Data: 2023 USDA zones (PRISM/OSU) · NOAA 1991–2020 normals · updated

Planting zone for Georgetown, SC

Georgetown, SC is in USDA zone 8b across its 2 ZIP codes. The median last spring frost is March 12 and the first fall frost November 24.

Georgetown on the zone map

Outlined: its 1 ZIP code areas · tap the map for the zone at any spot · scroll or pinch to zoom

Not the official USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map. Zones come from the 2023 USDA hardiness-zone data by the PRISM Group, Oregon State University; we re-mapped and recolored them. The official map is at planthardiness.ars.usda.gov.

Zone8b15 to 20 °F
ZIP codes2
Last frostMar 12
First frostNov 24
Growing season258 days

8b 2 ZIPs

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

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Forecast data: National Weather Service (api.weather.gov), public domain. This is not a warning service — for official frost and freeze warnings see weather.gov.

Frost dates in Georgetown, SC

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMarch 12median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMarch 30only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostNovember 24median — 10% chance by Nov 6
Growing season258 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around February 25 and returns around December 10.

From the NOAA station Georgetown Co. Airport, SC, elevation 30 ft. NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, 32 °F threshold. Low spots and valleys can freeze later in spring than the station.

When to plant vegetables in Georgetown

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Jan 29 – Feb 12
SpinachSow outdoors · Jan 29 – Feb 19
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Jan 1 – Jan 15
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Feb 19 – Mar 5
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Feb 12 – Feb 26
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Feb 19 – Mar 5
LettuceSow outdoors · Feb 12 – Feb 26
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Feb 19 – Mar 5
TomatoesStart indoors · Jan 15 – Jan 29
TomatoesTransplant · Mar 19 – Apr 2
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Jan 1 – Jan 15
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · Mar 26 – Apr 9
BeansSow outdoors · Mar 19 – Apr 2
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Mar 19 – Apr 2
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Mar 19 – Apr 2
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Sep 29 – Oct 13
GarlicPlant cloves · Nov 10 – Dec 15
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Mar 12) and first fall frost (Nov 24) with the rules of thumb U.S. extension services publish. Cool-season crops take a light frost; warm-season crops do best once the soil is above about 60 °F.

When spring arrived in 2026

In 2026, spring leaf-out near 29442 came on Feb 15 — 14 days later than the 1991–2020 average (Feb 1).

JanFebMarAprMayJun

The Spring Index marks the day when accumulated warmth is enough for lilac and honeysuckle to leaf out — a widely used signal that the growing season has started. Source: USA National Phenology Network, www.usanpn.org — Spring Indices, first leaf, 2026 (data as of 2026-09-08) and 30-year average 1991–2020 (CC BY 4.0).

Native plants for zone 8b in South Carolina

566 plants native to the lower 48 states, recorded in South Carolina, and rated by the USDA to survive 15 °F or colder — the bottom of zone 8b. Each links to its USDA PLANTS profile.

Trees 82

American basswood100 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −46 °FAmerican beech80 ft · blooms mid spring · low shade tolerance · to −44 °FAmerican chestnut115 ft · blooms early summer · high shade tolerance · to −33 °FAmerican elm120 ft · blooms early spring · medium shade tolerance · to −46 °FAmerican sycamore100 ft · blooms spring · medium shade tolerance · to −34 °Farborvitae50 ft · blooms mid spring · medium shade tolerance · to −33 °F

Shrubs 131

Allegheny serviceberry35 ft · blooms early spring · low shade tolerance · to −38 °Faloe yucca15 ft · blooms early summer · medium shade tolerance · to −1 °Falternateleaf dogwood25 ft · blooms mid spring · low shade tolerance · to −47 °FAmerican beautyberry6 ft · blooms early summer · medium shade tolerance · to −8 °FAmerican hazelnut10 ft · blooms spring · medium shade tolerance · to −33 °FAmerican holly40 ft · blooms mid spring · low shade tolerance · to −20 °F

Wildflowers & perennials 168

American bur-reed3 ft · blooms indeterminate · medium shade tolerance · to −33 °FAmerican eelgrass1 ft · blooms mid summer · high shade tolerance · to −33 °FAmerican lotus3 ft · blooms mid summer · high shade tolerance · to −36 °FAmerican pokeweed7 ft · blooms mid summer · low shade tolerance · to −33 °FAmerican speedwell0.8 ft · blooms mid summer · low shade tolerance · to −38 °FAmerican spongeplant0.5 ft · blooms mid spring · high shade tolerance · to −24 °F

Grasses 164

alkali sacaton3 ft · blooms mid summer · high shade tolerance · to −38 °FAmerican beachgrass2.5 ft · blooms spring · high shade tolerance · to −28 °FAmerican cupscale3 ft · blooms early summer · high shade tolerance · to −18 °FAtlantic mannagrass3 ft · blooms summer · low shade tolerance · to −8 °Fautumn bluegrass1.5 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −8 °Fawlfruit sedge4 ft · blooms mid spring · low shade tolerance · to −38 °F

Vines 12

American bittersweet15 ft · blooms spring · low shade tolerance · to −38 °FAmerican wisteria50 ft · blooms spring · low shade tolerance · to −3 °Fcupseed30 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −3 °Fdevil's darning needles15 ft · blooms mid summer · medium shade tolerance · to −38 °Ffrost grape83 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −23 °Fgraybark grape50 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −8 °F

Source: USDA, NRCS. 2026. The PLANTS Database (plants.usda.gov), National Plant Data Team — state distribution, native status and the “Temperature, Minimum” characteristic. Check light, moisture and soil needs before buying; local nurseries and your state native plant society can confirm what thrives in Georgetown, SC.

Soil in Georgetown, SC

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 29442 is Levy — silty clay loam, very poorly drained.

TextureSilty clay loamholds water and nutrients; slow to drain and warm up
pH4.6strongly acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageVery poorly drainedconsider raised beds
Organic matter7.5%high
Hydrologic groupC/Dslow when drained; wet otherwise
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Levy silty clay loam.

Soil Survey Staff, Natural Resources Conservation Service, USDA. Soil Survey Geographic (SSURGO) Database, via Soil Data Access, accessed 2026-10-29. The soil at the center point of ZIP 29442; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Georgetown, SC

Summer high91 °Faverage high, July
Winter low37 °Faverage low, January
Hot days67days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights33nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days5,993base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day14 h 22 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 56 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growIntermediateday-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully
Precipitation55.4 inper year, rain and melted snow

Average high and low, by month

30°40°50°60°70°80°90°100°32 °FJanuary: average high 59 °F, low 37 °F 59°37° JanFebruary: average high 62 °F, low 39 °F 62°39° FebMarch: average high 68 °F, low 44 °F 68°44° MarApril: average high 76 °F, low 53 °F 76°53° AprMay: average high 82 °F, low 61 °F 82°61° MayJune: average high 88 °F, low 69 °F 88°69° JunJuly: average high 91 °F, low 73 °F 91°73° JulAugust: average high 90 °F, low 72 °F 90°72° AugSeptember: average high 86 °F, low 67 °F 86°67° SepOctober: average high 78 °F, low 56 °F 78°56° OctNovember: average high 68 °F, low 45 °F 68°45° NovDecember: average high 60 °F, low 40 °F 60°40° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″2″4″6″8″January: 3.55 in precipitation 3.5 JanFebruary: 3.55 in precipitation 3.5 FebMarch: 3.62 in precipitation 3.6 MarApril: 3.35 in precipitation 3.4 AprMay: 3.37 in precipitation 3.4 MayJune: 5.43 in precipitation 5.4 JunJuly: 7.09 in precipitation 7.1 JulAugust: 6.94 in precipitation 6.9 AugSeptember: 6.49 in precipitation 6.5 SepOctober: 5.00 in precipitation 5.0 OctNovember: 3.11 in precipitation 3.1 NovDecember: 3.93 in precipitation 3.9 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Georgetown Co. Airport, SC (8 mi away); precipitation: Georgetown Co. Airport, SC (8 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

ZIP codes in Georgetown

294408b
15 to 20 °F
294428b
15 to 20 °F

South Carolina planting zones →

Questions about Georgetown

What planting zone is Georgetown, SC?

Georgetown, SC is in USDA hardiness zone 8b on the 2023 map (8b: 15 to 20 °F).

When is the last frost in Georgetown, SC?

The median last spring frost is March 12 and the median first fall frost is November 24 (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Georgetown Co. Airport station).

When can I plant a garden in Georgetown, SC?

Cool-season crops like peas and spinach go in around Jan 29 – Feb 19; tomatoes, peppers, beans and squash after about Mar 19, once frost risk has passed.

What kind of onions grow in Georgetown, SC?

Intermediate onions: the longest day is 14 h 22 min, so day-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully.

How much rain and snow does Georgetown, SC get?

About 55.4 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals).