 March – 19 August
Hollyhock——sow from 16 February
Hyssop——sow 16 February – 17 August
Kale——sow 16 February – 18 September
Kiwano22 January – 24 August23 February – 25 September16 March – 25 September
Kohlrabi——sow 16 February – 28 September
Leek17 November – 2 June26 January – 11 August16 February – 11 August
Lemon balm——sow 16 February – 20 September
Lettuce——sow 16 February – 3 October
Lisianthusfrom 31 Octoberfrom 26 Januaryfrom 16 February
Lovage——sow from 16 February
Luffa24 January – 18 June7 March – 30 July28 March – 30 July
Marigoldfrom 12 Januaryfrom 23 Februaryfrom 16 March
Marjoram6 January – 5 September—28 March – 4 November
Melon7 February – 4 August7 March – 1 September28 March – 1 September
Microgreens——sow 16 March – 15 November
Moringa26 January – 10 September22 March – 4 November12 April – 4 November
Moss rosefrom 29 December—from 16 March
Mustard greens——sow 16 February – 15 October
Napa cabbage21 January – 15 September23 February – 18 October16 March – 18 October
Nasturtiumfrom 16 Januaryfrom 23 Februaryfrom 16 March
Okra24 January – 29 August7 March – 10 October28 March – 10 October
Oregano27 November – 26 August26 January – 25 October16 February – 25 October
Pansyfrom 1 Decemberfrom 26 Januaryfrom 16 February
Parsley——sow 16 February – 14 September
Parsnip——sow 16 February – 3 August
Peanut29 January – 25 July7 March – 31 August28 March – 31 August
Peas——sow 16 February – 16 September
Petuniafrom 3 Januaryfrom 7 Marchfrom 28 March
Physalis9 January – 22 July23 February – 5 September16 March – 5 September
Pumpkin24 January – 23 June7 March – 4 August28 March – 4 August
Purple coneflowerfrom 25 November—from 16 February
Radish——sow 16 February – 30 October
Sage8 December – 22 August26 January – 10 October16 February – 10 October
Scarlet sagefrom 2 January—from 16 March
Snapdragonfrom 22 Novemberfrom 26 Januaryfrom 16 February
Soybean——sow 28 March – 10 September
Spinach——sow 16 February – 5 October
Stevia5 January – 13 July23 February – 31 August16 March – 31 August
Stock——sow from 16 February
Sunflower——sow from 16 March
Sweet alyssum——sow from 16 February
Sweet Corn1 February – 5 September23 February – 27 September16 March – 27 September
Sweet peafrom 15 Decemberfrom 26 Januaryfrom 16 February
Sweet William——sow from 16 February
Swiss Chard——sow 16 February – 30 September
Thyme——sow 16 February – 11 August
Tomato2 January – 18 June23 February – 9 August16 March – 9 August
Turnip——sow 16 February – 2 October
Watercress——sow 16 February – 13 October
Watermelon7 February – 23 July7 March – 20 August28 March – 20 August
Zinniafrom 15 Februaryfrom 22 Marchfrom 12 April
Zucchini14 February – 22 August7 March – 12 September28 March – 12 September

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.

When the soil warms up in Columbia

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 °C24 February13 days earlier
18 °C28 March19 days later

Frost dates near Columbia

Of the nearest cities on our list, the last spring frost ends earliest in Charleston (4 February) and latest in Greenville (19 March).

CityDistanceLast spring frostFirst autumn frost
Charlotte138 km19 March13 November
Greenville159 km19 March22 November
Charleston170 km4 February20 December
Savannah214 km10 February24 December
Athens (United States)217 km12 March22 November

Seeds, seedlings and markets in Columbia

Within 15 km of Columbia OpenStreetMap lists 6 garden centres, 2 farm-supply shops and 3 markets (collected 28 October 2026). The nearest garden centre to the city centre is Gardener's Outpost, 2 km away.

Places: © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL.

What to grow at home in winter in Columbia

Frosts in Columbia usually come from about 29 November to about 9 March. 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 Columbia by month

Average weather in Columbia over 2016–2025: the warmest month is July. Months that average 20 °C or more by day: March–October (20.6–33.2 °C). Months that average 30 °C or more by day: June (31.6 °C), July (33.2 °C) and August (31.6 °C). No month averages below 0 °C at night; the coldest nights, in January, average 3.4 °C. About 1177 mm of rain falls in a year, on 123 days; July is the wettest month (121 mm) and November the driest (62 mm).

MonthDay, °CNight, °CRain, mmRainy days
January13.23.410410
February17.36.4859
March20.68.79110
April24.712.1948
May28.316.911811
June31.620.98912
July33.223.212116
August31.622.212014
September29.619.41059
October24.513.9687
November198.1627
December14.8512010

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 30 October
Crocusby 30 October
Daffodilby 30 October
Garlic30 October – end of December
Grape hyacinthby 30 October
Helleboreby 30 October
Hyacinthby 30 October
Lilyby 30 October
Ornamental onionby 30 October
Peonyby 30 October
Saffronby 30 October
Snowdropby 30 October
Tulipby 30 October
Wild garlicby 30 October

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).