Frost dates for Hilton Head Island, SC
When the last spring frost and first fall frost usually come, and when to plant, from 30 years of NOAA weather records.
Last spring frost
March 3
typical year
Safe to plant
March 20
frost is over in 9 of 10 years
First fall frost
December 9
typical year
Growing season
282 days
frost-free, typical year
Frost watch this week
Tonight's and the next six nights' lows from the National Weather Service forecast for the station's location. Frost: 32°F or colder. Possible frost: 33–36°F, mostly in low spots on clear, still nights.
When to plant
Counted from this page's frost dates. Warm-season crops wait for the safe-to-plant date.
| Crop | Start indoors | Plant outside | Fall planting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cool-season crops | |||
| Peas | – | Feb 3 – 17 | – |
| Spinach | – | Jan 20 – Feb 10 | Oct 14 – 28 |
| Lettuce | – | Feb 3 – 24 | Oct 14 – 28 |
| Radishes | – | Feb 3 – Mar 17 | Oct 28 – Nov 11 |
| Onions | – | Feb 3 – 17 | – |
| Potatoes | – | Feb 10 – 24 | – |
| Carrots | – | Feb 10 – Mar 3 | Sep 16 – 30 |
| Beets | – | Feb 3 – 17 | Sep 30 – Oct 14 |
| Kale | Dec 23 – Jan 6 | Feb 3 – 17 | Sep 30 – Oct 14 |
| Broccoli | Dec 23 – Jan 6 | Feb 17 – Mar 3 | Sep 30 – Oct 14 |
| Cabbage | Dec 9 – 23 | Feb 3 – 17 | Sep 30 – Oct 14 |
| Garlic | – | – | Oct 28 – Nov 18 |
| Warm-season crops | |||
| Tomatoes | Jan 23 – Feb 6 | Mar 20 – Apr 3 | – |
| Peppers | Jan 16 – 30 | Mar 27 – Apr 10 | – |
| Cucumbers | – | Mar 20 – Apr 10 | – |
| Zucchini | – | Mar 20 – Apr 17 | – |
| Pumpkins | – | Mar 20 – Apr 10 | – |
| Green beans | – | Mar 20 – Sep 30 | – |
| Sweet corn | – | Mar 20 – Apr 17 | – |
| Basil | Feb 13 – 27 | Mar 27 – Apr 3 | – |
Onions: from sets. Green beans: until 10 weeks before the first fall frost. Garlic: harvest next summer.
The year at a glance
Start indoors Plant outside Fall planting
The chance of frost, by date
| 1 year in 10 | Half of years | 9 years in 10 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring frost after | March 20 | March 3 | February 2 |
| Fall frost before | November 21 | December 9 | January 4 |
Frost here means 32°F or colder. Read across: in 1 year in 10, spring frost carries on past the first date, which is why that date is the safe-to-plant date.
Hard freeze (28°F)
A hard freeze kills most garden plants, even hardy ones. The last one in spring usually comes around February 9 (March 11 in a late year), and the first one in fall around December 28.
Towns that use these dates
This is the nearest NOAA station with frost records for 2 towns.
Hilton Head Island, Port Royal
Where these dates come from
NOAA weather station BEAUFORT WWTP, SC US (USC00380559), 1991–2020 climate normals. It's the nearest station for 8 zip codes, all within 17 miles:
29902, 29905, 29909, 29910, 29920, 29926, 29928, 29935
Planting dates follow common university extension advice; your local extension service can fine-tune them for your soil and microclimate.