Fall in zone 9aPhoto: George Chernilevsky, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Frost dates for ZIP 29420 (North Charleston, SC)
Average last spring and first fall frost dates with 10%, 50% and 90% odds, from NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the nearest weather station, Charleston Intl AP, SC (4 miles away).
- Average last spring frostMar 750% chance of a 32°F freeze after this date
- Average first fall frostNov 2750% chance of a 32°F freeze by this date
- Growing season (frost-free)266 daysmedian, 32°F threshold
- USDA hardiness zone9a20 to 25°F avg. coldest night
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This week in your yard
As of Oct 18, 2026, from your frost dates, zone and soil temperature. Lawn timing · Vegetables · Pruning · Plants
Soil temperature now
2-inch depth
72°F 55°F or warmer
24-hour average · latest 67°F, as of Oct 18, 2:00 AM CDT
Estimate Not a measurement at this ZIP: distance-weighted average of McClellanville 7 NE (45 mi).
4-inch depth
No soil station with a fresh reading within 62 miles.
Fall: Texas A&M AgriLife times fall pre-emergent (for winter weeds such as annual bluegrass) to soil cooling to about 70°F for several days. The 50–55°F band is the spring trigger. Always read and follow the product label.
7-day forecast and frost risk
The latest National Weather Service 7-day forecast and any Frost Advisory or Freeze Warning for 29420 load here. You can also open the NWS forecast for this ZIP.
Pre-emergent
No soil reading near this ZIP. Typical extension timing for your region: spring mid-February to early March; fall September to early October.
Fertilizer window
Lawn region: Southeast (warm, humid). Timing only; always follow the product label.
- Centipedegrass (warm-season): Spring: Not before mid-May (NC State); after full green-up (about Apr 22 here, using green-up about 3–4 weeks after your average last frost); Summer: Optional mid-summer feeding, especially on sandy coastal soils. Avoid: Early-spring feeding, frequent feeding and liming unless a soil test calls for it (centipede decline).
Plant now
- Lettuce: fall transplant Oct 2–23
- Spinach: fall sowing Oct 2–23
- Arugula: fall sowing Oct 2–30
- Radish: fall sowing Oct 16–30
- Garlic: fall sowing Oct 16–Nov 13
- Shallot: fall sowing Oct 16–Nov 13
Prune now
No frost-timed pruning windows are open this week.
Your average first frost is Nov 27: skip heavy pruning in the 6–8 weeks before it, because new growth may not harden off in time.
Spring-flowering shrubs are pruned right after their flowers fade, not by date. See the pruning guide.
Last spring frost odds
| Chance of a 32°F freeze after this date | Date |
|---|---|
| 90% (early: most years still freeze after this) | Feb 12 |
| 50% (the "average" last frost) | Mar 7 |
| 10% (cautious: only 1 year in 10 freezes later) | Mar 27 |
Most gardeners plant frost-tender crops (tomatoes, peppers, basil) after the 50% date, and closer to the 10% date for less risk.
First fall frost odds
| Chance the first 32°F freeze has happened by this date | Date |
|---|---|
| 10% (early: 1 year in 10 freezes this soon) | Nov 8 |
| 50% (the "average" first frost) | Nov 27 |
| 90% (late: most years have frozen by now) | Dec 21 |
Light frost, freeze and hard freeze
| Threshold | Last spring (50%) | First fall (50%) |
|---|---|---|
| 36°F (light frost possible on clear, calm nights) | Mar 21 | Nov 13 |
| 32°F (freeze) | Mar 7 | Nov 27 |
| 28°F (hard freeze) | Feb 20 | Dec 15 |
n/a means NOAA did not publish a date at that threshold for this station (usually because it rarely gets that cold).
Vegetable planting calendar for 29420
Dates count from your average last spring frost (Mar 7) and first fall frost (Nov 27). Half of years have a frost after the spring date, so give tender crops (tomatoes, peppers, squash) some slack.
| Crop | Start indoors | Spring planting | Fall planting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomato | Jan 10–24 | Mar 14–28 (transplant) | Jul 31–Aug 28 (transplant) |
| Pepper (sweet and hot) | Dec 27–Jan 10 | Mar 21–Apr 4 (transplant) | Aug 7–28 (transplant) |
| Eggplant | Dec 27–Jan 10 | Mar 21–Apr 4 (transplant) | Aug 7–28 (transplant) |
| Tomatillo | Jan 10–24 | Mar 14–28 (transplant) | – |
| Lettuce | Jan 10–24 | Feb 14–Mar 7 (transplant) Feb 7–Mar 21 (sow outdoors) | Oct 2–23 (transplant) Sep 18–Oct 16 (sowing) |
| Spinach | – | Jan 24–Feb 14 (sow outdoors) | Oct 2–23 (sowing) |
| Kale | Jan 10–24 | Feb 7–21 (transplant) Feb 7–21 (sow outdoors) | Sep 4–Oct 2 (transplant) Aug 21–Sep 18 (sowing) |
| Collards | Jan 10–24 | Feb 7–Mar 7 (transplant) Feb 7–Mar 7 (sow outdoors) | Sep 4–Oct 2 (transplant) Aug 21–Sep 18 (sowing) |
| Broccoli | Dec 27–Jan 10 | Feb 7–21 (transplant) | Aug 21–Sep 18 (transplant) |
| Cabbage | Dec 27–Jan 10 | Feb 7–21 (transplant) | Aug 21–Sep 18 (transplant) |
| Cauliflower | Dec 27–Jan 10 | Feb 21–Mar 7 (transplant) | Aug 21–Sep 18 (transplant) |
| Brussels sprouts | Dec 13–27 | Feb 7–21 (transplant) | Aug 7–28 (transplant) |
| Kohlrabi | Jan 10–24 | Feb 7–21 (transplant) Feb 7–21 (sow outdoors) | Sep 18–Oct 2 (sowing) |
| Bok choy / Asian greens | – | Feb 7–21 (sow outdoors) | Oct 2–16 (sowing) |
| Arugula | – | Feb 7–Mar 7 (sow outdoors) | Oct 2–30 (sowing) |
| Mustard greens | – | Feb 7–28 (sow outdoors) | Oct 2–16 (sowing) |
| Swiss chard | Jan 24–Feb 7 | Feb 21–Mar 14 (transplant) Feb 21–Mar 21 (sow outdoors) | Sep 18–Oct 2 (sowing) |
| Beet | – | Feb 7–Mar 7 (sow outdoors) | Sep 18–Oct 2 (sowing) |
| Carrot | – | Feb 14–Mar 14 (sow outdoors) | Sep 4–18 (sowing) |
| Radish | – | Jan 31–Mar 14 (sow outdoors) | Oct 16–30 (sowing) |
| Turnip | – | Feb 7–28 (sow outdoors) | Sep 18–Oct 2 (sowing) |
| Parsnip | – | Feb 14–Mar 7 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pea (garden, snap, snow) | – | Jan 10–Feb 7 (sow outdoors) | Sep 4–18 (sowing) |
| Onion (bulbing) | Dec 13–27 | Jan 24–Feb 7 (transplant) | – |
| Green onion / scallion | – | Jan 24–Feb 21 (sow outdoors) | Sep 18–Oct 2 (sowing) |
| Leek | Dec 13–27 | Feb 7–21 (transplant) | – |
| Garlic | – | – | Oct 16–Nov 13 (sowing) |
| Shallot | – | Jan 24–Feb 7 (transplant) | Oct 16–Nov 13 (sowing) |
| Potato | – | Feb 7–21 (transplant) | Aug 7–21 (transplant) |
| Sweet potato | – | Mar 28–Apr 11 (transplant) | – |
| Sweet corn | – | Mar 14–28 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, bush (snap) | – | Mar 14–28 (sow outdoors) | Sep 4–18 (sowing) |
| Bean, pole | – | Mar 14–28 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Lima bean | – | Mar 21–Apr 4 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Southern pea (cowpea, black-eyed pea) | – | Mar 28–Apr 18 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cucumber | Feb 7–14 | Mar 14–28 (transplant) Mar 14–28 (sow outdoors) | Sep 4–18 (sowing) |
| Summer squash / zucchini | Feb 7–14 | Mar 14–28 (transplant) Mar 14–28 (sow outdoors) | Sep 4–18 (sowing) |
| Winter squash | Feb 7–14 | Mar 14–28 (transplant) Mar 14–28 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pumpkin | – | Mar 14–28 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Watermelon | Feb 7–14 | Mar 21–Apr 4 (transplant) Mar 21–Apr 4 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cantaloupe / muskmelon | Feb 7–14 | Mar 21–Apr 4 (transplant) Mar 21–Apr 4 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Okra | Jan 24–Feb 7 | Mar 21–Apr 4 (transplant) Mar 21–Apr 4 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Celery | Dec 13–27 | Mar 14–21 (transplant) | – |
| Basil | Jan 24–Feb 7 | Mar 14–28 (transplant) Mar 14–28 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cilantro | – | Feb 21–Mar 21 (sow outdoors) | Oct 2–16 (sowing) |
| Parsley | Dec 27–Jan 10 | Feb 21–Mar 7 (transplant) Feb 14–Mar 7 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Dill | – | Mar 7–21 (sow outdoors) | Oct 2–16 (sowing) |
| Sunflower | – | Mar 7–21 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Asparagus (crowns) | – | Feb 7–21 (transplant) | – |
| Rhubarb (crowns) | – | Feb 7–21 (transplant) | – |
| Strawberry (plants) | – | Feb 7–21 (transplant) | Sep 18–Oct 16 (transplant) |
Typical ranges from university extension planting calendars, adjusted to your frost dates. Probabilities, not guarantees. Fall windows that would overlap spring planting are left out, as are fall crops of frost-tender plants where the frost-free season is under 210 days.
Where these numbers come from
Station: Charleston Intl AP, SC (NOAA GHCN-Daily ID USW00013880), elevation 40 ft, 4.2 miles from the ZIP's center point. NOAA completeness flag: S (standard, 24+ years).
Nearby stations
| Station | Distance | Last frost (50%) | First frost (50%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Summerville 4W, SC | 11 mi | Mar 22 | Nov 12 |
| Charleston City, SC | 14 mi | Feb 4 | Dec 30 |
| Sullivans Is, SC | 18 mi | Mar 13 | Nov 30 |
The average last-frost dates of these stations span 49 days, a rough guide to local variation. See data sources & methods.
Frost questions for 29420
When is the last frost in 29420?
The average (50% chance) last spring freeze of 32°F for ZIP 29420 is March 7. For a more cautious planting date, use March 27, when only 1 year in 10 still sees a later freeze.
When is the first frost in 29420?
The average first fall freeze is November 27. In 1 year in 10 it comes by November 8.
What hardiness zone is 29420?
ZIP 29420 is in USDA zone 9a (20 to 25°F average coldest winter night), per the 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map ZIP listing.
What is the soil temperature in 29420 right now?
This page shows the latest 2-inch and 4-inch soil temperature from the nearest public soil station (USDA SCAN, NOAA USCRN or TexMesonet), or a labeled estimate when no station is close, against the 50–55°F spring pre-emergent band.
Nearby ZIP codes
29418 North Charleston 29404 North Charleston 29456 North Charleston 29406 North Charleston 29410 Hanahan 29414 Charleston 29485 North Charleston 29405 North Charleston
Other ZIP codes in Dorchester County
29437 29448 29471 29472 29477 29483 29485 All Dorchester County frost dates · South Carolina frost dates
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Weekly yard timing, plus frost and soil-temperature alerts for your ZIP code.
- Freeze alerts
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Free. One weekly email plus alerts when your ZIP has a frost or a soil-temperature change worth acting on. After you submit, Kit (our email provider) sends a confirmation email: check your email and click the link to confirm. You aren't subscribed until you do. We collect only your email address and ZIP, sent to Kit to deliver The Dial. Unsubscribe anytime.