When to plant in Mount Pleasant, SC
Planting dates worked out from Mount Pleasant's own frost records, not a generic zone chart.
Safe to plant out
Mar 3
1 year in 10 has a later frost
Average last frost
Feb 5
about a 50% chance of a later one
Average first fall frost
Dec 23
1 year in 10 by Dec 7
Frost-free days
319
median, 1991–2020
Station used: Dwtn Charleston · 6.1 km away · station 3 m, town 3 m. How we match towns to stations
This season
Plan your garden.
Planting dates for common crops
| Crop | Start indoors | Plant out or sow | Harvest from |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomato | Jan 6 – Jan 20 | Mar 3 – Mar 17 | Apr 27 |
| Sweet pepper | Dec 23 – Jan 6 | Mar 3 – Mar 17 | May 2 |
| Lettuce (leaf) | Dec 4 – Dec 11 | Jan 8 – Jan 22 | Feb 17 |
| Peas | — | Dec 25 – Jan 22 | Feb 18 |
| Bush beans Season likely too short |
— | Feb 24 – Mar 17 | Apr 15 |
| Carrot | — | Jan 15 – Feb 26 | Mar 16 |
| Beet | — | Jan 8 – Feb 19 | Feb 27 |
| Potato | — | Jan 15 – Feb 5 | Mar 26 |
| Kale | Nov 27 – Dec 11 | Jan 8 – Jan 22 | Feb 20 |
| Broccoli | Nov 27 – Dec 11 | Jan 8 – Jan 29 | Mar 9 |
| Cucumber | Feb 3 – Feb 10 | Mar 3 – Mar 17 | Apr 22 |
| Summer squash and zucchini | Feb 3 – Feb 10 | Mar 3 – Mar 17 | Apr 17 |
| Winter squash | Feb 3 – Feb 10 | Mar 3 – Mar 17 | May 22 |
| Sweet corn Season likely too short |
— | Feb 24 – Mar 17 | Apr 25 |
| Onion (from sets) | — | Jan 8 – Jan 29 | Apr 8 |
| Garlic | — | Dec 9 – Jan 6 (fall) | following summer |
| Spinach | — | Dec 25 – Jan 22 | Feb 1 |
| Basil | Jan 20 – Feb 3 | Mar 3 – Mar 17 | Apr 29 |
Mount Pleasant's weather over time
How the growing season has shifted here, year by year, from the station's own records.
Each year's last spring frostLong-term trend
See the data as a table
| Year | Last spring frost |
|---|---|
| 1893 | Mar 5 |
| 1894 | Mar 27 |
| 1895 | Feb 16 |
| 1896 | Feb 22 |
| 1897 | Jan 31 |
| 1898 | Feb 22 |
| 1899 | Mar 8 |
| 1900 | Feb 25 |
| 1901 | Mar 7 |
| 1902 | Mar 19 |
| 1903 | Feb 18 |
| 1904 | Feb 13 |
| 1905 | Feb 16 |
| 1906 | Feb 28 |
| 1907 | Feb 8 |
| 1908 | Feb 28 |
| 1909 | Feb 1 |
| 1910 | Feb 14 |
| 1911 | Feb 22 |
| 1912 | Feb 12 |
| 1913 | Feb 14 |
| 1914 | Mar 21 |
| 1915 | Jan 21 |
| 1916 | Mar 16 |
| 1917 | Feb 13 |
| 1918 | Feb 5 |
| 1919 | Feb 17 |
| 1920 | Mar 8 |
| 1921 | Jan 27 |
| 1922 | Feb 17 |
| 1923 | Feb 24 |
| 1924 | Mar 11 |
| 1925 | Mar 3 |
| 1926 | Mar 14 |
| 1927 | Mar 3 |
| 1928 | Feb 19 |
| 1929 | Feb 14 |
| 1930 | Mar 3 |
| 1931 | Feb 15 |
| 1932 | Mar 15 |
| 1933 | Feb 12 |
| 1934 | Mar 12 |
| 1935 | Feb 28 |
| 1936 | Feb 22 |
| 1937 | Mar 1 |
| 1939 | Feb 24 |
| 1940 | Feb 26 |
| 1941 | Mar 2 |
| 1942 | Feb 28 |
| 1943 | Mar 4 |
| 1944 | Feb 13 |
| 1945 | Feb 2 |
| 1946 | Jan 28 |
| 1947 | Mar 3 |
| 1948 | Feb 11 |
| 1951 | Feb 11 |
| 1952 | Jan 31 |
| 1953 | Jan 4 |
| 1954 | Jan 13 |
| 1955 | Mar 27 |
| 1956 | Jan 10 |
| 1957 | Jan 19 |
| 1958 | Feb 21 |
| 1959 | Feb 21 |
| 1960 | Mar 13 |
| 1961 | Feb 5 |
| 1962 | Mar 6 |
| 1963 | Feb 27 |
| 1964 | Feb 12 |
| 1965 | Feb 26 |
| 1966 | Feb 6 |
| 1967 | Feb 26 |
| 1968 | Mar 1 |
| 1969 | Mar 11 |
| 1970 | Feb 26 |
| 1971 | Feb 14 |
| 1972 | Feb 20 |
| 1973 | Feb 18 |
| 1974 | Feb 26 |
| 1975 | Mar 3 |
| 1976 | Jan 20 |
| 1977 | Feb 17 |
| 1978 | Mar 5 |
| 1979 | Feb 19 |
| 1980 | Mar 3 |
| 1981 | Feb 12 |
| 1982 | Jan 27 |
| 1983 | Jan 20 |
| 1984 | Feb 8 |
| 1985 | Feb 13 |
| 1986 | Jan 29 |
| 1987 | Jan 27 |
| 1988 | Feb 13 |
| 1989 | Feb 25 |
| 1990 | Feb 26 |
| 1991 | Feb 17 |
| 1992 | Jan 20 |
| 1993 | Mar 16 |
| 1994 | Jan 22 |
| 1995 | Feb 9 |
| 1996 | Mar 9 |
| 1997 | Jan 19 |
| 1999 | Jan 6 |
| 2000 | Jan 28 |
| 2001 | Jan 26 |
| 2002 | Mar 5 |
| 2003 | Jan 28 |
| 2004 | Jan 28 |
| 2005 | Jan 28 |
| 2006 | Feb 13 |
| 2007 | Feb 6 |
| 2008 | Feb 28 |
| 2009 | Mar 3 |
| 2010 | Feb 26 |
| 2011 | Jan 23 |
| 2012 | Feb 12 |
| 2013 | Feb 17 |
| 2014 | Jan 30 |
| 2015 | Feb 20 |
| 2016 | Feb 14 |
| 2017 | Jan 9 |
| 2018 | Jan 18 |
| 2020 | Feb 22 |
| 2022 | Jan 30 |
| 2024 | Jan 21 |
Each year's frost-free daysLong-term trend
See the data as a table
| Year | Frost-free days |
|---|---|
| 1893 | 300 |
| 1894 | 274 |
| 1895 | 290 |
| 1896 | 283 |
| 1897 | 333 |
| 1898 | 277 |
| 1899 | 292 |
| 1900 | 308 |
| 1901 | 254 |
| 1902 | 281 |
| 1903 | 273 |
| 1904 | 318 |
| 1905 | 291 |
| 1906 | 297 |
| 1907 | 299 |
| 1908 | 305 |
| 1909 | 311 |
| 1910 | 289 |
| 1911 | 275 |
| 1912 | 318 |
| 1913 | 269 |
| 1914 | 243 |
| 1915 | 326 |
| 1916 | 244 |
| 1917 | 284 |
| 1918 | 326 |
| 1919 | 300 |
| 1920 | 297 |
| 1921 | 337 |
| 1922 | 316 |
| 1923 | 309 |
| 1924 | 265 |
| 1925 | 265 |
| 1926 | 279 |
| 1927 | 280 |
| 1928 | 279 |
| 1929 | 288 |
| 1930 | 268 |
| 1931 | 318 |
| 1932 | 290 |
| 1933 | 321 |
| 1934 | 273 |
| 1935 | 268 |
| 1936 | 278 |
| 1937 | 264 |
| 1939 | 309 |
| 1940 | 262 |
| 1941 | 303 |
| 1942 | 288 |
| 1943 | 285 |
| 1944 | 291 |
| 1945 | 294 |
| 1946 | 308 |
| 1947 | 272 |
| 1948 | 317 |
| 1949 | 363 |
| 1950 | 327 |
| 1951 | 280 |
| 1952 | 317 |
| 1953 | 346 |
| 1954 | 293 |
| 1955 | 246 |
| 1956 | 316 |
| 1957 | 315 |
| 1958 | 292 |
| 1959 | 280 |
| 1960 | 263 |
| 1961 | 322 |
| 1962 | 275 |
| 1963 | 290 |
| 1964 | 291 |
| 1965 | 307 |
| 1966 | 300 |
| 1967 | 300 |
| 1968 | 282 |
| 1969 | 248 |
| 1970 | 270 |
| 1971 | 319 |
| 1972 | 299 |
| 1973 | 295 |
| 1974 | 294 |
| 1975 | 290 |
| 1976 | 334 |
| 1977 | 292 |
| 1978 | 300 |
| 1979 | 286 |
| 1980 | 292 |
| 1981 | 300 |
| 1982 | 319 |
| 1983 | 337 |
| 1984 | 301 |
| 1985 | 309 |
| 1986 | 335 |
| 1987 | 337 |
| 1988 | 301 |
| 1989 | 281 |
| 1990 | 307 |
| 1991 | 304 |
| 1992 | 319 |
| 1993 | 284 |
| 1994 | 342 |
| 1995 | 304 |
| 1996 | 284 |
| 1997 | 321 |
| 1998 | 363 |
| 1999 | 353 |
| 2000 | 297 |
| 2001 | 338 |
| 2002 | 300 |
| 2003 | 336 |
| 2004 | 325 |
| 2005 | 336 |
| 2006 | 297 |
| 2007 | 327 |
| 2008 | 305 |
| 2009 | 302 |
| 2010 | 283 |
| 2011 | 341 |
| 2012 | 321 |
| 2013 | 316 |
| 2014 | 292 |
| 2015 | 313 |
| 2016 | 319 |
| 2017 | 353 |
| 2018 | 346 |
| 2019 | 363 |
| 2020 | 306 |
| 2021 | 363 |
| 2022 | 326 |
| 2023 | 363 |
| 2024 | 343 |
Each year's average temperature, April to SeptemberLong-term trend
See the data as a table
| Year | Growing-season temperature |
|---|---|
| 1893 | 24.8 °C |
| 1894 | 23.9 °C |
| 1895 | 24.4 °C |
| 1896 | 25.1 °C |
| 1897 | 24.5 °C |
| 1898 | 24.7 °C |
| 1899 | 24.8 °C |
| 1900 | 25.3 °C |
| 1901 | 23.8 °C |
| 1902 | 24.4 °C |
| 1903 | 23.9 °C |
| 1904 | 23.7 °C |
| 1905 | 24.8 °C |
| 1906 | 24.8 °C |
| 1907 | 23.9 °C |
| 1908 | 24.7 °C |
| 1909 | 24.1 °C |
| 1910 | 24.1 °C |
| 1911 | 24.7 °C |
| 1912 | 24.9 °C |
| 1913 | 23.8 °C |
| 1914 | 24.4 °C |
| 1915 | 24.9 °C |
| 1916 | 24.1 °C |
| 1917 | 23.9 °C |
| 1918 | 23.9 °C |
| 1919 | 24.3 °C |
| 1920 | 23.8 °C |
| 1921 | 24.8 °C |
| 1922 | 24.7 °C |
| 1923 | 24.2 °C |
| 1924 | 24.4 °C |
| 1925 | 25.2 °C |
| 1926 | 24.6 °C |
| 1927 | 24.6 °C |
| 1928 | 24.2 °C |
| 1929 | 24.2 °C |
| 1930 | 24.9 °C |
| 1931 | 24.4 °C |
| 1932 | 24.7 °C |
| 1933 | 25.3 °C |
| 1934 | 25.0 °C |
| 1935 | 24.5 °C |
| 1936 | 24.8 °C |
| 1937 | 24.4 °C |
| 1939 | 24.9 °C |
| 1940 | 24.0 °C |
| 1941 | 24.9 °C |
| 1942 | 25.0 °C |
| 1943 | 24.7 °C |
| 1944 | 24.7 °C |
| 1945 | 25.1 °C |
| 1946 | 24.2 °C |
| 1947 | 24.4 °C |
| 1948 | 24.8 °C |
| 1949 | 24.6 °C |
| 1950 | 24.3 °C |
| 1951 | 24.4 °C |
| 1952 | 25.0 °C |
| 1953 | 24.9 °C |
| 1954 | 25.2 °C |
| 1955 | 24.8 °C |
| 1956 | 24.5 °C |
| 1957 | 24.6 °C |
| 1958 | 24.7 °C |
| 1959 | 24.8 °C |
| 1960 | 24.4 °C |
| 1961 | 23.7 °C |
| 1962 | 24.2 °C |
| 1963 | 24.1 °C |
| 1964 | 24.3 °C |
| 1965 | 24.7 °C |
| 1966 | 23.9 °C |
| 1967 | 23.8 °C |
| 1968 | 24.7 °C |
| 1969 | 24.3 °C |
| 1970 | 25.3 °C |
| 1971 | 24.4 °C |
| 1972 | 24.0 °C |
| 1973 | 24.5 °C |
| 1974 | 24.0 °C |
| 1975 | 24.9 °C |
| 1976 | 24.1 °C |
| 1977 | 26.0 °C |
| 1978 | 25.2 °C |
| 1979 | 24.1 °C |
| 1980 | 25.5 °C |
| 1981 | 24.9 °C |
| 1982 | 24.4 °C |
| 1983 | 23.9 °C |
| 1984 | 24.2 °C |
| 1985 | 25.4 °C |
| 1986 | 25.1 °C |
| 1987 | 24.4 °C |
| 1988 | 23.8 °C |
| 1989 | 24.2 °C |
| 1990 | 25.0 °C |
| 1991 | 25.5 °C |
| 1992 | 24.0 °C |
| 1993 | 24.6 °C |
| 1994 | 24.4 °C |
| 1995 | 24.9 °C |
| 1996 | 24.6 °C |
| 1997 | 24.0 °C |
| 1998 | 26.9 °C |
| 1999 | 24.9 °C |
| 2000 | 25.0 °C |
| 2001 | 25.2 °C |
| 2002 | 25.1 °C |
| 2003 | 24.5 °C |
| 2004 | 24.7 °C |
| 2005 | 24.6 °C |
| 2006 | 24.9 °C |
| 2007 | 24.5 °C |
| 2008 | 24.6 °C |
| 2009 | 24.6 °C |
| 2010 | 25.9 °C |
| 2011 | 25.6 °C |
| 2012 | 24.9 °C |
| 2013 | 24.3 °C |
| 2014 | 25.5 °C |
| 2015 | 25.4 °C |
| 2016 | 25.6 °C |
| 2017 | 25.4 °C |
| 2018 | 25.4 °C |
| 2019 | 25.6 °C |
| 2020 | 25.0 °C |
| 2021 | 25.6 °C |
| 2022 | 25.2 °C |
| 2023 | 24.9 °C |
| 2024 | 25.4 °C |
What this means for you: Since 1893, Mount Pleasant's last spring frost has come about 2 days earlier per decade, on average. The frost-free season has grown by about 3 days per decade. Year-to-year swings are large, so keep using the safe date rather than the trend.
Source: daily records from Dwtn Charleston (NOAA GHCN-Daily). Years with too many missing days are left out.