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

Planting zone for 29588 — Myrtle Beach, SC

ZIP code 29588 (Myrtle Beach, Horry County) is in USDA zone 8b: the coldest winter night averages 15 to 20 °F. The median last spring frost is March 18 and the first fall frost November 18.

Where ZIP 29588 is

Outlined: the ZIP code area · 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
Coldest night−9.4 to −6.7 °C
Last frostMar 18
First frostNov 18
2012 zone8b

Same zone as on the 2012 map. The zone is the one at the center of the ZIP code; hilly ZIPs can span two zones. What zone 8b means →

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Myrtle Beach, SC…

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 Myrtle Beach, SC

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMarch 18median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsApril 3only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostNovember 18median — 10% chance by Nov 4
Growing season247 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around March 1 and returns around November 30.

From the NOAA station Brookgreen Gardens, SC — 11 miles away, elevation 20 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 29588

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Feb 4 – Feb 18
SpinachSow outdoors · Feb 4 – Feb 25
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Jan 7 – Jan 21
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Feb 25 – Mar 11
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Feb 18 – Mar 4
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Feb 25 – Mar 11
LettuceSow outdoors · Feb 18 – Mar 4
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Feb 25 – Mar 11
TomatoesStart indoors · Jan 21 – Feb 4
TomatoesTransplant · Mar 25 – Apr 8
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Jan 7 – Jan 21
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · Apr 1 – Apr 15
BeansSow outdoors · Mar 25 – Apr 8
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Mar 25 – Apr 8
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Mar 25 – Apr 8
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Sep 23 – Oct 7
GarlicPlant cloves · Nov 4 – Dec 9
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Mar 18) and first fall frost (Nov 18) 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 29588 came on Feb 15 — 12 days later than the 1991–2020 average (Feb 3).

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 Myrtle Beach, SC.

Soil in Myrtle Beach, SC

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 29588 is Yauhannah — fine sandy loam, moderately well drained.

TextureFine sandy loamdrains and warms fast; dries out and needs more feeding
pH5.1strongly acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageModerately well drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter2.25%moderate
Hydrologic groupB/Dmoderate when drained; wet otherwise
Farmland classprime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Yauhannah fine sandy loam, 0 to 2 percent slopes.

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 29588; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Myrtle Beach, SC

Summer high88 °Faverage high, July
Winter low37 °Faverage low, January
Hot days39days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights31nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days5,568base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day14 h 23 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 55 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growIntermediateday-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully
Precipitation56.8 inper year, rain and melted snow

Average high and low, by month

30°40°50°60°70°80°90°100°32 °FJanuary: average high 57 °F, low 37 °F 57°37° JanFebruary: average high 59 °F, low 39 °F 59°39° FebMarch: average high 66 °F, low 44 °F 66°44° MarApril: average high 74 °F, low 52 °F 74°52° AprMay: average high 80 °F, low 61 °F 80°61° MayJune: average high 86 °F, low 68 °F 86°68° JunJuly: average high 88 °F, low 72 °F 88°72° JulAugust: average high 87 °F, low 71 °F 87°71° AugSeptember: average high 83 °F, low 66 °F 83°66° SepOctober: average high 76 °F, low 56 °F 76°56° OctNovember: average high 66 °F, low 45 °F 66°45° NovDecember: average high 59 °F, low 39 °F 59°39° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″2″4″6″8″January: 3.64 in precipitation 3.6 JanFebruary: 3.42 in precipitation 3.4 FebMarch: 3.65 in precipitation 3.6 MarApril: 3.16 in precipitation 3.2 AprMay: 3.69 in precipitation 3.7 MayJune: 5.12 in precipitation 5.1 JunJuly: 6.30 in precipitation 6.3 JulAugust: 7.17 in precipitation 7.2 AugSeptember: 7.63 in precipitation 7.6 SepOctober: 5.66 in precipitation 5.7 OctNovember: 3.46 in precipitation 3.5 NovDecember: 3.87 in precipitation 3.9 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Brookgreen Gardens, SC (11 mi away); precipitation: Myrtle Beach 9.2 Wsw, SC (3 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

All 8 nearest ZIP codes share zone 8b.

295758b
Myrtle Beach, SC · 4 mi
295878b
Myrtle Beach, SC · 5 mi
295788b
Myrtle Beach, SC · 5 mi
295778b
Myrtle Beach, SC · 7 mi
295768b
Murrells Inlet, SC · 7 mi
295858b
Pawleys Island, SC · 9 mi
295798b
Myrtle Beach, SC · 9 mi
295278b
Conway, SC · 10 mi

All 7 ZIP codes in Myrtle Beach → · South Carolina planting zones →

Questions about 29588

What planting zone is ZIP code 29588?

ZIP code 29588 (Myrtle Beach, SC) is in USDA hardiness zone 8b on the 2023 map: the coldest night of an average winter reaches 15 to 20 °F (−9.4 to −6.7 °C).

When is the last frost in Myrtle Beach, SC?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 29588 is March 18; after April 3 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Brookgreen Gardens station.

When is the first frost in Myrtle Beach, SC?

The median first fall frost near 29588 is November 18, giving a median frost-free growing season of 247 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 29588?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Jan 21 – Feb 4 and set transplants outside around Mar 25 – Apr 8, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 29588 get?

About 56.8 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Myrtle Beach 9.2 Wsw station).

How hot do summers get in Myrtle Beach, SC?

The average high peaks at 88 °F in July, with about 39 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 29588 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Yauhannah at the center of ZIP 29588: fine sandy loam, moderately well drained, pH about 5.1 (strongly acidic).

Did spring come early in Myrtle Beach, SC in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 29588 came on Feb 15 in 2026, 12 days later than the 1991–2020 average (Feb 3), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Myrtle Beach, SC?

Intermediate onions: the longest day near 29588 is 14 h 23 min, so day-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully.