Frost Dates & Planting Calendar for Bluffton, SC

The average first fall frost in Bluffton, SC is December 9, and the average last spring frost is March 3, giving a growing season of about 282 days.

Plan your garden around Bluffton, SC's typical frost-free growing season, using NOAA climate normals and a 42-crop planting calendar built for this location.

Last Spring Frost

March 3

Safe Mar 20 Typical Mar 3 Risky Feb 2

First Fall Frost

December 9

Safe Nov 21 Typical Dec 9 Risky Jan 4

Growing Season

282 days

Typical last frost to typical first frost.

USDA Hardiness Zone

Zone 9a

Subtropical to frost-free — heat, not cold, is the main limit on what you can grow.

Data: NOAA station BEAUFORT WWTP, SC US, 23.4 km away.

— days until the typical last spring frost

How Bluffton Compares

Bluffton's typical last spring frost (Mar 3) comes earlier than in 88% of the 58 South Carolina cities we track.
Its 282-day growing season is 43 days longer than the South Carolina median of 239 days.
Bluffton shares its NOAA weather station with Hilton Head (10 km away), so their typical frost dates are the same.
July is the warmest month (average high 91°F) and January the coldest (average low 41°F).

Monthly Temperatures

Avg. high Avg. temp Avg. low

Planting Calendar

Vegetables
Crop	Start indoors	Direct sow	Transplant	Fall planting	Maturity	Notes
Tomato	Jan 6 – Jan 20	—	Mar 10 – Mar 17	—	60–85 days	Start indoors 6-8 weeks before last frost; transplant out 1-2 weeks after last frost once soil has warmed.
Pepper	Dec 23 – Jan 6	—	Mar 10 – Mar 24	—	60–90 days	Slow to germinate; start indoors 8-10 weeks before last frost. Transplant only once nights stay above 55F, 1-3 weeks after last frost.
Eggplant	Dec 23 – Jan 6	—	Mar 17 – Mar 24	—	65–85 days	Warm-season crop, similar timing to pepper; needs consistently warm soil (65F+) to transplant.
Cucumber	Feb 3 – Feb 10	Mar 10 – Mar 17	Mar 10 – Mar 17	—	50–65 days	Can be started indoors 3-4 weeks before transplanting, or direct-sown 1-2 weeks after last frost once soil is warm.
Zucchini	Feb 10 – Feb 17	Mar 10 – Mar 24	Mar 10 – Mar 17	—	45–55 days	Fast-growing squash; direct sow 1-3 weeks after last frost, or start indoors 2-3 weeks early for a head start.
Winter Squash	Feb 3 – Feb 10	Mar 10 – Mar 24	Mar 10 – Mar 17	—	80–110 days	Long season; direct sow after soil warms, or start indoors 3-4 weeks before last frost in short-season climates.
Pumpkin	—	Mar 10 – Mar 24	—	—	90–120 days	Direct sow 1-3 weeks after last frost; back-time from your first fall frost so the 90-120 day maturity window lands before it.
Watermelon	Feb 3 – Feb 10	—	Mar 17 – Mar 24	—	70–90 days	Needs warm soil (65F+); start indoors 3-4 weeks before last frost, transplant 2-3 weeks after last frost.
Cantaloupe	Feb 3 – Feb 10	—	Mar 17 – Mar 24	—	70–90 days	Same warm-soil requirements as watermelon; avoid disturbing roots when transplanting.
Corn	—	Mar 3 – Mar 17	—	—	60–100 days	Direct sow at last frost to 2 weeks after, once soil reaches 60F; does not transplant well. Succession sow every 2 weeks.
Green Bean	—	Mar 3 – Mar 17	—	—	50–65 days	Direct sow at last frost to 2 weeks after, once soil has warmed; frost-tender, do not rush.
Pea	—	Jan 20 – Feb 3	—	—	55–70 days	Cold-hardy; direct sow 4-6 weeks before last frost as soon as soil can be worked.
Lettuce	—	Feb 3 – Feb 17	—	Oct 14 – Oct 28	45–60 days	Cold-hardy; direct sow 2-4 weeks before last frost. Also transplantable from indoor starts.
Spinach	—	Jan 20 – Feb 3	—	Oct 14 – Oct 28	40–50 days	Very cold-hardy; direct sow 4-6 weeks before last frost as soon as soil can be worked.
Kale	—	Feb 3 – Feb 17	—	Sep 30 – Oct 14	50–65 days	Cold-hardy; direct sow 2-4 weeks before last frost or start indoors for earlier transplants.
Arugula	—	Feb 3 – Feb 17	—	Oct 28 – Nov 4	30–40 days	Fast-growing, cold-tolerant green; direct sow 2-4 weeks before last frost, succession sow every 2-3 weeks.
Swiss Chard	—	Feb 10 – Feb 24	—	—	50–60 days	Fairly cold-hardy; direct sow 1-3 weeks before last frost. Tolerates light frost in fall too.
Broccoli	Jan 13 – Jan 27	—	Feb 10 – Feb 17	Oct 7 – Oct 14	55–80 days	Start indoors 5-7 weeks before last frost; transplant out 2-3 weeks before last frost (hardens off to light frost).
Cauliflower	Jan 13 – Jan 27	—	Feb 17 – Feb 24	Sep 30 – Oct 7	55–85 days	Fussier than broccoli about temperature swings; start indoors 5-7 weeks before last frost, transplant 1-2 weeks before last frost.
Cabbage	Jan 13 – Jan 27	—	Feb 3 – Feb 17	Sep 30 – Oct 14	60–100 days	Cold-hardy; start indoors 5-7 weeks before last frost, transplant 2-4 weeks before last frost.
Brussels Sprouts	Jan 13 – Jan 27	—	Feb 10 – Feb 24	—	90–110 days	Long-season crop best timed to mature after a light fall frost for sweetest flavor; start indoors 5-7 weeks before last frost.
Carrot	—	Feb 3 – Feb 17	—	Sep 16 – Sep 30	60–80 days	Direct sow only (does not transplant); sow 2-4 weeks before last frost, as soon as soil can be worked.
Beet	—	Feb 3 – Feb 17	—	Sep 30 – Oct 14	50–65 days	Direct sow 2-4 weeks before last frost; tolerates light frost.
Radish	—	Jan 27 – Feb 10	—	Oct 28 – Nov 11	22–30 days	Very fast and cold-hardy; direct sow 3-5 weeks before last frost, as soon as soil can be worked.
Turnip	—	Feb 3 – Feb 17	—	Sep 30 – Oct 14	40–60 days	Cold-hardy; direct sow 2-4 weeks before last frost.
Onion	Dec 23 – Jan 6	—	Feb 3 – Feb 17	—	90–120 days	Start seeds indoors 8-10 weeks before last frost (or use sets/transplants); set out 2-4 weeks before last frost, very cold-tolerant as seedlings.
Garlic	—	—	—	Nov 11 – Nov 25	240–270 days	Fall-planted crop only; not planted in spring in most climates.
Potato	—	Feb 3 – Feb 17	—	—	70–120 days	Plant seed potatoes 2-4 weeks before last frost, as soon as soil can be worked and is above 45F; light frost on emerging foliage is usually tolerated.
Sweet Potato	—	—	Mar 17 – Mar 31	—	90–120 days	Set out slips 2-4 weeks after last frost once soil is thoroughly warm (65F+); very frost/cold sensitive.
Asparagus	—	—	Feb 3 – Feb 17	—	730–1095 days	Perennial; plant crowns 2-4 weeks before last frost as soon as soil can be worked. Takes 2-3 years to full production.

Herbs
Crop	Start indoors	Direct sow	Transplant	Fall planting	Maturity	Notes
Basil	Jan 20 – Jan 27	—	Mar 10 – Mar 17	—	50–70 days	Very frost/cold sensitive; start indoors 5-6 weeks before last frost, transplant only after all danger of frost (1-2 weeks after) and nights stay warm.
Cilantro	—	Feb 10 – Feb 24	—	Oct 14 – Oct 28	45–70 days	Cool-season, bolts in heat; direct sow 1-3 weeks before last frost, succession sow through spring.
Parsley	Jan 6 – Jan 20	—	Feb 17 – Feb 24	—	70–90 days	Slow to germinate; start indoors 6-8 weeks before last frost, transplant 1-2 weeks before last frost (biennial, cold-tolerant).
Dill	—	Feb 10 – Feb 24	—	—	40–60 days	Taprooted, does not transplant well; direct sow 1-3 weeks before last frost, succession sow through summer.
Oregano	Jan 6 – Jan 20	—	Mar 3 – Mar 10	—	80–90 days	Perennial herb; start indoors 6-8 weeks before last frost, transplant around/just after last frost date.
Thyme	Jan 6 – Jan 20	—	Mar 3 – Mar 10	—	85–95 days	Perennial herb, slow from seed; start indoors 6-8 weeks before last frost, transplant around/after last frost.

Flowers
Crop	Start indoors	Direct sow	Transplant	Fall planting	Maturity	Notes
Sunflower	—	Mar 10 – Mar 24	—	—	70–100 days	Direct sow 1-3 weeks after last frost once soil has warmed; taprooted, resents transplanting.
Zinnia	Feb 3 – Feb 10	Mar 10 – Mar 24	Mar 10 – Mar 17	—	60–70 days	Frost-tender; direct sow 1-3 weeks after last frost, or start indoors 3-4 weeks early for earlier blooms.
Marigold	Jan 20 – Feb 3	—	Mar 10 – Mar 17	—	45–60 days	Frost-tender; start indoors 4-6 weeks before last frost, transplant after all frost danger has passed.
Cosmos	Feb 3 – Feb 10	Mar 10 – Mar 24	Mar 10 – Mar 17	—	60–90 days	Easy from direct seed 1-3 weeks after last frost; can also start indoors 3-4 weeks early.
Nasturtium	—	Mar 10 – Mar 24	—	—	50–65 days	Frost-tender, resents root disturbance; direct sow 1-3 weeks after last frost once soil has warmed.
Dahlia	—	—	Mar 10 – Mar 24	—	90–120 days	Plant tubers 1-3 weeks after last frost once soil is warm (60F+); very frost-sensitive.

Date ranges are estimates based on university extension guidelines and this city's NOAA frost normals — not a guarantee. Scroll to see all columns on narrow screens.

Frequently Asked Questions

When is the last frost in Bluffton, SC?

Based on 1991–2020 NOAA climate normals for the BEAUFORT WWTP, SC US station, the last spring frost in Bluffton typically falls around March 3. A cautious gardener might wait until March 20 (only a 10% chance of a later frost), while February 2 marks an earlier, higher-risk planting date.

When is the first frost in Bluffton, SC in fall?

The first fall frost in Bluffton typically arrives around December 9. To stay safe, assume frost could start as early as November 21; in milder years it can hold off until January 4.

How long is the growing season in Bluffton, SC?

Bluffton's average frost-free growing season is about 282 days, running from the typical last spring frost (March 3) to the typical first fall frost (December 9).

What USDA hardiness zone is Bluffton, SC in?

Bluffton, SC is in USDA plant hardiness zone 9a, per the USDA's 2023 Plant Hardiness Zone Map. Subtropical to frost-free — heat, not cold, is the main limit on what you can grow.