When to plant in Forest Acres, SC
USDA Zone 8bHere are the average frost dates, USDA hardiness zone, and a month-by-month planting calendar for Forest Acres, South Carolina — all computed from Forest Acres's nearest NOAA weather station.
Forest Acres enjoys a long ~245-day frost-free season — you can succession-sow, fit in a second crop, and grow long-season heat-lovers with room to spare. Zone 8b means many perennials and even some tender shrubs overwinter in Forest Acres, while your frost dates still decide when annuals go out.
Frost probability
COLUMBIA UNIV OF SC · 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 Forest Acres’s own odds, recorded at COLUMBIA UNIV OF SC.
| Threshold | SPRING 10% | SPRING 50% | SPRING 90% | FALL 10% | FALL 50% | FALL 90% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | Apr 13 | Mar 28 | Mar 11 | Oct 24 | Nov 5 | Nov 20 |
| 32°F | Apr 3 | Mar 16 | Feb 24 | Nov 2 | Nov 16 | Dec 6 |
| 28°F | Mar 23 | Mar 1 | Jan 31 | Nov 12 | Dec 2 | Dec 30 |
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 Forest Acres, drawn to the day from the local frost dates. The dashed line is today.
Nearby weather stations
3 within 15 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.
Forest Acres planting FAQ
When is the last spring frost in Forest Acres, SC?
Plan for the last spring frost in Forest Acres around March 16 (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 Forest Acres, SC?
The first fall frost in Forest Acres typically arrives around November 16 (50% probability at 32°F). Harvest or protect frost-sensitive crops before then.
What hardiness zone is Forest Acres in?
Forest Acres is in USDA hardiness zone 8b. In zone 8b, winters are mild — many tender perennials overwinter here.
How long is the growing season in Forest Acres?
There are roughly 245 frost-free days in Forest Acres (a long growing season), running from the average last frost around March 16 to the first fall frost near November 16.
When should I plant tomatoes in Forest Acres?
In Forest Acres, start tomato seeds indoors around January 19–February 2, then transplant seedlings outdoors around March 23 once the danger of frost has passed.
Never miss a window in Forest Acres
An email when it’s time to start seeds, transplant, and sow — timed to Forest Acres’s frost dates. Double opt-in, one-click unsubscribe, no spam.
Nearby cities
8 within reach- Dentsville · 5 km
- Columbia · 6 km
- Cayce · 11 km
- St. Andrews · 12 km
- West Columbia · 13 km
- Seven Oaks · 16 km
- Oak Grove · 17 km
- Irmo · 22 km
Frost dates recorded at COLUMBIA UNIV OF SC, 7 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 Forest Acres, SC — Frost Dates & Zone 8b." Frost normals: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station USC00381944. Retrieved from https://blissgarden.com/south-carolina/forest-acres.