Fall in zone 8bPhoto: George Chernilevsky, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Frost dates for ZIP 29803 (Aiken, 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, Aiken 5SE, SC (3 miles away).
- Average last spring frostMar 2150% chance of a 32°F freeze after this date
- Average first fall frostNov 750% chance of a 32°F freeze by this date
- Growing season (frost-free)232 daysmedian, 32°F threshold
- USDA hardiness zone8b15 to 20°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
69°F 55°F or warmer
24-hour average · latest 65°F, as of Oct 18, 2:00 AM CDT
Estimate Not a measurement at this ZIP: distance-weighted average of Blackville 3 W (22 mi), Youmans Farm (62 mi).
4-inch depth
71°F 55°F or warmer
24-hour average · latest 68°F, as of Oct 18, 2:00 AM CDT
Estimate Not a measurement at this ZIP: distance-weighted average of Blackville 3 W (22 mi), Youmans Farm (62 mi).
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 29803 load here. You can also open the NWS forecast for this ZIP.
Pre-emergent
Soil is 71°F at 4 inches (estimated soil temperature, not a station reading). Fall pre-emergent (annual bluegrass, winter weeds): window open as soil cools through the 70s and 60s.
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 May 6 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
Prune now
No frost-timed pruning windows are open this week.
Your average first frost is Nov 7: 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) | Mar 2 |
| 50% (the "average" last frost) | Mar 21 |
| 10% (cautious: only 1 year in 10 freezes later) | Apr 6 |
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) | Oct 25 |
| 50% (the "average" first frost) | Nov 7 |
| 90% (late: most years have frozen by now) | Nov 24 |
Light frost, freeze and hard freeze
| Threshold | Last spring (50%) | First fall (50%) |
|---|---|---|
| 36°F (light frost possible on clear, calm nights) | Apr 1 | Oct 30 |
| 32°F (freeze) | Mar 21 | Nov 7 |
| 28°F (hard freeze) | Mar 9 | Nov 19 |
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 29803
Dates count from your average last spring frost (Mar 21) and first fall frost (Nov 7). 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 24–Feb 7 | Mar 28–Apr 11 (transplant) | Jul 11–Aug 8 (transplant) |
| Pepper (sweet and hot) | Jan 10–24 | Apr 4–18 (transplant) | Jul 18–Aug 8 (transplant) |
| Eggplant | Jan 10–24 | Apr 4–18 (transplant) | Jul 18–Aug 8 (transplant) |
| Tomatillo | Jan 24–Feb 7 | Mar 28–Apr 11 (transplant) | – |
| Lettuce | Jan 24–Feb 7 | Feb 28–Mar 21 (transplant) Feb 21–Apr 4 (sow outdoors) | Sep 12–Oct 3 (transplant) Aug 29–Sep 26 (sowing) |
| Spinach | – | Feb 7–28 (sow outdoors) | Sep 12–Oct 3 (sowing) |
| Kale | Jan 24–Feb 7 | Feb 21–Mar 7 (transplant) Feb 21–Mar 7 (sow outdoors) | Aug 15–Sep 12 (transplant) Aug 1–29 (sowing) |
| Collards | Jan 24–Feb 7 | Feb 21–Mar 21 (transplant) Feb 21–Mar 21 (sow outdoors) | Aug 15–Sep 12 (transplant) Aug 1–29 (sowing) |
| Broccoli | Jan 10–24 | Feb 21–Mar 7 (transplant) | Aug 1–29 (transplant) |
| Cabbage | Jan 10–24 | Feb 21–Mar 7 (transplant) | Aug 1–29 (transplant) |
| Cauliflower | Jan 10–24 | Mar 7–21 (transplant) | Aug 1–29 (transplant) |
| Brussels sprouts | Dec 27–Jan 10 | Feb 21–Mar 7 (transplant) | Jul 18–Aug 8 (transplant) |
| Kohlrabi | Jan 24–Feb 7 | Feb 21–Mar 7 (transplant) Feb 21–Mar 7 (sow outdoors) | Aug 29–Sep 12 (sowing) |
| Bok choy / Asian greens | – | Feb 21–Mar 7 (sow outdoors) | Sep 12–26 (sowing) |
| Arugula | – | Feb 21–Mar 21 (sow outdoors) | Sep 12–Oct 10 (sowing) |
| Mustard greens | – | Feb 21–Mar 14 (sow outdoors) | Sep 12–26 (sowing) |
| Swiss chard | Feb 7–21 | Mar 7–28 (transplant) Mar 7–Apr 4 (sow outdoors) | Aug 29–Sep 12 (sowing) |
| Beet | – | Feb 21–Mar 21 (sow outdoors) | Aug 29–Sep 12 (sowing) |
| Carrot | – | Feb 28–Mar 28 (sow outdoors) | Aug 15–29 (sowing) |
| Radish | – | Feb 14–Mar 28 (sow outdoors) | Sep 26–Oct 10 (sowing) |
| Turnip | – | Feb 21–Mar 14 (sow outdoors) | Aug 29–Sep 12 (sowing) |
| Parsnip | – | Feb 28–Mar 21 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pea (garden, snap, snow) | – | Jan 24–Feb 21 (sow outdoors) | Aug 15–29 (sowing) |
| Onion (bulbing) | Dec 27–Jan 10 | Feb 7–21 (transplant) | – |
| Green onion / scallion | – | Feb 7–Mar 7 (sow outdoors) | Aug 29–Sep 12 (sowing) |
| Leek | Dec 27–Jan 10 | Feb 21–Mar 7 (transplant) | – |
| Garlic | – | – | Sep 26–Oct 24 (sowing) |
| Shallot | – | Feb 7–21 (transplant) | Sep 26–Oct 24 (sowing) |
| Potato | – | Feb 21–Mar 7 (transplant) | Jul 18–Aug 1 (transplant) |
| Sweet potato | – | Apr 11–25 (transplant) | – |
| Sweet corn | – | Mar 28–Apr 11 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, bush (snap) | – | Mar 28–Apr 11 (sow outdoors) | Aug 15–29 (sowing) |
| Bean, pole | – | Mar 28–Apr 11 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Lima bean | – | Apr 4–18 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Southern pea (cowpea, black-eyed pea) | – | Apr 11–May 2 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cucumber | Feb 21–28 | Mar 28–Apr 11 (transplant) Mar 28–Apr 11 (sow outdoors) | Aug 15–29 (sowing) |
| Summer squash / zucchini | Feb 21–28 | Mar 28–Apr 11 (transplant) Mar 28–Apr 11 (sow outdoors) | Aug 15–29 (sowing) |
| Winter squash | Feb 21–28 | Mar 28–Apr 11 (transplant) Mar 28–Apr 11 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pumpkin | – | Mar 28–Apr 11 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Watermelon | Feb 21–28 | Apr 4–18 (transplant) Apr 4–18 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cantaloupe / muskmelon | Feb 21–28 | Apr 4–18 (transplant) Apr 4–18 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Okra | Feb 7–21 | Apr 4–18 (transplant) Apr 4–18 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Celery | Dec 27–Jan 10 | Mar 28–Apr 4 (transplant) | – |
| Basil | Feb 7–21 | Mar 28–Apr 11 (transplant) Mar 28–Apr 11 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cilantro | – | Mar 7–Apr 4 (sow outdoors) | Sep 12–26 (sowing) |
| Parsley | Jan 10–24 | Mar 7–21 (transplant) Feb 28–Mar 21 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Dill | – | Mar 21–Apr 4 (sow outdoors) | Sep 12–26 (sowing) |
| Sunflower | – | Mar 21–Apr 4 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Asparagus (crowns) | – | Feb 21–Mar 7 (transplant) | – |
| Rhubarb (crowns) | – | Feb 21–Mar 7 (transplant) | – |
| Strawberry (plants) | – | Feb 21–Mar 7 (transplant) | Aug 29–Sep 26 (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: Aiken 5SE, SC (NOAA GHCN-Daily ID USC00380074), elevation 492 ft, 2.7 miles from the ZIP's center point. NOAA completeness flag: R (representative, 10+ years).
Nearby stations
| Station | Distance | Last frost (50%) | First frost (50%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aiken 2 E, SC | 7 mi | Mar 19 | Nov 14 |
| Graniteville 1.2 NE, SC | 10 mi | Apr 9 | Nov 1 |
| Augusta Bush Fld AP, GA | 16 mi | Mar 23 | Nov 9 |
The average last-frost dates of these stations span 21 days, a rough guide to local variation. See data sources & methods.
Frost questions for 29803
When is the last frost in 29803?
The average (50% chance) last spring freeze of 32°F for ZIP 29803 is March 21. For a more cautious planting date, use April 6, when only 1 year in 10 still sees a later freeze.
When is the first frost in 29803?
The average first fall freeze is November 7. In 1 year in 10 it comes by October 25.
What hardiness zone is 29803?
ZIP 29803 is in USDA zone 8b (15 to 20°F average coldest winter night), per the 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map ZIP listing.
What is the soil temperature in 29803 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
29809 New Ellenton 29851 Gloverville 29828 Gloverville 29842 Beech Island 29801 Aiken 29834 Langley 29816 Burnettown 29856 Windsor
Other ZIP codes in Aiken County
29105 29129 29137 29164 29801 29805 29809 29816 29828 29829 29831 29834 29841 29842 29851 29856 All Aiken 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.