GardenFacts

All states › South Carolina › Spartanburg

Frost dates and planting calendar for Spartanburg, South Carolina

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

USDA hardiness zone
8a[1]
Median last spring frost
Apr 8[2]
Median first fall frost
Nov 1[3]
Growing season, median
206 days[4]

Spartanburg, South Carolina sits in USDA hardiness zone 8a[1]. The median last spring frost is April 8, which means in half of years the last frost comes after that date[2].

Frost dates

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecLast spring frost: 9 in 10 years after Mar 20, half of years Apr 8, 1 in 10 years after Apr 23Last frostmedian Apr 8First fall frost: 9 in 10 years before Nov 14, half of years Nov 1, 1 in 10 years before Oct 17First frostmedian Nov 1Frost riskHardyHardy vegetables: plant Mar 11 to Mar 25Mar 11 to Mar 25Semi-hardySemi-hardy vegetables: plant Mar 25 to Apr 8Mar 25 to Apr 8TenderTender vegetables: plant around Apr 8around Apr 8Very tenderVery tender vegetables: plant from Apr 22from Apr 22
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 frost dates are odds from NOAA records for 1991 to 2020, not a forecast[5]. In 9 of 10 years the last spring frost comes after March 20, and in 1 of 10 years it comes after April 23[2]. In the fall, the median first frost is November 1, so in half of years the first frost comes before that date[3]. In 1 of 10 years the first frost comes before October 17[3]. All of these come from the Spartanburg 3SSE weather station[5].

Frost Likely (9 in 10 years) Even odds (5 in 10) Unlikely (1 in 10)
Last spring frost (32°F)[2] after March 20 after April 8 after April 23
First fall frost (32°F)[3] before October 17 before November 1 before November 14
  • Hard freeze (28°F): median last spring date March 24, median first fall date November 11[7].
  • Frost-free growing season: at least 186 days in 9 of 10 years, 206 days in half of years and 229 days in 1 of 10 years[4].
  • The low reached 32°F or colder in 100% of years and 28°F or colder in 100% of years[8].
  • Weather station: Spartanburg 3SSE (USC00388188), 2.7 miles from the city center, 610 feet, 29 years of 1991 to 2020 records[5].

When to plant vegetables

Colorado State University Extension wrote its planting guide for Colorado, so these dates are simple arithmetic and not local advice[6]. We used the NOAA median last frost, April 8, as the average last frost[6]. Hardy vegetables such as broccoli, lettuce and peas can go in as early as 2 to 4 weeks before that date, which is March 11 to March 25[6]. Semi-hardy vegetables such as carrots and potatoes can go in as early as March 25[9]. Tender vegetables such as snap beans and sweet corn start from seed around April 8[10]. Very tender vegetables such as tomatoes and peppers typically wait 2 or more weeks after the last frost, so the earliest start is April 22[11].

  • Hardy (broccoli, cabbage, kohlrabi, lettuce, onions, peas, radishes, spinach, turnips): as early as 2 to 4 weeks before the median last frost (April 8) is March 11 to March 25[6]
  • Semi-hardy (beets, carrots, cauliflower, parsnips, potatoes, Swiss chard): as early as 2 weeks before the median last frost (April 8) is March 25, up to the median date itself[9]
  • Tender (snap beans, sweet corn, cucumbers, summer squash): from seed around the median last frost date, April 8[10]
  • Very tender (cantaloupe, eggplant, peppers, tomatoes, winter squash, watermelon): the earliest start, two weeks after the median last frost (April 8), is April 22[11]
Vegetable (CSU group) Plant from First harvest around
Broccoli (hardy)[12] Mar 11 May 15 (from transplants)
Cabbage (hardy)[12] Mar 11 Jun 4 (from transplants)
Kohlrabi (hardy)[12] Mar 11 Apr 30
Lettuce (hardy)[12] Mar 11 May 10
Onions (hardy)[12] Mar 11 Jun 29
Peas (hardy)[12] Mar 11 May 15
Radishes (hardy)[12] Mar 11 Apr 10
Spinach (hardy)[12] Mar 11 Apr 20
Turnips (hardy)[12] Mar 11 Apr 30
Beets (semi-hardy)[12] Mar 25 May 24
Carrots (semi-hardy)[12] Mar 25 Jun 3
Cauliflower (semi-hardy)[12] Mar 25 not listed
Parsnips (semi-hardy)[12] Mar 25 Jun 3
Potatoes (semi-hardy)[12] Mar 25 Jul 28
Swiss chard (semi-hardy)[12] Mar 25 May 24
Snap beans (tender)[12] Apr 8 Jun 7
Sweet corn (tender)[12] Apr 8 Jun 7
Cucumbers (tender)[12] Apr 8 Jun 2
Summer squash (tender)[12] Apr 8 May 28
Cantaloupe (very tender)[12] Apr 22 Jul 16
Eggplant (very tender)[12] Apr 22 Jun 21 (from transplants)
Peppers (very tender)[12] Apr 22 Jul 1 (from transplants)
Tomatoes (very tender)[12] Apr 22 Jun 26 (from transplants)
Winter squash (very tender)[12] Apr 22 Jul 31
Watermelon (very tender)[12] Apr 22 Jul 16
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 8a means the average coldest night of each winter was 10°F to 15°F over 1991 to 2020[1]. The zone comes from winter lows, not from summer heat or frost dates[14]. The USDA map is the standard gardeners use to judge which perennial plants are most likely to thrive in a place[14]. All 8 ZIP code areas that overlap Spartanburg are rated zone 8a by land area[15].

Zone 8a: average annual extreme minimum temperature 10°F to 15°F (1991 to 2020)[1]. Modeled value at the city center: 13.2°F[1].

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

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

Zone by ZIP code
ZIP code Zone Coldest night range
29306[15] 8a 10 to 15°F
29302[15] 8a 10 to 15°F
29301[15] 8a 10 to 15°F
29307[15] 8a 10 to 15°F
29303[15] 8a 10 to 15°F
29369[15] 8a 10 to 15°F
29376[15] 8a 10 to 15°F
29333[15] 8a 10 to 15°F

Questions people ask

What growing zone is Spartanburg, South Carolina?
The 2023 USDA map puts the center of Spartanburg in zone 8a[1]. All of the city's land area lies in ZIP code areas rated 8a[15].
When is the last frost in Spartanburg?
The median last spring frost is April 8, so in half of years the last frost comes after that date[2]. In 1 of 10 years it comes after April 23[2].
When to plant tomatoes in Spartanburg?
CSU Extension says very tender vegetables like tomatoes typically wait 2 or more weeks after the average last frost[11]. Using the median last frost, the earliest start is April 22[11].
When is the first frost in Spartanburg?
The median first fall frost is November 1, so in half of years the first frost comes before that date[3]. In 1 of 10 years it comes before October 17[3].
How long is the growing season in Spartanburg?
The growing season is at least 206 days in half of years[4]. It is at least 186 days in 9 of 10 years[4].

Facts and sources

  1. The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map puts the center of Spartanburg, South Carolina in zone 8a. Zone 8a means an average annual extreme minimum temperature of 10°F to 15°F over 1991 to 2020. The map's modeled value at the city center is 13.2°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 March 20, in half of years after April 8, and in 1 of 10 years after April 23 (NOAA 1991 to 2020 normals). The median last frost date is April 8. NOAA Climate Normals 1991-2020
  3. First fall frost (32°F) at this station: in 1 of 10 years the first frost comes before October 17, in half of years before November 1, and in 9 of 10 years before November 14 (NOAA 1991 to 2020 normals). The median first frost date is November 1. NOAA Climate Normals 1991-2020
  4. Growing season (days between the last spring and first fall 32°F frost) at this station: at least 186 days in 9 of 10 years, at least 206 days in half of years, and at least 229 days in 1 of 10 years. NOAA Climate Normals 1991-2020
  5. Frost dates on this page come from NOAA climate normals for the Spartanburg 3SSE weather station (USC00388188), 2.7 miles from the center of Spartanburg at 610 feet, using 29 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 24 and the median first fall date is November 11. 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 100% 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 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
  11. 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
  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. Spartanburg, South Carolina overlaps 8 ZIP code areas. By land area, 100% lies in ZIP code areas rated zone 8a. 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.