In Charleston, the average last spring frost is Mar 10 and the average first fall frost is Nov 30, a growing season of about 265 days (zone 9a). Start tomatoes indoors around Jan 27 and move them outside from Mar 24. For a fall and winter garden, sow peas and kale around Sep 21, lettuce around Oct 5, spinach around Oct 12 and radishes around Oct 26.
Charleston at a glance
- Last spring frost
- Mar 10 (average)
- First fall frost
- Nov 30 (average)
- Frost-free season
- About 265 days
- Hardiness zone
- 9a (USDA)
- Weather stations
- Charleston City, SC; Sullivans Is, SC; and Charleston Intl AP, SC, 1991 to 2020 normals. GrowSmart's dates are the median of these stations, to within 3 days
An average frost date means frost is still possible after it in about half of years. GrowSmart times tender crops like tomatoes, peppers and basil after this date, not on it.
What to plant in Charleston this month (January)
- Start tomatoes indoors: Jan 27
- Start peppers indoors: Jan 27
- Start eggplant indoors: Jan 27
- Start lettuce indoors: Jan 27
Coming up in early February: start kale indoors (Feb 3), start broccoli indoors (Feb 3), start cabbage indoors (Feb 3) and start basil indoors (Feb 10).
What to plant in Charleston this month (February)
- Start kale indoors: Feb 3
- Start broccoli indoors: Feb 3
- Start cabbage indoors: Feb 3
- Start basil indoors: Feb 10
- Direct sow spinach: Feb 17
- Direct sow peas: Feb 17
- Direct sow radishes: Feb 17
- Transplant lettuce: Feb 24
- Direct sow carrots: Feb 24
- Start cucumbers indoors: Feb 24
- Start zucchini indoors: Feb 24
- Start winter squash indoors: Feb 24
Coming up in early March: direct sow beets (Mar 3), transplant kale (Mar 3), transplant broccoli (Mar 3), transplant cabbage (Mar 3), direct sow potatoes (Mar 3) and transplant onions (Mar 10).
What to plant in Charleston this month (March)
- Direct sow beets: Mar 3
- Transplant kale: Mar 3
- Transplant broccoli: Mar 3
- Transplant cabbage: Mar 3
- Direct sow potatoes: Mar 3
- Transplant onions: Mar 10
- Transplant cucumbers: Mar 17
- Transplant zucchini: Mar 17
- Transplant winter squash: Mar 17
- Direct sow beans: Mar 17
- Transplant tomatoes: Mar 24
- Transplant peppers: Mar 24
- Transplant eggplant: Mar 24
- Transplant basil: Mar 24
What to plant in Charleston this month (April)
Nothing is scheduled to be sown or planted in Charleston in April. Next up: sow peas for a fall harvest on Sep 21.
What to plant in Charleston this month (May)
Nothing is scheduled to be sown or planted in Charleston in May. Next up: sow peas for a fall harvest on Sep 21.
What to plant in Charleston this month (June)
Nothing is scheduled to be sown or planted in Charleston in June. Next up: sow peas for a fall harvest on Sep 21.
What to plant in Charleston this month (July)
Nothing is scheduled to be sown or planted in Charleston in July. Next up: sow peas for a fall harvest on Sep 21.
What to plant in Charleston this month (August)
Nothing is scheduled to be sown or planted in Charleston in August. Next up: sow peas for a fall harvest on Sep 21.
What to plant in Charleston this month (September)
- Sow peas for a fall harvest: Sep 21
- Sow kale for a fall harvest: Sep 21
Coming up in early October: sow lettuce for a fall harvest (Oct 5) and sow spinach for a fall harvest (Oct 12).
What to plant in Charleston this month (October)
- Sow lettuce for a fall harvest: Oct 5
- Sow spinach for a fall harvest: Oct 12
- Plant garlic: Oct 19
- Sow radishes for a fall harvest: Oct 26
What to plant in Charleston this month (November)
Nothing is scheduled to be sown or planted in Charleston in November. Next up: start onions indoors on Dec 30.
What to plant in Charleston this month (December)
- Start onions indoors: Dec 30
Charleston planting calendar
| Crop | Start indoors | Plant outside | Harvest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomatoes | Jan 27 | Transplant Mar 24 | From Jun 10 |
| Peppers | Jan 27 | Transplant Mar 24 | From Jun 4 |
| Eggplant | Jan 27 | Transplant Mar 24 | From Jun 7 |
| Basil | Feb 10 | Transplant Mar 24 | From May 5 |
| Onions (from seed) | Dec 30 | Transplant Mar 10 | From Jun 18 |
| Lettuce | Jan 27 | Transplant Feb 24Fall: direct sow Oct 5 | From Apr 5Fall: from Nov 14 |
| Spinach | n/a | Direct sow Feb 17Fall: direct sow Oct 12 | From Mar 29Fall: from Nov 21 |
| Peas | n/a | Direct sow Feb 17Fall: direct sow Sep 21 | From Apr 18Fall: from Nov 20 |
| Radishes | n/a | Direct sow Feb 17Fall: direct sow Oct 26 | From Mar 14Fall: from Nov 20 |
| Carrots | n/a | Direct sow Feb 24 | From May 5 |
| Beets | n/a | Direct sow Mar 3 | From Apr 27 |
| Kale | Feb 3 | Transplant Mar 3Fall: direct sow Sep 21 | From Apr 27Fall: from Nov 15 |
| Broccoli | Feb 3 | Transplant Mar 3 | From May 7 |
| Cabbage | Feb 3 | Transplant Mar 3 | From May 12 |
| Cucumbers | Feb 24 | Transplant Mar 17 | From May 11 |
| Zucchini | Feb 24 | Transplant Mar 17 | From May 6 |
| Winter squash | Feb 24 | Transplant Mar 17 | From Jun 15 |
| Beans | n/a | Direct sow Mar 17 | From May 11 |
| Potatoes | n/a | Direct sow Mar 3 | From May 22 |
| Garlic | n/a | Plant cloves around Oct 19 | Around Jun 2 the next year |
Dates are for one planting of each crop, from Charleston's average frost dates. Tomatoes are indeterminate, lettuce is looseleaf and beans are bush beans. Harvest dates are when the first picking is usually ready.
Fall planting in Charleston
GrowSmart schedules garlic in Charleston around Oct 19, six weeks before the average first fall frost of Nov 30, with harvest around Jun 2.
Shallots: GrowSmart's plan has you plant shallot sets in fall in zone 5 and warmer, and in spring in colder zones.
Cool-season crops GrowSmart schedules for a fall harvest in Charleston:
- Peas: sow Sep 21, ready from about Nov 20
- Kale: sow Sep 21, ready from about Nov 15
- Lettuce: sow Oct 5, ready from about Nov 14
- Spinach: sow Oct 12, ready from about Nov 21
- Radishes: sow Oct 26, ready from about Nov 20
Nearby planting calendars
Charleston planting questions
When is the last frost in Charleston?
The average last spring frost in Charleston is Mar 10, and the average first fall frost is Nov 30, from 1991 to 2020 climate normals at 3 nearby weather stations. Frost is still possible after the spring date in about half of years.
When should I start tomato seeds in Charleston?
Start tomatoes indoors around Jan 27, 8 weeks before moving them outside around Mar 24, which is two weeks after the average last frost.
What can I plant in Charleston in fall?
Fall and winter is a main growing season in Charleston. Sow peas and kale around Sep 21, lettuce around Oct 5, spinach around Oct 12 and radishes around Oct 26, and plant garlic around Oct 19.