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Frost dates and planting calendar for Columbia, South Carolina

Updated October 30, 2026. Based on USDA, NOAA and Colorado State University Extension data. Published by Humblebee.

USDA hardiness zone
8b[1]
Median last spring frost
Mar 16[2]
Median first fall frost
Nov 16[3]
Growing season, median
245 days[4]

Columbia, South Carolina is in USDA hardiness zone 8b[1]. The median last spring frost at the nearest NOAA station is March 16[2].

Frost dates

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecLast spring frost: 9 in 10 years after Feb 24, half of years Mar 16, 1 in 10 years after Apr 3Last frostmedian Mar 16First fall frost: 9 in 10 years before Dec 6, half of years Nov 16, 1 in 10 years before Nov 2First frostmedian Nov 16Frost riskHardyHardy vegetables: plant Feb 16 to Mar 2Feb 16 to Mar 2Semi-hardySemi-hardy vegetables: plant Mar 2 to Mar 16Mar 2 to Mar 16TenderTender vegetables: plant around Mar 16around Mar 16Very tenderVery tender vegetables: plant from Mar 30from Mar 30
Shaded: the span between the dates frost passes in 9 of 10 years and 1 of 10 years[2][3]. Green: planting windows from the CSU rules applied to the median last frost (GardenFacts calculation)[6]. Exact dates are in the tables below.

These dates come from NOAA climate normals for the Columbia Univ Of Sc weather station, using records from 1991 to 2020[5]. In half of years the last spring frost comes after March 16, and in 1 of 10 years it comes after April 3[2]. In half of years the first fall frost comes before November 16, and in 1 of 10 years it comes before November 2[3]. These are odds from past records, not a forecast, so any year can be earlier or later[2].

Frost Likely (9 in 10 years) Even odds (5 in 10) Unlikely (1 in 10)
Last spring frost (32°F)[2] after February 24 after March 16 after April 3
First fall frost (32°F)[3] before November 2 before November 16 before December 6
  • Hard freeze (28°F): median last spring date March 1, median first fall date December 2[7].
  • Frost-free growing season: at least 221 days in 9 of 10 years, 245 days in half of years and 275 days in 1 of 10 years[4].
  • The low reached 32°F or colder in 100% of years and 28°F or colder in 99.9% of years[8].
  • Weather station: Columbia Univ Of Sc (USC00381944), 7.6 miles from the city center, 223 feet, 28 years of 1991 to 2020 records[5].

When to plant vegetables

Colorado State University Extension's planting guide was written for Colorado[6]. GardenFacts takes the median last frost of March 16 as the average and counts from there[6]. Hardy vegetables such as broccoli, lettuce and peas can go in as early as 2 to 4 weeks before the median last frost, which is February 16 to March 2[6]. Semi-hardy vegetables such as carrots and potatoes can go in as early as 2 weeks before it, which is March 2[9]. Very tender vegetables such as tomatoes and peppers typically wait 2 or more weeks after it, so the earliest start is March 30[10].

  • Hardy (broccoli, cabbage, kohlrabi, lettuce, onions, peas, radishes, spinach, turnips): as early as 2 to 4 weeks before the median last frost (March 16) is February 16 to March 2[6]
  • Semi-hardy (beets, carrots, cauliflower, parsnips, potatoes, Swiss chard): as early as 2 weeks before the median last frost (March 16) is March 2, up to the median date itself[9]
  • Tender (snap beans, sweet corn, cucumbers, summer squash): from seed around the median last frost date, March 16[11]
  • Very tender (cantaloupe, eggplant, peppers, tomatoes, winter squash, watermelon): the earliest start, two weeks after the median last frost (March 16), is March 30[10]
Vegetable (CSU group) Plant from First harvest around
Broccoli (hardy)[12] Feb 16 Apr 22 (from transplants)
Cabbage (hardy)[12] Feb 16 May 12 (from transplants)
Kohlrabi (hardy)[12] Feb 16 Apr 7
Lettuce (hardy)[12] Feb 16 Apr 17
Onions (hardy)[12] Feb 16 Jun 6
Peas (hardy)[12] Feb 16 Apr 22
Radishes (hardy)[12] Feb 16 Mar 18
Spinach (hardy)[12] Feb 16 Mar 28
Turnips (hardy)[12] Feb 16 Apr 7
Beets (semi-hardy)[12] Mar 2 May 1
Carrots (semi-hardy)[12] Mar 2 May 11
Cauliflower (semi-hardy)[12] Mar 2 not listed
Parsnips (semi-hardy)[12] Mar 2 May 11
Potatoes (semi-hardy)[12] Mar 2 Jul 5
Swiss chard (semi-hardy)[12] Mar 2 May 1
Snap beans (tender)[12] Mar 16 May 15
Sweet corn (tender)[12] Mar 16 May 15
Cucumbers (tender)[12] Mar 16 May 10
Summer squash (tender)[12] Mar 16 May 5
Cantaloupe (very tender)[12] Mar 30 Jun 23
Eggplant (very tender)[12] Mar 30 May 29 (from transplants)
Peppers (very tender)[12] Mar 30 Jun 8 (from transplants)
Tomatoes (very tender)[12] Mar 30 Jun 3 (from transplants)
Winter squash (very tender)[12] Mar 30 Jul 8
Watermelon (very tender)[12] Mar 30 Jun 23
Spacing, depth and soil temperature (CSU Extension)
Vegetable Min. soil temp Depth Spacing Days to harvest
Broccoli[13] 40°F 1/2 in 18 in 65
Cabbage[13] 40°F 1/2 in 18 in 85
Kohlrabi[13] 40°F 1/2 in 7-9 in 50
Lettuce[13] 35°F 1/4 in 7-9 in 60
Onions[13] 35°F 1/4 in (seed), 1-2 in (sets) 4-6 in 110
Peas[13] 40°F 1 in 4-6 in 65
Radishes[13] 40°F 1/2 in 2-3 in 30
Spinach[13] 40°F 1/2 in 4-6 in 40
Turnips[13] 40°F 1/2 in 4-6 in 50
Beets[13] 40°F 3/4-1 in 4-6 in 60
Carrots[13] 40°F 1/4 in 2-3 in 70
Cauliflower[13] 40°F 1/2 in 18 in –
Parsnips[13] 35°F 1/2 in 5-6 in 70
Potatoes[13] 45°F – – 125
Swiss chard[13] 40°F 1 in 7-9 in 60
Snap beans[13] 55°F 1-1 1/2 in 6 in 60
Sweet corn[13] 50°F 1-1 1/2 in 12 x 30 in or 9 x 36 in 60-90
Cucumbers[13] 60°F 1 in 6 in trellised, 24-36 in untrellised 55
Summer squash[13] 60°F 1-1 1/2 in 36-48 in 50
Cantaloupe[13] 60°F 1-1 1/2 in 36-48 in 85
Eggplant[13] 60°F 1/4 in 18-24 in 60
Peppers[13] 60°F 1/4 in 15-18 in 70
Tomatoes[13] 50°F 1/4 in 24 in trellised 65
Winter squash[13] 60°F 1-1 1/2 in 36-48 in 100
Watermelon[13] 60°F 1-1 1/2 in 36-48 in 85

Hardiness zone

Zone 8b means an average yearly coldest night of 15°F to 20°F over 1991 to 2020[1]. The zone is based on winter lows, not on summer heat or frost dates[14]. All of Columbia's land area lies in ZIP code areas rated zone 8b[15].

Zone 8b: average annual extreme minimum temperature 15°F to 20°F (1991 to 2020)[1]. Modeled value at the city center: 16.8°F[1].

Share of the city's land area by ZIP code zone: zone 8b 100%[15].

All towns in zone 8b and what zone 8b means

Zone by ZIP code
ZIP code Zone Coldest night range
29207[15] 8b 15 to 20°F
29044[15] 8b 15 to 20°F
29203[15] 8b 15 to 20°F
29209[15] 8b 15 to 20°F
29201[15] 8b 15 to 20°F
29205[15] 8b 15 to 20°F
29210[15] 8b 15 to 20°F
29212[15] 8b 15 to 20°F
29204[15] 8b 15 to 20°F
29045[15] 8b 15 to 20°F
29206[15] 8b 15 to 20°F
29063[15] 8b 15 to 20°F
29229[15] 8b 15 to 20°F
29223[15] 8b 15 to 20°F
29208[15] 8b 15 to 20°F
29061[15] 8b 15 to 20°F
29225[15] 8b 15 to 20°F

Questions people ask

What growing zone is Columbia, South Carolina?
The 2023 USDA map puts the center of Columbia in zone 8b[1]. All of the city's land area is in ZIP code areas rated 8b[15].
When is the last frost in Columbia?
The median last spring frost is March 16, so in half of years the last frost comes after that date[2]. In 1 of 10 years it comes after April 3[2].
When is the first frost in Columbia?
The median first fall frost is November 16[3]. In 1 of 10 years the first frost comes before November 2[3].
When to plant tomatoes in Columbia?
CSU Extension groups tomatoes as very tender and typically says to wait 2 or more weeks after the average last frost[10]. Using the median last frost, the earliest start is March 30[10].
How long is the growing season in Columbia?
The growing season is at least 245 days in half of years[4]. It is at least 221 days in 9 of 10 years[4].

Facts and sources

  1. The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map puts the center of Columbia, South Carolina in zone 8b. Zone 8b means an average annual extreme minimum temperature of 15°F to 20°F over 1991 to 2020. The map's modeled value at the city center is 16.8°F. USDA zone map 2023 (PRISM, OSU)
  2. Last spring frost (32°F) at this station: in 9 of 10 years the last frost comes after February 24, in half of years after March 16, and in 1 of 10 years after April 3 (NOAA 1991 to 2020 normals). The median last frost date is March 16. NOAA Climate Normals 1991-2020
  3. First fall frost (32°F) at this station: in 1 of 10 years the first frost comes before November 2, in half of years before November 16, and in 9 of 10 years before December 6 (NOAA 1991 to 2020 normals). The median first frost date is November 16. NOAA Climate Normals 1991-2020
  4. Growing season (days between the last spring and first fall 32°F frost) at this station: at least 221 days in 9 of 10 years, at least 245 days in half of years, and at least 275 days in 1 of 10 years. NOAA Climate Normals 1991-2020
  5. Frost dates on this page come from NOAA climate normals for the Columbia Univ Of Sc weather station (USC00381944), 7.6 miles from the center of Columbia at 223 feet, using 28 years of records from 1991 to 2020. NOAA Climate Normals 1991-2020
  6. Colorado State University Extension's vegetable planting guide (written for Colorado) groups broccoli, cabbage, kohlrabi, lettuce, onions, peas, radishes, spinach, turnips as hardy vegetables, with this rule: as early as 2-4 weeks before the average last... CSU Extension GardenNotes #720
  7. Hard freeze (28°F) at this station: the median last spring date is March 1 and the median first fall date is December 2. NOAA Climate Normals 1991-2020
  8. At this station the low reached 32°F or colder in 100% of years from 1991 to 2020, and 28°F or colder in 99.9% of years. NOAA Climate Normals 1991-2020
  9. Colorado State University Extension's vegetable planting guide (written for Colorado) groups beets, carrots, cauliflower, parsnips, potatoes, Swiss chard as semi-hardy vegetables, with this rule: as early as 0-2 weeks before the average last spring frost.... CSU Extension GardenNotes #720
  10. Colorado State University Extension's vegetable planting guide (written for Colorado) groups cantaloupe, eggplant, peppers, tomatoes, winter squash, watermelon as very tender vegetables, with this rule: typically 2 or more weeks after the average last... CSU Extension GardenNotes #720
  11. Colorado State University Extension's vegetable planting guide (written for Colorado) groups snap beans, sweet corn, cucumbers, summer squash as tender vegetables, with this rule: from seed around the average last spring frost; cucumber and summer squash... CSU Extension GardenNotes #720
  12. GardenFacts calculation: earliest planting date plus CSU days to harvest (table on this page), from the station's median last frost. NOAA Climate Normals 1991-2020
  13. CSU Extension vegetable table: soil temperature, depth, spacing, days to harvest (table on this page). CSU Extension GardenNotes #720
  14. USDA hardiness zones are based on the average annual extreme minimum winter temperature (the coldest night of each winter, averaged over 1991 to 2020 for the 2023 map), not on summer heat or frost dates. Each zone spans 10°F and each half zone (a or b)... USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map
  15. Columbia, South Carolina overlaps 17 ZIP code areas. By land area, 100% lies in ZIP code areas rated zone 8b. USDA zone map 2023 (PRISM, OSU)

Frost dates are probabilities from 1991 to 2020 weather records at one NOAA station, not a forecast. Any year can be earlier or later. The hardiness zone describes the average coldest winter night, not frost dates or summer heat. Spots inside the city can differ (ZIP table). Planting rules come from Colorado State University Extension's guide, written for Colorado. A local extension office may give dates tuned to the area. Planting and harvest dates marked GardenFacts calculation are simple arithmetic from the facts above, not advice from the source.

Hardiness zone data: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (2023), USDA Agricultural Research Service and PRISM Group, Oregon State University, prism.oregonstate.edu, accessed October 30, 2026. This is not the official USDA map. Frost data: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020. Planting rules: Colorado State University Extension.