USDA Hardiness Zone 8a
Frost Dates for 29301 — Spartanburg, South Carolina
NOAA 1991–2020 normals from Spartanburg 3 SSE, SC (610 ft), 5 miles southeast.
Updated
In Spartanburg, the last spring frost (32°F) is around April 8 in half of years and has passed by April 23 in nine years out of ten. The first fall frost comes around November 1, as early as October 17 one year in ten, leaving a typical freeze-free season of 206 days (NOAA, Spartanburg 3 SSE, SC).
- Last spring frost
- April 8
- First fall frost
- November 1
- Growing season
- 206 days
- Hardiness zone
- 8a
50% probability
50% probability
freeze-free, 50%
10 to 15°F (-12.2 to -9.4°C) coldest night
- First snow
- Rare
- Last snow
- Rare
- Winters with snow
- 29%
- Snow per year
- 0.8"
median, 1991–2020
median, 1991–2020
7 of 24 observed
NOAA normal
Frost risk by date in Spartanburg
Half of springs at Spartanburg 3 SSE, SC see their last 32°F night by April 8; only one in ten is past it by March 20, and one in ten still has one after April 23. Planting tender crops after April 14 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after April 18 20%, and after April 23 10%. The 15 days between the even-odds date and the one-in-ten date is narrower than at 66% of the 105 South Carolina stations behind this site's ZIP pages.
In fall the first 32°F night comes by November 1 in half of years, as early as October 17 one year in ten, and holds off past November 14 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 10 days later, around November 11; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is April 10, 13 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 206 days in a typical year, shorter than at 92% of the 105 South Carolina stations; it reaches 229 days one year in ten and falls short of 186 one year in ten. On average 76 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 13 days longer, to about April 21, and return around October 22. Nights of 24°F, cold enough to damage hardier plants, come in 100% of winters and 16°F in 85%.
| Low | 90% | 80% | 70% | 60% | 50% | 40% | 30% | 20% | 10% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | Apr 5 | Apr 11 | Apr 14 | Apr 18 | Apr 21 | Apr 23 | Apr 27 | May 1 | May 7 |
| 32°F | Mar 20 | Mar 28 | Apr 1 | Apr 4 | Apr 8 | Apr 11 | Apr 14 | Apr 18 | Apr 23 |
| 28°F | Mar 3 | Mar 11 | Mar 16 | Mar 20 | Mar 24 | Mar 28 | Mar 31 | Apr 5 | Apr 10 |
| 24°F | Feb 15 | Feb 22 | Feb 28 | Mar 4 | Mar 9 | Mar 14 | Mar 18 | Mar 22 | Mar 28 |
| 20°F99% of yrs | Jan 23 | Jan 31 | Feb 6 | Feb 13 | Feb 20 | Feb 26 | Mar 3 | Mar 10 | Mar 17 |
| 16°F85% of yrs | Jan 1 | Jan 12 | Jan 19 | Jan 26 | Jan 31 | Feb 4 | Feb 12 | Feb 25 | Mar 4 |
| Low | 10% | 20% | 30% | 40% | 50% | 60% | 70% | 80% | 90% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | Oct 10 | Oct 13 | Oct 16 | Oct 20 | Oct 22 | Oct 24 | Oct 27 | Oct 30 | Nov 3 |
| 32°F | Oct 17 | Oct 23 | Oct 26 | Oct 29 | Nov 1 | Nov 3 | Nov 5 | Nov 8 | Nov 14 |
| 28°F | Oct 29 | Nov 2 | Nov 5 | Nov 8 | Nov 11 | Nov 15 | Nov 19 | Nov 24 | Dec 1 |
| 24°F | Nov 8 | Nov 13 | Nov 18 | Nov 23 | Nov 27 | Dec 1 | Dec 4 | Dec 9 | Dec 19 |
| 20°F99% of yrs | Nov 22 | Nov 30 | Dec 4 | Dec 9 | Dec 15 | Dec 22 | Dec 29 | Jan 4 | Jan 14 |
| 16°F85% of yrs | Dec 5 | Dec 16 | Dec 25 | Dec 31 | Jan 4 | Jan 9 | Jan 14 | Jan 21 | Feb 2 |
Freeze probabilities 1991–2020 at Spartanburg 3 SSE, 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 29301 →Compare Spartanburg with another place →
Weather by month in Spartanburg
July is the warmest month at Spartanburg 3 SSE, SC, averaging 90°F by day and 69°F at night; January is the coldest at 54°F and 32°F. A freezing night is all but certain in every month from November to March (a 90% chance or more). From May to September the chance of a 32°F night stays under 10% each month. In spring, April still brings one in 70% of years.
Warmth for growing adds up to 4,916 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), fewer than at 83% of the 105 South Carolina stations. 39% of them (1,933) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 910. Precipitation totals 50.3 inches a year, most in March (4.8") and least in September (3.7"); May to September bring 41% of it.
| Month | High °F | Low °F | Precip. in | 32°F night | Nights ≤ 32°F | GDD 50°F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 54 | 32 | 4.3 | 100% | 19 | 35 |
| Feb | 59 | 34 | 3.8 | 100% | 15 | 52 |
| Mar | 66 | 40 | 4.8 | 97% | 9 | 159 |
| Apr | 75 | 47 | 4.3 | 70% | 2 | 339 |
| May | 81 | 56 | 3.9 | 4% | 0 | 574 |
| Jun | 87 | 65 | 4.6 | 0% | 0 | 774 |
| Jul | 90 | 69 | 4.0 | 0% | 0 | 910 |
| Aug | 88 | 68 | 4.6 | 0% | 0 | 870 |
| Sep | 83 | 62 | 3.7 | 0% | 0 | 675 |
| Oct | 74 | 49 | 3.9 | 49% | 2 | 370 |
| Nov | 64 | 38 | 3.7 | 99% | 11 | 115 |
| Dec | 56 | 34 | 4.7 | 99% | 18 | 45 |
Monthly normals 1991–2020 at Spartanburg 3 SSE, SC (610 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, Chesnee 7 WSW, SC, 12 miles north of Spartanburg, has a last frost 5 days later (April 13), a first frost 6 days earlier (October 26), a season 11 days shorter.
When it snows in Spartanburg, South Carolina
Measurable snow is rare here: only 7 of 24 winters from 1991 to 2020 recorded 0.1 inch or more at Spartanburg 3 SSE, SC, 4.7 miles away, so there is no typical first-snow date to plan around.
Planting calendar for 29301
| When | What to do |
|---|---|
| January 28 – February 11 | Start peppers and aubergines indoorsThey need eight to ten weeks under lights before they can go out. |
| February 11 – February 25 | Start tomatoes indoorsSix to eight weeks gives a transplant big enough to set fruit early. |
| March 11 – March 25 | Sow peas, spinach, lettuce, radish outdoorsThese tolerate light frost and prefer to germinate in cool soil. |
| April 8 onward | Transplant tomatoes, peppers, basil, squash, cucumbersThe average last freeze has passed — still watch the actual forecast. |
| by August 9 | Sow the autumn crop of carrots, beets and brassicasThey need about twelve weeks to size up before growth stops. |
| by October 18 | Harvest tender crops, or be ready to cover themA first freeze two weeks early is well within normal variation. |
| November 1 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 29301 is 5 miles from Spartanburg 3 SSE, SC, which stands at 610 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. 9 other ZIP codes share the station. The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 29301 in zone 8a, the band where the coldest night of the year averaged 10 to 15°F (-12.2 to -9.4°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.