Mount Pleasant, SC planting zone & frost dates
Mount Pleasant is in USDA hardiness zone 9a. The last spring frost usually comes around March 13 and the first fall frost around November 30, for a growing season of about 262 days.
Planting calendar for Mount Pleasant
Dates are counted from the average last spring frost (March 13) 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 16 – Jan 30 Transplant outdoors: Mar 20 – Mar 27 |
| Peppers | Start seeds indoors: Jan 2 – Jan 16 Transplant outdoors: Mar 27 – Apr 3 |
| Eggplant | Start seeds indoors: Jan 2 – Jan 16 Transplant outdoors: Mar 27 – Apr 3 |
| Broccoli | Start seeds indoors: Jan 2 – Jan 16 Transplant outdoors: Feb 13 – Feb 27 |
| Cabbage | Start seeds indoors: Jan 2 – Jan 16 Transplant outdoors: Feb 13 – Feb 27 |
| Onions (sets) | Plant outdoors: Feb 13 – Feb 27 |
| Peas | Sow outdoors: Jan 30 – Feb 13 |
| Spinach | Sow outdoors: Jan 30 – Feb 13 |
| Lettuce | Sow outdoors: Feb 13 – Feb 27 |
| Carrots | Sow outdoors: Feb 13 – Feb 27 |
| Potatoes | Plant outdoors: Feb 13 – Feb 27 |
| Beans | Sow outdoors: Mar 20 – Mar 27 |
| Sweet corn | Sow outdoors: Mar 20 – Mar 27 |
| Cucumbers | Sow outdoors: Mar 20 – Mar 27 |
| Squash & zucchini | Sow outdoors: Mar 20 – Mar 27 |
| Basil | Start seeds indoors: Jan 30 – Feb 13 Transplant outdoors: Mar 20 – Mar 27 |
Fall garden: cool-season crops like lettuce, spinach and kale can be sown again around Oct 5 (8 weeks before the average first fall frost on Nov 30).
Useful for zone 9a 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
- Shade cloth — for hot summers
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Frost risk in detail
| 90% chance | 50% chance | 10% chance | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Last 32°F frost in spring is after | Feb 19 | Mar 13 | Mar 30 |
| First 32°F frost in fall is before | Dec 24 | Nov 30 | Nov 11 |
How to read it: in spring there is a 10% chance of a frost after March 30, so that is a safe date for tender plants. In fall there is a 10% chance of frost before November 11. A hard freeze (28°F) usually ends around March 1.
Hardiness zone by ZIP code in Mount Pleasant
- 29464 zone 9a
- 29465 zone 9a
- 29466 zone 9a
Nearby cities
- Charleston zone 9a, last frost Feb 4
- North Charleston zone 9a, last frost Mar 7
- Hanahan zone 9a, last frost Mar 7
- Goose Creek zone 9a, last frost Mar 7
- Ladson zone 8b, last frost Mar 7
- Summerville zone 8b, last frost Mar 22
- Beaufort zone 9a, last frost Mar 3
- Port Royal zone 9a, last frost Mar 3
Questions
What growing zone is Mount Pleasant, SC?
Mount Pleasant is in USDA Plant Hardiness Zone 9a (average extreme winter low 20°F to 25°F), according to the USDA 2023 map.
When is the last frost in Mount Pleasant?
The average last spring frost (32°F) in Mount Pleasant is March 13. There is still a 10% chance of frost until March 30.
When can I plant tomatoes in Mount Pleasant?
Transplant tomatoes outdoors 1–2 weeks after the average last frost: around Mar 20 – Mar 27. Start seeds indoors 6–8 weeks before the last frost.
Frost dates: NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station Sullivans Is, SC (USC00388405), 3.6 km (2.2 mi) from the city center, elevation 2 m, based on 24 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.