USDA hardiness zone lookup
Charleston, SC — USDA Zone 9a
Charleston, South Carolina · 256-day growing season
Frost dates and growing season in Charleston
| USDA hardiness zone | Zone 9a |
|---|---|
| Average last spring frost | March 12 |
| Average first fall frost | November 23 |
| Growing season length | ~256 days |
| Temperature range (F) | 20 to 30°F |
| Temperature range (C) | -7 to -1°C |
All of Charleston's mapped ZIP codes fall in the same hardiness band, Zone 9a.
These are 50%-probability averages modeled from Charleston's USDA hardiness zone and regional climate normals — not a single-station reading. In a typical year the last spring frost will have passed by March 12, but a colder-than-average year can run 1-2 weeks later. Plant tender crops (tomatoes, peppers, basil) once both soil and night temperatures are consistently warm — a thermometer beats the calendar.
Growing season in Charleston
Charleston, South Carolina sits in USDA Zone 9a, with roughly 256 frost-free days between an average last spring frost around March 12 and a first fall frost around November 23. That is a near year-round season — the limiting factor is summer heat, not frost, so schedule cool-season crops for winter and protect tender ones from extreme highs. Charleston lies near 32.8°N; higher-latitude gardens get longer midsummer days but a tighter shoulder season at this zone.
What grows in Charleston
Charleston falls in USDA Zone 9a, so the same hardiness constraints apply as the full Zone 9 guide. Vegetables, herbs, and fruit trees rated to Zone 9a (or hardier) will overwinter here in a typical year.
- Tomatoes (year-round in many areas)
- Peppers (all year)
- Citrus (oranges, lemons, limes, grapefruit)
- Avocado
- Mango (warmer areas)
- Banana
- Sweet potatoes
- Okra
- Southern peas
- Pomegranates
What to plant in Charleston this week
Charleston is in high summer — most spring plantings are in. Keep an eye on watering and start planning your fall crop. Cool-season seedlings (broccoli, cabbage, lettuce) can be started indoors for a fall transplant.
- When to plant tomatoes in zone 9
- When to plant peppers in zone 9
- When to plant bush beans in zone 9
- When to plant cucumbers in zone 9
- When to plant basil in zone 9
Full planting calendar for Charleston
Crop-by-crop sowing, transplant, and harvest dates calibrated to zone 9 averages:
- When to plant tomatoes in zone 9
- When to plant peppers in zone 9
- When to plant basil in zone 9
- When to plant garlic in zone 9
- When to plant lettuce in zone 9
- When to plant bush beans in zone 9
- When to plant cucumbers in zone 9
- When to plant summer squash in zone 9
- When to plant peas in zone 9
- When to plant carrots in zone 9
ZIP codes in Charleston
Drill down to the precise frost window and planting calendar for a specific ZIP in Charleston:
Local microclimate notes
Zone tables give you the average — but Charlestongardens vary. South-facing walls and paved areas can run a full half-zone warmer than the published rating. Low-lying spots, frost pockets, and shaded north sides can run colder. If you've gardened here a few seasons, your own frost record — the last time you actually got frost damage — beats any national average.
Source and methodology
Hardiness zone from the USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (2023 revision). Frost-date and growing-season figures are modeled from Charleston's USDA hardiness zone and regional NOAA 1991-2020 climate normals — zone-level estimates, not a per-station record, so treat them as planning guidance and confirm against your own local frost history. Crop recommendations draw on US Cooperative Extension references, curated by the Growli editorial team. Last reviewed June 2026.
Other cities in South Carolina
- Columbia, SC — USDA Zone 8a
- Florence, SC — USDA Zone 8b
- Greenville, SC — USDA Zone 7b
- Hilton Head Island, SC — USDA Zone 9a
- Mount Pleasant, SC — USDA Zone 9a
- Myrtle Beach, SC — USDA Zone 8b
- Simpsonville, SC — USDA Zone 8a
- Spartanburg, SC — USDA Zone 8a
- Sumter, SC — USDA Zone 8b
- All of South Carolina by zone