When to plant in Hilton Head Island, SC
USDA Zone 9bHere are the average frost dates, USDA hardiness zone, and a month-by-month planting calendar for Hilton Head Island, South Carolina — all computed from Hilton Head Island's nearest NOAA weather station.
A generous ~281-day season lets Hilton Head Island gardeners direct-sow more and still ripen long-maturity crops like melons and winter squash. Heads up: the nearest complete-normals station is about 23 km from Hilton Head Island, so your yard's frost dates can differ — a low spot or a paved city center can shift them by a week. Zone 9b is warm enough that Hilton Head Island can grow subtropical perennials, and the short (or absent) frost period barely limits the annual calendar.
Frost probability
BEAUFORT WWTP · 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 Hilton Head Island’s own odds, recorded at BEAUFORT WWTP.
| Threshold | SPRING 10% | SPRING 50% | SPRING 90% | FALL 10% | FALL 50% | FALL 90% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | Apr 1 | Mar 16 | Feb 27 | Nov 10 | Nov 26 | Dec 15 |
| 32°F | Mar 20 | Mar 3 | Feb 2 | Nov 21 | Dec 9 | Jan 4 |
| 28°F | Mar 11 | Feb 9 | Jan 9 | Dec 3 | Dec 28 | Jan 21 |
Download this table as CSV ↓ — every threshold and probability, plus this city’s planting-window dates.
What to plant now
TODAY · JULY 19Nothing new to sow or transplant outdoors in the next few weeks — a seasonal lull. Check the full-year calendar below for the next window.
Full-year planting calendar
Each bar is the exact window to take a planting action in Hilton Head Island, drawn to the day from the local frost dates. The dashed line is today.
Nearby weather stations
3 within 45 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.
Hilton Head Island planting FAQ
When is the last spring frost in Hilton Head Island, SC?
Plan for the last spring frost in Hilton Head Island around March 3 (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 Hilton Head Island, SC?
The first fall frost in Hilton Head Island typically arrives around December 9 (50% probability at 32°F). Harvest or protect frost-sensitive crops before then.
What hardiness zone is Hilton Head Island in?
Hilton Head Island is in USDA hardiness zone 9b. In zone 9b, winters are mild — many tender perennials overwinter here.
How long is the growing season in Hilton Head Island?
There are roughly 281 frost-free days in Hilton Head Island (a long growing season), running from the average last frost around March 3 to the first fall frost near December 9.
When should I plant tomatoes in Hilton Head Island?
In Hilton Head Island, start tomato seeds indoors around January 6–January 20, then transplant seedlings outdoors around March 10 once the danger of frost has passed.
Never miss a window in Hilton Head Island
An email when it’s time to start seeds, transplant, and sow — timed to Hilton Head Island’s frost dates. Double opt-in, one-click unsubscribe, no spam.
Nearby cities
8 within reach- Bluffton · 18 km
- Port Royal · 19 km
- Beaufort · 30 km
- Hardeeville · 31 km
- Wilmington Island · 31 km
- Garden City · 43 km
- Port Wentworth · 44 km
- Savannah · 47 km
Frost dates recorded at BEAUFORT WWTP, 23 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 Hilton Head Island, SC — Frost Dates & Zone 9b." Frost normals: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station USC00380559. Retrieved from https://blissgarden.com/south-carolina/hilton-head-island.