USDA Hardiness Zone 8b
Frost Dates for 29135 — St Matthews, South Carolina
NOAA 1991–2020 normals from Orangeburg 2, SC (185 ft), 14 miles south.
Updated
In St Matthews, the last spring frost (32°F) is around March 13 in half of years and has passed by April 1 in nine years out of ten. The first fall frost comes around November 15, as early as November 1 one year in ten, leaving a typical freeze-free season of 249 days (NOAA, Orangeburg 2, SC).
- Last spring frost
- March 13
- First fall frost
- November 15
- Growing season
- 249 days
- Hardiness zone
- 8b
50% probability
50% probability
freeze-free, 50%
15 to 20°F (-9.4 to -6.7°C) coldest night
- First snow
- Rare
- Last snow
- Rare
- Winters with snow
- 8%
- Snow per year
- 0.1"
median, 1991–2020
median, 1991–2020
2 of 26 observed
NOAA normal
Frost risk by date in St Matthews
Half of springs at Orangeburg 2, SC see their last 32°F night by March 13; only one in ten is past it by February 17, and one in ten still has one after April 1. Planting tender crops after March 22 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after March 28 20%, and after April 1 10%. The 19 days between the even-odds date and the one-in-ten date is wider than at 86% of the 105 South Carolina stations behind this site's ZIP pages.
In fall the first 32°F night comes by November 15 in half of years, as early as November 1 one year in ten, and holds off past December 7 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 17 days later, around December 2; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is March 18, 14 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 249 days in a typical year, longer than at 83% of the 105 South Carolina stations; it reaches 281 days one year in ten and falls short of 223 one year in ten. On average 43 nights a year drop to 32°F or below. Nights of 36°F, when frost can still settle on leaves in low, open spots, continue 15 days longer, to about March 28, and return around November 5. Nights of 24°F, cold enough to damage hardier plants, come in 91% of winters and 16°F in 19%.
| Low | 90% | 80% | 70% | 60% | 50% | 40% | 30% | 20% | 10% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | Mar 8 | Mar 16 | Mar 20 | Mar 24 | Mar 28 | Mar 31 | Apr 3 | Apr 8 | Apr 15 |
| 32°F | Feb 17 | Feb 26 | Mar 3 | Mar 8 | Mar 13 | Mar 17 | Mar 22 | Mar 28 | Apr 1 |
| 28°F | Jan 26 | Feb 2 | Feb 9 | Feb 17 | Feb 23 | Mar 1 | Mar 5 | Mar 10 | Mar 18 |
| 24°F91% of yrs | Jan 4 | Jan 14 | Jan 23 | Jan 29 | Feb 1 | Feb 6 | Feb 13 | Feb 24 | Mar 3 |
| 20°F59% of yrs | Dec 27 | Jan 3 | Jan 10 | Jan 16 | Jan 22 | Jan 28 | Feb 1 | Feb 6 | Feb 16 |
| 16°F19% of yrs | too rare for a date | ||||||||
| Low | 10% | 20% | 30% | 40% | 50% | 60% | 70% | 80% | 90% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | Oct 23 | Oct 28 | Nov 1 | Nov 2 | Nov 5 | Nov 7 | Nov 10 | Nov 13 | Nov 19 |
| 32°F | Nov 1 | Nov 5 | Nov 9 | Nov 12 | Nov 15 | Nov 18 | Nov 23 | Dec 1 | Dec 7 |
| 28°F | Nov 11 | Nov 18 | Nov 24 | Nov 29 | Dec 2 | Dec 6 | Dec 13 | Dec 24 | Jan 2 |
| 24°F91% of yrs | Nov 29 | Dec 4 | Dec 11 | Dec 20 | Dec 28 | Jan 2 | Jan 8 | Jan 14 | Jan 29 |
| 20°F59% of yrs | Dec 12 | Dec 23 | Dec 30 | Jan 3 | Jan 7 | Jan 12 | Jan 18 | Jan 25 | Feb 4 |
| 16°F19% of yrs | too rare for a date | ||||||||
Freeze probabilities 1991–2020 at Orangeburg 2, SC, from NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals. Where a temperature is reached in fewer than 99.5% of years, the dates describe only the years that reach it. Not a forecast.
Frost risk on any date in 29135 →Compare St Matthews with another place →
Weather by month in St Matthews
July is the warmest month at Orangeburg 2, SC, averaging 93°F by day and 72°F at night; January is the coldest at 60°F and 37°F. A freezing night is all but certain in every month from December to February (a 90% chance or more). From May to October the chance of a 32°F night stays under 10% each month. In spring, March still brings one in 71% of years and April still brings one in 13% of years.
Warmth for growing adds up to 6,113 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), more than at 90% of the 105 South Carolina stations. 41% of them (2,516) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 998. Precipitation totals 50.6 inches a year, most in July (5.8") and least in November (3.1"); May to September bring 50% of it.
| Month | High °F | Low °F | Precip. in | 32°F night | Nights ≤ 32°F | GDD 50°F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 60 | 37 | 4.0 | 99% | 14 | 87 |
| Feb | 63 | 40 | 3.9 | 91% | 8 | 119 |
| Mar | 70 | 46 | 3.9 | 71% | 4 | 274 |
| Apr | 78 | 52 | 3.3 | 13% | <1 | 455 |
| May | 85 | 61 | 4.0 | 0% | 0 | 702 |
| Jun | 90 | 68 | 5.5 | 0% | 0 | 879 |
| Jul | 93 | 72 | 5.8 | 0% | 0 | 998 |
| Aug | 92 | 71 | 5.3 | 0% | 0 | 975 |
| Sep | 87 | 66 | 4.5 | 0% | 0 | 787 |
| Oct | 79 | 54 | 3.5 | 8% | <1 | 509 |
| Nov | 69 | 44 | 3.1 | 77% | 5 | 219 |
| Dec | 62 | 38 | 3.8 | 96% | 11 | 109 |
Monthly normals 1991–2020 at Orangeburg 2, SC (185 ft), NOAA NCEI. "32°F night": chance of at least one in the month. GDD: growing degree days, base 50°F.
Compared with the next station
The nearest other station, N 5NE, SC, 14 miles west of St Matthews, has a last frost 13 days later (March 26), a first frost 9 days earlier (November 6), a season 22 days shorter.
When it snows in St Matthews, South Carolina
Measurable snow is rare here: only 2 of 26 winters from 1991 to 2020 recorded 0.1 inch or more at Orangeburg 2, SC, 13.7 miles away, so there is no typical first-snow date to plan around.
Planting calendar for 29135
| When | What to do |
|---|---|
| January 2 – January 16 | Start peppers and aubergines indoorsThey need eight to ten weeks under lights before they can go out. |
| January 16 – January 30 | Start tomatoes indoorsSix to eight weeks gives a transplant big enough to set fruit early. |
| February 13 – February 27 | Sow peas, spinach, lettuce, radish outdoorsThese tolerate light frost and prefer to germinate in cool soil. |
| March 13 onward | Transplant tomatoes, peppers, basil, squash, cucumbersThe average last freeze has passed — still watch the actual forecast. |
| by August 23 | Sow the autumn crop of carrots, beets and brassicasThey need about twelve weeks to size up before growth stops. |
| by November 1 | Harvest tender crops, or be ready to cover themA first freeze two weeks early is well within normal variation. |
| November 15 onward | Plant garlic, mulch beds, lift tender bulbsGarlic wants a cold spell; bare soil loses structure over winter. |
The weeks before and after the 50% dates are general rules of thumb, not NOAA figures; a seed packet gives the timing for each variety.
Where these figures come from
ZIP 29135 is 14 miles from Orangeburg 2, SC, which stands at 185 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. 2 other ZIP codes share the station; its figures are presented in full for 29115 (Orangeburg). The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 29135 in zone 8b, the band where the coldest night of the year averaged 15 to 20°F (-9.4 to -6.7°C) over 1991–2020; a zone describes winter lows, not frost dates.
Frost dates across South Carolina →
Hardiness zone and temperature range: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map 2023 (USDA-ARS, Oregon State University), ZIP-code listing, unchanged. °C converted from °F by this site.
Thirty-year averages, not a forecast: check the forecast before planting out. How stations are matched and which pages are offered to search engines: methodology.