When to Plant Tomatoes in South Carolina
In South Carolina, the time to transplant tomatoes outside runs from Feb 11 – Feb 25 in Charleston to Apr 27 – May 11 in Gaffney. In Charleston, it's Feb 11 – Feb 25. 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.
Tomatoes are killed by frost and sulk in cold soil. Wait until nights stay above 50°F, usually one to three weeks after the average last frost.
- Start indoors: 6–8 weeks before the last frost.
- Transplant outside: 1–3 weeks after the last frost.
Tomatoes planting dates in South Carolina by city
| City | Zone | Start indoors | Transplant outside |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aiken | 8b | Jan 22 – Feb 5 | Mar 26 – Apr 9 |
| Anderson | 8a | Jan 26 – Feb 9 | Mar 30 – Apr 13 |
| Beaufort | 9a | Jan 3 – Jan 17 | Mar 7 – Mar 21 |
| Bluffton | 9a | Jan 5 – Jan 19 | Mar 9 – Mar 23 |
| Cayce | 8b | Jan 16 – Jan 30 | Mar 20 – Apr 3 |
| Charleston | 9a | Dec 10 – Dec 24 | Feb 11 – Feb 25 |
| Clemson | 8a | Feb 4 – Feb 18 | Apr 8 – Apr 22 |
| Columbia | 8b | Jan 25 – Feb 8 | Mar 29 – Apr 12 |
| Conway | 8b | Jan 18 – Feb 1 | Mar 22 – Apr 5 |
| Easley | 8a | Feb 4 – Feb 18 | Apr 8 – Apr 22 |
| Florence | 8b | Jan 22 – Feb 5 | Mar 26 – Apr 9 |
| Fort Mill | 8a | Feb 3 – Feb 17 | Apr 7 – Apr 21 |
| Fountain Inn | 8a | Feb 1 – Feb 15 | Apr 5 – Apr 19 |
| Gaffney | 8a | Feb 23 – Mar 9 | Apr 27 – May 11 |
| Goose Creek | 8b | Jan 10 – Jan 24 | Mar 14 – Mar 28 |
| Greenville | 8a | Jan 31 – Feb 14 | Apr 4 – Apr 18 |
| Greenwood | 8a | Jan 29 – Feb 12 | Apr 2 – Apr 16 |
| Greer | 8a | Jan 31 – Feb 14 | Apr 4 – Apr 18 |
| Hanahan | 9a | Jan 10 – Jan 24 | Mar 14 – Mar 28 |
| Hardeeville | 9a | Jan 5 – Jan 19 | Mar 9 – Mar 23 |
| Hilton Head Island | 9b | Jan 6 – Jan 20 | Mar 10 – Mar 24 |
| Irmo | 8b | Feb 13 – Feb 27 | Apr 17 – May 1 |
| James Island | 9a | Dec 10 – Dec 24 | Feb 11 – Feb 25 |
| Lexington | 8b | Jan 28 – Feb 11 | Apr 1 – Apr 15 |
| Mauldin | 8a | Jan 31 – Feb 14 | Apr 4 – Apr 18 |
| Moncks Corner | 8b | Jan 13 – Jan 27 | Mar 17 – Mar 31 |
| Mount Pleasant | 9a | Jan 16 – Jan 30 | Mar 20 – Apr 3 |
| Myrtle Beach | 8b | Jan 24 – Feb 7 | Mar 28 – Apr 11 |
| North Augusta | 8b | Jan 2 – Jan 16 | Mar 6 – Mar 20 |
| North Charleston | 9a | Jan 10 – Jan 24 | Mar 14 – Mar 28 |
| North Myrtle Beach | 8b | Jan 16 – Jan 30 | Mar 20 – Apr 3 |
| Orangeburg | 8b | Jan 16 – Jan 30 | Mar 20 – Apr 3 |
| Port Royal | 9a | Jan 6 – Jan 20 | Mar 10 – Mar 24 |
| Rock Hill | 8a | Jan 30 – Feb 13 | Apr 3 – Apr 17 |
| Simpsonville | 8a | Feb 1 – Feb 15 | Apr 5 – Apr 19 |
| Spartanburg | 8a | Feb 11 – Feb 25 | Apr 15 – Apr 29 |
| Summerville | 8b | Jan 25 – Feb 8 | Mar 29 – Apr 12 |
| Sumter | 8b | Jan 27 – Feb 10 | Mar 31 – Apr 14 |
| Tega Cay | 8a | Feb 3 – Feb 17 | Apr 7 – Apr 21 |
| West Columbia | 8b | Jan 28 – Feb 11 | Apr 1 – Apr 15 |
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 tomatoes.
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