When to plant in North Charleston, SC
USDA Zone 9aHere are the average frost dates, USDA hardiness zone, and a month-by-month planting calendar for North Charleston, South Carolina — all computed from North Charleston's nearest NOAA weather station.
North Charleston enjoys a long ~265-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 North Charleston — most perennials thrive, and annual vegetables can go out early and stay late.
Frost probability
CHARLESTON INTL AP · 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 North Charleston’s own odds, recorded at CHARLESTON INTL AP.
| Threshold | SPRING 10% | SPRING 50% | SPRING 90% | FALL 10% | FALL 50% | FALL 90% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | Apr 6 | Mar 21 | Feb 28 | Nov 1 | Nov 13 | Dec 1 |
| 32°F | Mar 27 | Mar 7 | Feb 12 | Nov 8 | Nov 27 | Dec 21 |
| 28°F | Mar 14 | Feb 20 | Jan 21 | Nov 21 | Dec 15 | Jan 13 |
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 North Charleston, drawn to the day from the local frost dates. The dashed line is today.
Nearby weather stations
3 within 20 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.
North Charleston planting FAQ
When is the last spring frost in North Charleston, SC?
Plan for the last spring frost in North Charleston around March 7 (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 North Charleston, SC?
Expect North Charleston's first fall frost near November 27 — a 50% chance of 32°F by that date. Bring in or cover tender crops ahead of it.
What hardiness zone is North Charleston in?
North Charleston is in USDA hardiness zone 9a. In zone 9a, winters are mild — many tender perennials overwinter here.
How long is the growing season in North Charleston?
North Charleston has about 265 frost-free days — a long growing season — between the average last spring frost (March 7) and first fall frost (November 27).
When should I plant tomatoes in North Charleston?
For North Charleston, sow tomatoes indoors about January 10–January 24 and move the seedlings out around March 14, after the last spring frost.
Never miss a window in North Charleston
An email when it’s time to start seeds, transplant, and sow — timed to North Charleston’s frost dates. Double opt-in, one-click unsubscribe, no spam.
Nearby cities
8 within reach- Hanahan · 6 km
- Goose Creek · 10 km
- Ladson · 11 km
- Charleston · 13 km
- Summerville · 14 km
- Mount Pleasant · 22 km
- James Island · 23 km
- Moncks Corner · 32 km
Frost dates recorded at CHARLESTON INTL AP, 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 North Charleston, SC — Frost Dates & Zone 9a." Frost normals: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station USW00013880. Retrieved from https://blissgarden.com/south-carolina/north-charleston.