When to Plant Peppers in South Carolina
In South Carolina, the time to transplant peppers outside runs from Feb 18 – Mar 4 in Charleston to May 4 – May 18 in Gaffney. In Charleston, it's Feb 18 – Mar 4. The average last spring frost differs by about 11 weeks across the state (Feb 4 in Charleston, Apr 20 in Gaffney), so use the dates for the town nearest you.
Peppers need even more warmth than tomatoes. Start them early indoors and set them out once the soil has warmed, two to four weeks after the last frost.
- Start indoors: 8–10 weeks before the last frost.
- Transplant outside: 2–4 weeks after the last frost.
Peppers planting dates in South Carolina by city
| City | Zone | Start indoors | Transplant outside |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aiken | 8b | Jan 8 – Jan 22 | Apr 2 – Apr 16 |
| Anderson | 8a | Jan 12 – Jan 26 | Apr 6 – Apr 20 |
| Beaufort | 9a | Dec 20 – Jan 3 | Mar 14 – Mar 28 |
| Bluffton | 9a | Dec 22 – Jan 5 | Mar 16 – Mar 30 |
| Cayce | 8b | Jan 2 – Jan 16 | Mar 27 – Apr 10 |
| Charleston | 9a | Nov 26 – Dec 10 | Feb 18 – Mar 4 |
| Clemson | 8a | Jan 21 – Feb 4 | Apr 15 – Apr 29 |
| Columbia | 8b | Jan 11 – Jan 25 | Apr 5 – Apr 19 |
| Conway | 8b | Jan 4 – Jan 18 | Mar 29 – Apr 12 |
| Easley | 8a | Jan 21 – Feb 4 | Apr 15 – Apr 29 |
| Florence | 8b | Jan 8 – Jan 22 | Apr 2 – Apr 16 |
| Fort Mill | 8a | Jan 20 – Feb 3 | Apr 14 – Apr 28 |
| Fountain Inn | 8a | Jan 18 – Feb 1 | Apr 12 – Apr 26 |
| Gaffney | 8a | Feb 9 – Feb 23 | May 4 – May 18 |
| Goose Creek | 8b | Dec 27 – Jan 10 | Mar 21 – Apr 4 |
| Greenville | 8a | Jan 17 – Jan 31 | Apr 11 – Apr 25 |
| Greenwood | 8a | Jan 15 – Jan 29 | Apr 9 – Apr 23 |
| Greer | 8a | Jan 17 – Jan 31 | Apr 11 – Apr 25 |
| Hanahan | 9a | Dec 27 – Jan 10 | Mar 21 – Apr 4 |
| Hardeeville | 9a | Dec 22 – Jan 5 | Mar 16 – Mar 30 |
| Hilton Head Island | 9b | Dec 23 – Jan 6 | Mar 17 – Mar 31 |
| Irmo | 8b | Jan 30 – Feb 13 | Apr 24 – May 8 |
| James Island | 9a | Nov 26 – Dec 10 | Feb 18 – Mar 4 |
| Lexington | 8b | Jan 14 – Jan 28 | Apr 8 – Apr 22 |
| Mauldin | 8a | Jan 17 – Jan 31 | Apr 11 – Apr 25 |
| Moncks Corner | 8b | Dec 30 – Jan 13 | Mar 24 – Apr 7 |
| Mount Pleasant | 9a | Jan 2 – Jan 16 | Mar 27 – Apr 10 |
| Myrtle Beach | 8b | Jan 10 – Jan 24 | Apr 4 – Apr 18 |
| North Augusta | 8b | Dec 19 – Jan 2 | Mar 13 – Mar 27 |
| North Charleston | 9a | Dec 27 – Jan 10 | Mar 21 – Apr 4 |
| North Myrtle Beach | 8b | Jan 2 – Jan 16 | Mar 27 – Apr 10 |
| Orangeburg | 8b | Jan 2 – Jan 16 | Mar 27 – Apr 10 |
| Port Royal | 9a | Dec 23 – Jan 6 | Mar 17 – Mar 31 |
| Rock Hill | 8a | Jan 16 – Jan 30 | Apr 10 – Apr 24 |
| Simpsonville | 8a | Jan 18 – Feb 1 | Apr 12 – Apr 26 |
| Spartanburg | 8a | Jan 28 – Feb 11 | Apr 22 – May 6 |
| Summerville | 8b | Jan 11 – Jan 25 | Apr 5 – Apr 19 |
| Sumter | 8b | Jan 13 – Jan 27 | Apr 7 – Apr 21 |
| Tega Cay | 8a | Jan 20 – Feb 3 | Apr 14 – Apr 28 |
| West Columbia | 8b | Jan 14 – Jan 28 | Apr 8 – Apr 22 |
Calculated from each town's average (50%) frost dates, from the nearest NOAA station (1991–2020). Typical dates for the 2027 planting season, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 averages. They are long-term odds, not a forecast: always check your local forecast before planting. Zones: 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (USDA-ARS and Oregon State University). Not the official map; see planthardiness.ars.usda.gov.
See all frost dates in South Carolina, or the general guide to when to plant peppers.
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