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

Planting zone for 29664 — Mountain Rest, SC

ZIP code 29664 (Mountain Rest, Oconee County) is in USDA zone 8a: the coldest winter night averages 10 to 15 °F. The median last spring frost is April 9 and the first fall frost October 29.

Where ZIP 29664 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 9
First frostOct 29
2012 zone7b

Was 7b 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 8a means →

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Mountain Rest, 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 Mountain Rest, SC

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostApril 9median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsApril 27only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 29median — 10% chance by Oct 13
Growing season205 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around March 29 and returns around November 8.

From the NOAA station Long Creek, SC — 9 miles away, elevation 1,624 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 29664

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Feb 26 – Mar 12
SpinachSow outdoors · Feb 26 – Mar 19
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Jan 29 – Feb 12
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Mar 19 – Apr 2
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Mar 12 – Mar 26
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Mar 19 – Apr 2
LettuceSow outdoors · Mar 12 – Mar 26
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Mar 19 – Apr 2
TomatoesStart indoors · Feb 12 – Feb 26
TomatoesTransplant · Apr 16 – Apr 30
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Jan 29 – Feb 12
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · Apr 23 – May 7
BeansSow outdoors · Apr 16 – Apr 30
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Apr 16 – Apr 30
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Apr 16 – Apr 30
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Sep 3 – Sep 17
GarlicPlant cloves · Oct 15 – Nov 19
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Apr 9) and first fall frost (Oct 29) 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 29664 came on Feb 21 — about the same time as the 1991–2020 average (Feb 19).

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 Mountain Rest, SC

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 29664 is Hayesville — fine sandy loam, well drained.

TextureFine sandy loamdrains and warms fast; dries out and needs more feeding
pH5.1strongly acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter1%low — add compost
Hydrologic groupBwater soaks in moderately
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Hayesville and Cecil fine sandy loams, 15 to 25 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 29664; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Mountain Rest, SC

Summer high85 °Faverage high, July
Winter low30 °Faverage low, January
Hot days12days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights74nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days3,989base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day14 h 30 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 49 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growIntermediateday-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully
Precipitation64.4 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall3 inper year; 1 days with snow on the ground

Average high and low, by month

20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°100°32 °FJanuary: average high 50 °F, low 30 °F 50°30° JanFebruary: average high 54 °F, low 32 °F 54°32° FebMarch: average high 61 °F, low 38 °F 61°38° MarApril: average high 70 °F, low 46 °F 70°46° AprMay: average high 76 °F, low 54 °F 76°54° MayJune: average high 82 °F, low 62 °F 82°62° JunJuly: average high 85 °F, low 65 °F 85°65° JulAugust: average high 84 °F, low 64 °F 84°64° AugSeptember: average high 79 °F, low 58 °F 79°58° SepOctober: average high 70 °F, low 47 °F 70°47° OctNovember: average high 61 °F, low 38 °F 61°38° NovDecember: average high 53 °F, low 32 °F 53°32° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″2″4″6″January: 5.91 in precipitation, 0.5 in snowfall 5.9❄1 JanFebruary: 5.25 in precipitation, 1.3 in snowfall 5.3❄1 FebMarch: 5.61 in precipitation, 0.6 in snowfall 5.6❄1 MarApril: 5.23 in precipitation 5.2 AprMay: 4.95 in precipitation 5.0 MayJune: 5.53 in precipitation 5.5 JunJuly: 4.96 in precipitation 5.0 JulAugust: 5.95 in precipitation 6.0 AugSeptember: 4.89 in precipitation 4.9 SepOctober: 4.80 in precipitation 4.8 OctNovember: 5.13 in precipitation 5.1 NovDecember: 6.17 in precipitation, 0.4 in snowfall 6.2 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Long Creek, SC (9 mi away); precipitation: Long Creek, SC (9 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

2 of the 8 nearest ZIP codes are in a different zone — elevation and distance from water change winter lows quickly.

296918a
Walhalla, SC · 7 mi
296758a
Richland, SC · 8 mi
296868a
Tamassee, SC · 9 mi
296968a
West Union, SC · 10 mi
296588a
Long Creek, SC · 10 mi
296768a
Salem, SC · 12 mi
305257b
Clayton, GA · 12 mi
305377b
Dillard, GA · 13 mi

South Carolina planting zones →

Questions about 29664

What planting zone is ZIP code 29664?

ZIP code 29664 (Mountain Rest, 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 Mountain Rest, SC?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 29664 is April 9; after April 27 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Long Creek station.

When is the first frost in Mountain Rest, SC?

The median first fall frost near 29664 is October 29, giving a median frost-free growing season of 205 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 29664?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Feb 12 – Feb 26 and set transplants outside around Apr 16 – Apr 30, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 29664 get?

About 64.4 inches of precipitation a year and 3 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Long Creek station).

How hot do summers get in Mountain Rest, SC?

The average high peaks at 85 °F in July, with about 12 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 29664 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Hayesville at the center of ZIP 29664: fine sandy loam, well drained, pH about 5.1 (strongly acidic).

Did spring come early in Mountain Rest, SC in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 29664 came on Feb 21 in 2026, about the same as the 1991–2020 average (Feb 19), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Mountain Rest, SC?

Intermediate onions: the longest day near 29664 is 14 h 30 min, so day-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully.

Did the zone for 29664 change?

Yes. The 2012 USDA map put 29664 in zone 7b; the 2023 map puts it in zone 8a. The newer map uses 1991–2020 data and more weather stations.