Fall in zone 8aPhoto: George Chernilevsky, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Frost dates for ZIP 29706 (Chester, SC)
Average last spring and first fall frost dates with 10%, 50% and 90% odds, from NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the nearest weather station, Chester 1 SE, SC (3 miles away).
- Average last spring frostApr 350% chance of a 32°F freeze after this date
- Average first fall frostNov 250% chance of a 32°F freeze by this date
- Growing season (frost-free)213 daysmedian, 32°F threshold
- USDA hardiness zone8a10 to 15°F avg. coldest night
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This week in your yard
As of Oct 18, 2026, from your frost dates, zone and soil temperature. Lawn timing · Vegetables · Pruning · Plants
Soil temperature now
2-inch depth
No soil station with a fresh reading within 62 miles.
4-inch depth
No soil station with a fresh reading within 62 miles.
Fall: Texas A&M AgriLife times fall pre-emergent (for winter weeds such as annual bluegrass) to soil cooling to about 70°F for several days. The 50–55°F band is the spring trigger. Always read and follow the product label.
7-day forecast and frost risk
The latest National Weather Service 7-day forecast and any Frost Advisory or Freeze Warning for 29706 load here. You can also open the NWS forecast for this ZIP.
Pre-emergent
No soil reading near this ZIP. Typical extension timing for your region: spring mid-February to early March; fall September to early October.
Fertilizer window
Lawn region: Southeast (warm, humid). Timing only; always follow the product label.
- Centipedegrass (warm-season): Spring: Not before mid-May (NC State); after full green-up (about May 19 here, using green-up about 3–4 weeks after your average last frost); Summer: Optional mid-summer feeding, especially on sandy coastal soils. Avoid: Early-spring feeding, frequent feeding and liming unless a soil test calls for it (centipede decline).
Plant now
Prune now
No frost-timed pruning windows are open this week.
Your average first frost is Nov 2: skip heavy pruning in the 6–8 weeks before it, because new growth may not harden off in time.
Spring-flowering shrubs are pruned right after their flowers fade, not by date. See the pruning guide.
Last spring frost odds
| Chance of a 32°F freeze after this date | Date |
|---|---|
| 90% (early: most years still freeze after this) | Mar 17 |
| 50% (the "average" last frost) | Apr 3 |
| 10% (cautious: only 1 year in 10 freezes later) | Apr 19 |
Most gardeners plant frost-tender crops (tomatoes, peppers, basil) after the 50% date, and closer to the 10% date for less risk.
First fall frost odds
| Chance the first 32°F freeze has happened by this date | Date |
|---|---|
| 10% (early: 1 year in 10 freezes this soon) | Oct 20 |
| 50% (the "average" first frost) | Nov 2 |
| 90% (late: most years have frozen by now) | Nov 18 |
Light frost, freeze and hard freeze
| Threshold | Last spring (50%) | First fall (50%) |
|---|---|---|
| 36°F (light frost possible on clear, calm nights) | Apr 16 | Oct 26 |
| 32°F (freeze) | Apr 3 | Nov 2 |
| 28°F (hard freeze) | Mar 20 | Nov 13 |
n/a means NOAA did not publish a date at that threshold for this station (usually because it rarely gets that cold).
Vegetable planting calendar for 29706
Dates count from your average last spring frost (Apr 3) and first fall frost (Nov 2). Half of years have a frost after the spring date, so give tender crops (tomatoes, peppers, squash) some slack.
| Crop | Start indoors | Spring planting | Fall planting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomato | Feb 6–20 | Apr 10–24 (transplant) | Jul 6–Aug 3 (transplant) |
| Pepper (sweet and hot) | Jan 23–Feb 6 | Apr 17–May 1 (transplant) | Jul 13–Aug 3 (transplant) |
| Eggplant | Jan 23–Feb 6 | Apr 17–May 1 (transplant) | Jul 13–Aug 3 (transplant) |
| Tomatillo | Feb 6–20 | Apr 10–24 (transplant) | – |
| Lettuce | Feb 6–20 | Mar 13–Apr 3 (transplant) Mar 6–Apr 17 (sow outdoors) | Sep 7–28 (transplant) Aug 24–Sep 21 (sowing) |
| Spinach | – | Feb 20–Mar 13 (sow outdoors) | Sep 7–28 (sowing) |
| Kale | Feb 6–20 | Mar 6–20 (transplant) Mar 6–20 (sow outdoors) | Aug 10–Sep 7 (transplant) Jul 27–Aug 24 (sowing) |
| Collards | Feb 6–20 | Mar 6–Apr 3 (transplant) Mar 6–Apr 3 (sow outdoors) | Aug 10–Sep 7 (transplant) Jul 27–Aug 24 (sowing) |
| Broccoli | Jan 23–Feb 6 | Mar 6–20 (transplant) | Jul 27–Aug 24 (transplant) |
| Cabbage | Jan 23–Feb 6 | Mar 6–20 (transplant) | Jul 27–Aug 24 (transplant) |
| Cauliflower | Jan 23–Feb 6 | Mar 20–Apr 3 (transplant) | Jul 27–Aug 24 (transplant) |
| Brussels sprouts | Jan 9–23 | Mar 6–20 (transplant) | Jul 13–Aug 3 (transplant) |
| Kohlrabi | Feb 6–20 | Mar 6–20 (transplant) Mar 6–20 (sow outdoors) | Aug 24–Sep 7 (sowing) |
| Bok choy / Asian greens | – | Mar 6–20 (sow outdoors) | Sep 7–21 (sowing) |
| Arugula | – | Mar 6–Apr 3 (sow outdoors) | Sep 7–Oct 5 (sowing) |
| Mustard greens | – | Mar 6–27 (sow outdoors) | Sep 7–21 (sowing) |
| Swiss chard | Feb 20–Mar 6 | Mar 20–Apr 10 (transplant) Mar 20–Apr 17 (sow outdoors) | Aug 24–Sep 7 (sowing) |
| Beet | – | Mar 6–Apr 3 (sow outdoors) | Aug 24–Sep 7 (sowing) |
| Carrot | – | Mar 13–Apr 10 (sow outdoors) | Aug 10–24 (sowing) |
| Radish | – | Feb 27–Apr 10 (sow outdoors) | Sep 21–Oct 5 (sowing) |
| Turnip | – | Mar 6–27 (sow outdoors) | Aug 24–Sep 7 (sowing) |
| Parsnip | – | Mar 13–Apr 3 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pea (garden, snap, snow) | – | Feb 6–Mar 6 (sow outdoors) | Aug 10–24 (sowing) |
| Onion (bulbing) | Jan 9–23 | Feb 20–Mar 6 (transplant) | – |
| Green onion / scallion | – | Feb 20–Mar 20 (sow outdoors) | Aug 24–Sep 7 (sowing) |
| Leek | Jan 9–23 | Mar 6–20 (transplant) | – |
| Garlic | – | – | Sep 21–Oct 19 (sowing) |
| Shallot | – | Feb 20–Mar 6 (transplant) | Sep 21–Oct 19 (sowing) |
| Potato | – | Mar 6–20 (transplant) | Jul 13–27 (transplant) |
| Sweet potato | – | Apr 24–May 8 (transplant) | – |
| Sweet corn | – | Apr 10–24 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, bush (snap) | – | Apr 10–24 (sow outdoors) | Aug 10–24 (sowing) |
| Bean, pole | – | Apr 10–24 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Lima bean | – | Apr 17–May 1 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Southern pea (cowpea, black-eyed pea) | – | Apr 24–May 15 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cucumber | Mar 6–13 | Apr 10–24 (transplant) Apr 10–24 (sow outdoors) | Aug 10–24 (sowing) |
| Summer squash / zucchini | Mar 6–13 | Apr 10–24 (transplant) Apr 10–24 (sow outdoors) | Aug 10–24 (sowing) |
| Winter squash | Mar 6–13 | Apr 10–24 (transplant) Apr 10–24 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pumpkin | – | Apr 10–24 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Watermelon | Mar 6–13 | Apr 17–May 1 (transplant) Apr 17–May 1 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cantaloupe / muskmelon | Mar 6–13 | Apr 17–May 1 (transplant) Apr 17–May 1 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Okra | Feb 20–Mar 6 | Apr 17–May 1 (transplant) Apr 17–May 1 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Celery | Jan 9–23 | Apr 10–17 (transplant) | – |
| Basil | Feb 20–Mar 6 | Apr 10–24 (transplant) Apr 10–24 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cilantro | – | Mar 20–Apr 17 (sow outdoors) | Sep 7–21 (sowing) |
| Parsley | Jan 23–Feb 6 | Mar 20–Apr 3 (transplant) Mar 13–Apr 3 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Dill | – | Apr 3–17 (sow outdoors) | Sep 7–21 (sowing) |
| Sunflower | – | Apr 3–17 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Asparagus (crowns) | – | Mar 6–20 (transplant) | – |
| Rhubarb (crowns) | – | Mar 6–20 (transplant) | – |
| Strawberry (plants) | – | Mar 6–20 (transplant) | Aug 24–Sep 21 (transplant) |
Typical ranges from university extension planting calendars, adjusted to your frost dates. Probabilities, not guarantees. Fall windows that would overlap spring planting are left out, as are fall crops of frost-tender plants where the frost-free season is under 210 days.
Where these numbers come from
Station: Chester 1 SE, SC (NOAA GHCN-Daily ID USC00381633), elevation 560 ft, 3.1 miles from the ZIP's center point. NOAA completeness flag: S (standard, 24+ years).
Nearby stations
| Station | Distance | Last frost (50%) | First frost (50%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| York 5 SSE, SC | 14 mi | Apr 1 | Nov 3 |
| Santuck, SC | 17 mi | Apr 4 | Nov 1 |
| Winthrop Univ, SC | 19 mi | Mar 27 | Nov 5 |
The average last-frost dates of these stations span 8 days, a rough guide to local variation. See data sources & methods.
Frost questions for 29706
When is the last frost in 29706?
The average (50% chance) last spring freeze of 32°F for ZIP 29706 is April 3. For a more cautious planting date, use April 19, when only 1 year in 10 still sees a later freeze.
When is the first frost in 29706?
The average first fall freeze is November 2. In 1 year in 10 it comes by October 20.
What hardiness zone is 29706?
ZIP 29706 is in USDA zone 8a (10 to 15°F average coldest winter night), per the 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map ZIP listing.
What is the soil temperature in 29706 right now?
This page shows the latest 2-inch and 4-inch soil temperature from the nearest public soil station (USDA SCAN, NOAA USCRN or TexMesonet), or a labeled estimate when no station is close, against the 50–55°F spring pre-emergent band.
Nearby ZIP codes
29726 McConnells 29729 Richburg 29724 29031 Carlisle 29364 Lockhart 29742 Sharon 29014 29712
Other ZIP codes in Chester County
29031 29055 29712 29714 29724 29729 All Chester County frost dates · South Carolina frost dates
Never miss a frost: get The Dial
Weekly yard timing, plus frost and soil-temperature alerts for your ZIP code.
- Freeze alerts
- Soil-temp heads-up
- Weekly yard to-dos
Free. One weekly email plus alerts when your ZIP has a frost or a soil-temperature change worth acting on. After you submit, Kit (our email provider) sends a confirmation email: check your email and click the link to confirm. You aren't subscribed until you do. We collect only your email address and ZIP, sent to Kit to deliver The Dial. Unsubscribe anytime.