Greenville, SC planting zone & frost dates
Greenville is in USDA hardiness zone 8b. The last spring frost usually comes around March 28 and the first fall frost around November 7, for a growing season of about 225 days.
Planting calendar for Greenville
Dates are counted from the average last spring frost (March 28) using the typical timing recommended by U.S. extension services. Warm-season crops go out only after the danger of frost has passed and the soil has warmed.
| Crop | When |
|---|---|
| Tomatoes | Start seeds indoors: Jan 31 – Feb 14 Transplant outdoors: Apr 4 – Apr 11 |
| Peppers | Start seeds indoors: Jan 17 – Jan 31 Transplant outdoors: Apr 11 – Apr 18 |
| Eggplant | Start seeds indoors: Jan 17 – Jan 31 Transplant outdoors: Apr 11 – Apr 18 |
| Broccoli | Start seeds indoors: Jan 17 – Jan 31 Transplant outdoors: Feb 28 – Mar 14 |
| Cabbage | Start seeds indoors: Jan 17 – Jan 31 Transplant outdoors: Feb 28 – Mar 14 |
| Onions (sets) | Plant outdoors: Feb 28 – Mar 14 |
| Peas | Sow outdoors: Feb 14 – Feb 28 |
| Spinach | Sow outdoors: Feb 14 – Feb 28 |
| Lettuce | Sow outdoors: Feb 28 – Mar 14 |
| Carrots | Sow outdoors: Feb 28 – Mar 14 |
| Potatoes | Plant outdoors: Feb 28 – Mar 14 |
| Beans | Sow outdoors: Apr 4 – Apr 11 |
| Sweet corn | Sow outdoors: Apr 4 – Apr 11 |
| Cucumbers | Sow outdoors: Apr 4 – Apr 11 |
| Squash & zucchini | Sow outdoors: Apr 4 – Apr 11 |
| Basil | Start seeds indoors: Feb 14 – Feb 28 Transplant outdoors: Apr 4 – Apr 11 |
Fall garden: cool-season crops like lettuce, spinach and kale can be sown again around Sep 12 (8 weeks before the average first fall frost on Nov 7).
Useful for zone 8b gardens
- Seed starting kit with dome — to start seeds indoors before the last frost
- LED grow light for seedlings — stops leggy seedlings
- Frost cloth / plant covers — for late spring and early fall frosts
- Soil thermometer — warm-season crops need soil above 60°F
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Frost risk in detail
| 90% chance | 50% chance | 10% chance | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Last 32°F frost in spring is after | Mar 13 | Mar 28 | Apr 12 |
| First 32°F frost in fall is before | Nov 26 | Nov 7 | Oct 24 |
How to read it: in spring there is a 10% chance of a frost after April 12, so that is a safe date for tender plants. In fall there is a 10% chance of frost before October 24. A hard freeze (28°F) usually ends around March 16.
Hardiness zone by ZIP code in Greenville
- 29601 zone 8a
- 29602 zone 8a
- 29603 zone 8a
- 29604 zone 8a
- 29605 zone 8a
- 29606 zone 8a
- 29607 zone 8a
- 29608 zone 8a
- 29609 zone 8a
- 29610 zone 8a
- 29611 zone 8a
- 29612 zone 8a
- 29613 zone 8a
- 29614 zone 8a
- 29615 zone 8a
- 29616 zone 8b
- 29617 zone 8a
Nearby cities
- Parker zone 8a, last frost Mar 28
- Gantt zone 8a, last frost Mar 28
- Berea zone 8a, last frost Mar 16
- Wade Hampton zone 8a, last frost Mar 16
- Mauldin zone 8a, last frost Mar 28
- Taylors zone 8a, last frost Mar 28
- Five Forks zone 8a, last frost Mar 28
- Simpsonville zone 8a, last frost Mar 29
Questions
What growing zone is Greenville, SC?
Greenville is in USDA Plant Hardiness Zone 8b (average extreme winter low 15°F to 20°F), according to the USDA 2023 map. Some ZIP codes of the city fall in zone 8a.
When is the last frost in Greenville?
The average last spring frost (32°F) in Greenville is March 28. There is still a 10% chance of frost until April 12.
When can I plant tomatoes in Greenville?
Transplant tomatoes outdoors 1–2 weeks after the average last frost: around Apr 4 – Apr 11. Start seeds indoors 6–8 weeks before the last frost.
Frost dates: NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station Greenville, SC (USC00383735), 4.3 km (2.7 mi) from the city center, elevation 293 m, based on 18 years of records. Hardiness zone: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map 2023 for the ZIP code nearest to the city center. Microclimates (valleys, hills, cities, coasts) can be warmer or colder: check the local forecast before planting. How we calculate the data.