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

Planting zone for 29589 — Rains, SC

ZIP code 29589 (Rains, Marion County) is in USDA zone 8b: the coldest winter night averages 15 to 20 °F. The median last spring frost is March 22 and the first fall frost November 11.

Where ZIP 29589 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 22
First frostNov 11
2012 zone8a

Was 8a on the 2012 map — half a zone warmer now. 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 Rains, 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 Rains, SC

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMarch 22median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsApril 13only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostNovember 11median — 10% chance by Oct 30
Growing season234 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around March 4 and returns around November 24.

From the NOAA station Marion, SC — 6 miles away, elevation 75 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 29589

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Feb 8 – Feb 22
SpinachSow outdoors · Feb 8 – Mar 1
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Jan 11 – Jan 25
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Mar 1 – Mar 15
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Feb 22 – Mar 8
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Mar 1 – Mar 15
LettuceSow outdoors · Feb 22 – Mar 8
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Mar 1 – Mar 15
TomatoesStart indoors · Jan 25 – Feb 8
TomatoesTransplant · Mar 29 – Apr 12
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Jan 11 – Jan 25
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · Apr 5 – Apr 19
BeansSow outdoors · Mar 29 – Apr 12
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Mar 29 – Apr 12
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Mar 29 – Apr 12
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Sep 16 – Sep 30
GarlicPlant cloves · Oct 28 – Dec 2
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Mar 22) and first fall frost (Nov 11) 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 29589 came on Feb 18 — 12 days later than the 1991–2020 average (Feb 6).

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 Rains, SC.

Soil in Rains, SC

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 29589 is Rutlege — loamy sand, very poorly drained.

TextureLoamy sanddrains and warms fast; dries out and needs more feeding
pH4.6strongly acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageVery poorly drainedconsider raised beds
Organic matter6%high
Hydrologic groupA/Ddrains fast once dried out; wet otherwise
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Rutlege loamy sand.

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 29589; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Rains, SC

Summer high91 °Faverage high, July
Winter low34 °Faverage low, January
Hot days59days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights49nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days5,460base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day14 h 26 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 53 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growIntermediateday-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully
Precipitation49.3 inper year, rain and melted snow

Average high and low, by month

20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°100°32 °FJanuary: average high 56 °F, low 34 °F 56°34° JanFebruary: average high 60 °F, low 37 °F 60°37° FebMarch: average high 67 °F, low 42 °F 67°42° MarApril: average high 75 °F, low 49 °F 75°49° AprMay: average high 82 °F, low 59 °F 82°59° MayJune: average high 88 °F, low 67 °F 88°67° JunJuly: average high 91 °F, low 71 °F 91°71° JulAugust: average high 89 °F, low 70 °F 89°70° AugSeptember: average high 84 °F, low 64 °F 84°64° SepOctober: average high 76 °F, low 52 °F 76°52° OctNovember: average high 66 °F, low 42 °F 66°42° NovDecember: average high 59 °F, low 37 °F 59°37° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″1″2″3″4″5″6″January: 3.51 in precipitation 3.5 JanFebruary: 3.22 in precipitation 3.2 FebMarch: 3.51 in precipitation 3.5 MarApril: 3.43 in precipitation 3.4 AprMay: 3.62 in precipitation 3.6 MayJune: 4.96 in precipitation 5.0 JunJuly: 5.23 in precipitation 5.2 JulAugust: 5.54 in precipitation 5.5 AugSeptember: 5.97 in precipitation 6.0 SepOctober: 3.26 in precipitation 3.3 OctNovember: 3.33 in precipitation 3.3 NovDecember: 3.69 in precipitation 3.7 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Marion, SC (6 mi away); precipitation: Marion, SC (6 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

All 8 nearest ZIP codes share zone 8b.

295748b
Mullins, SC · 6 mi
295198b
Centenary, SC · 6 mi
295718b
Marion, SC · 6 mi
295448b
Galivants Ferry, SC · 9 mi
295928b
Sellers, SC · 13 mi
295438b
Fork, SC · 13 mi
295818b
Nichols, SC · 13 mi
295118b
Aynor, SC · 14 mi

South Carolina planting zones →

Questions about 29589

What planting zone is ZIP code 29589?

ZIP code 29589 (Rains, 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 Rains, SC?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 29589 is March 22; after April 13 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Marion station.

When is the first frost in Rains, SC?

The median first fall frost near 29589 is November 11, giving a median frost-free growing season of 234 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 29589?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Jan 25 – Feb 8 and set transplants outside around Mar 29 – Apr 12, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 29589 get?

About 49.3 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Marion station).

How hot do summers get in Rains, SC?

The average high peaks at 91 °F in July, with about 59 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 29589 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Rutlege at the center of ZIP 29589: loamy sand, very poorly drained, pH about 4.6 (strongly acidic).

Did spring come early in Rains, SC in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 29589 came on Feb 18 in 2026, 12 days later than the 1991–2020 average (Feb 6), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Rains, SC?

Intermediate onions: the longest day near 29589 is 14 h 26 min, so day-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully.

Did the zone for 29589 change?

Yes. The 2012 USDA map put 29589 in zone 8a; the 2023 map puts it in zone 8b. The newer map uses 1991–2020 data and more weather stations.