When to plant in Beaufort, SC
USDA Zone 9aHere are the average frost dates, USDA hardiness zone, and a month-by-month planting calendar for Beaufort, South Carolina — all computed from Beaufort's nearest NOAA weather station.
Beaufort enjoys a long ~278-day frost-free season — you can succession-sow, fit in a second crop, and grow long-season heat-lovers with room to spare. In zone 9a, frost is a minor factor for Beaufort — most perennials thrive, and annual vegetables can go out early and stay late.
The average last spring frost in Beaufort is now 5 days earlier than in the 1981–2010 normals. See how frost dates are shifting nationwide →
Frost probability
BEAUFORT MCAS · 1991–2020The date the last spring and first fall frost occur, by threshold and probability. A 90% date is later in spring — and earlier in fall — than a 10% date; the 50% · 32°F row is what most gardeners plan around. These are Beaufort’s own odds, recorded at BEAUFORT MCAS.
| Threshold | SPRING 10% | SPRING 50% | SPRING 90% | FALL 10% | FALL 50% | FALL 90% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | Mar 31 | Mar 14 | Feb 22 | Nov 4 | Nov 18 | Dec 8 |
| 32°F | Mar 21 | Feb 28 | Feb 2 | Nov 14 | Dec 3 | Jan 1 |
| 28°F | Mar 8 | Feb 8 | Jan 8 | Dec 1 | Dec 27 | Jan 28 |
Download this table as CSV ↓ — every threshold and probability, plus this city’s planting-window dates.
What to plant now
TODAY · JULY 19Full-year planting calendar
Each bar is the exact window to take a planting action in Beaufort, drawn to the day from the local frost dates. The dashed line is today.
Nearby weather stations
3 within 30 km · complete 32°F normalsWhen stations disagree by more than a few days, that spread is real microclimate variation — elevation, water, urban heat. Judge which station best matches your own yard.
Beaufort planting FAQ
When is the last spring frost in Beaufort, SC?
Plan for the last spring frost in Beaufort around February 28 (the date it has a 50% chance of a 32°F freeze). Anything frost-sensitive should go out after it.
When is the first fall frost in Beaufort, SC?
In Beaufort, the first 32°F freeze of fall lands around December 3 on average. Time your last harvests and any season-extension cover before it.
What hardiness zone is Beaufort in?
Beaufort is in USDA hardiness zone 9a. In zone 9a, winters are mild — many tender perennials overwinter here.
How long is the growing season in Beaufort?
Beaufort has about 278 frost-free days — a long growing season — between the average last spring frost (February 28) and first fall frost (December 3).
When should I plant tomatoes in Beaufort?
For Beaufort, sow tomatoes indoors about January 3–January 17 and move the seedlings out around March 7, after the last spring frost.
Never miss a window in Beaufort
An email when it’s time to start seeds, transplant, and sow — timed to Beaufort’s frost dates. Double opt-in, one-click unsubscribe, no spam.
Nearby cities
8 within reach- Port Royal · 12 km
- Hilton Head Island · 30 km
- Bluffton · 33 km
- Hardeeville · 35 km
- Rincon · 51 km
- Port Wentworth · 54 km
- Wilmington Island · 56 km
- Garden City · 59 km
Frost dates recorded at BEAUFORT MCAS, 3 km from the city center · 1991–2020 NOAA climate normals · zone from the USDA/PRISM 2023 map. How we compute this.
BlissGarden. "When to Plant in Beaufort, SC — Frost Dates & Zone 9a." Frost normals: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station USW00093831. Retrieved from https://blissgarden.com/south-carolina/beaufort.