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

Planting zone for 29638 — Donalds, SC

ZIP code 29638 (Donalds, Abbeville County) is in USDA zone 8a: the coldest winter night averages 10 to 15 °F. The median last spring frost is April 1 and the first fall frost November 2.

Where ZIP 29638 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.

Zone8a10 to 15 °F
Coldest night−12.2 to −9.4 °C
Last frostApr 1
First frostNov 2
2012 zone8a

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 8a means →

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Donalds, 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 Donalds, SC

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostApril 1median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsApril 18only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostNovember 2median — 10% chance by Oct 20
Growing season216 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around March 19 and returns around November 13.

From the NOAA station Greenwood Co. Airport, SC — 13 miles away, elevation 630 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 29638

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Feb 18 – Mar 4
SpinachSow outdoors · Feb 18 – Mar 11
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Jan 21 – Feb 4
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Mar 11 – Mar 25
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Mar 4 – Mar 18
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Mar 11 – Mar 25
LettuceSow outdoors · Mar 4 – Mar 18
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Mar 11 – Mar 25
TomatoesStart indoors · Feb 4 – Feb 18
TomatoesTransplant · Apr 8 – Apr 22
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Jan 21 – Feb 4
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · Apr 15 – Apr 29
BeansSow outdoors · Apr 8 – Apr 22
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Apr 8 – Apr 22
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Apr 8 – Apr 22
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Sep 7 – Sep 21
GarlicPlant cloves · Oct 19 – Nov 23
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Apr 1) and first fall frost (Nov 2) 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 29638 came on Feb 19 — 6 days later than the 1991–2020 average (Feb 13).

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).

Soil in Donalds, SC

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 29638 is Cecil — sandy loam, well drained.

TextureSandy loamdrains and warms fast; dries out and needs more feeding
pH5.3strongly acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter0.5%low — add compost
Hydrologic groupBwater soaks in moderately
Farmland classFarmland of statewide importanceUSDA classification

Map unit: Cecil sandy loam, 6 to 10 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 29638; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Donalds, SC

Summer high90 °Faverage high, July
Winter low32 °Faverage low, January
Hot days60days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights58nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days4,933base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day14 h 27 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 51 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growIntermediateday-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully
Precipitation45.8 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall1 inper year

Average high and low, by month

20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°100°32 °FJanuary: average high 53 °F, low 32 °F 53°32° JanFebruary: average high 57 °F, low 35 °F 57°35° FebMarch: average high 65 °F, low 41 °F 65°41° MarApril: average high 73 °F, low 48 °F 73°48° AprMay: average high 81 °F, low 57 °F 81°57° MayJune: average high 87 °F, low 65 °F 87°65° JunJuly: average high 90 °F, low 69 °F 90°69° JulAugust: average high 89 °F, low 68 °F 89°68° AugSeptember: average high 83 °F, low 62 °F 83°62° SepOctober: average high 74 °F, low 49 °F 74°49° OctNovember: average high 63 °F, low 39 °F 63°39° NovDecember: average high 56 °F, low 34 °F 56°34° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″1″2″3″4″5″January: 4.09 in precipitation, 0.2 in snowfall 4.1 JanFebruary: 3.85 in precipitation, 0.1 in snowfall 3.9 FebMarch: 4.56 in precipitation 4.6 MarApril: 3.55 in precipitation 3.5 AprMay: 3.71 in precipitation 3.7 MayJune: 3.70 in precipitation 3.7 JunJuly: 3.76 in precipitation 3.8 JulAugust: 3.81 in precipitation 3.8 AugSeptember: 3.52 in precipitation 3.5 SepOctober: 2.92 in precipitation 2.9 OctNovember: 3.79 in precipitation 3.8 NovDecember: 4.54 in precipitation, 0.4 in snowfall 4.5 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Greenwood Co. Airport, SC (13 mi away); precipitation: Ware Shoals 2, SC (6 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

All 8 nearest ZIP codes share zone 8a.

296548a
Honea Path, SC · 7 mi
296398a
Due West, SC · 7 mi
296538a
Hodges, SC · 7 mi
296958a
Hodges, SC · 8 mi
296928a
Ware Shoals, SC · 8 mi
296278a
Belton, SC · 13 mi
296208a
Abbeville, SC · 13 mi
296498a
Greenwood, SC · 14 mi

South Carolina planting zones →

Questions about 29638

What planting zone is ZIP code 29638?

ZIP code 29638 (Donalds, SC) is in USDA hardiness zone 8a on the 2023 map: the coldest night of an average winter reaches 10 to 15 °F (−12.2 to −9.4 °C).

When is the last frost in Donalds, SC?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 29638 is April 1; after April 18 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Greenwood Co. Airport station.

When is the first frost in Donalds, SC?

The median first fall frost near 29638 is November 2, giving a median frost-free growing season of 216 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 29638?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Feb 4 – Feb 18 and set transplants outside around Apr 8 – Apr 22, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 29638 get?

About 45.8 inches of precipitation a year and 1 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Ware Shoals 2 station).

How hot do summers get in Donalds, SC?

The average high peaks at 90 °F in July, with about 60 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 29638 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Cecil at the center of ZIP 29638: sandy loam, well drained, pH about 5.3 (strongly acidic).

Did spring come early in Donalds, SC in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 29638 came on Feb 19 in 2026, 6 days later than the 1991–2020 average (Feb 13), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Donalds, SC?

Intermediate onions: the longest day near 29638 is 14 h 27 min, so day-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully.