When to plant basil in South Carolina

Basil
Plant out in Charleston
Feb 15–Mar 1

Across South Carolina the window opens between February 15 and April 15. Find your city below; the dates follow each town's own average last frost.

Start indoors, Charleston
Dec 28–Jan 11
Plant out, Charleston
Feb 15–Mar 1
Sow outdoors, Charleston
Feb 15–Mar 1
Last sowing for a harvest
Oct 2
Last frost, Charleston
Feb 4

Start seeds indoors 4–6 weeks before the last frost; plant out 1–3 weeks after the last frost; sow outdoors 1–3 weeks after the last frost. Basil blackens below 50°F. Wait a week or two after the last frost.

Basil planting dates by city

Start indoorsPlant outSow outdoorsFall plantingAverage last and first frost
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
CharlestonFeb 15–Mar 1
ColumbiaMar 29–Apr 12
North CharlestonMar 14–Mar 28
Mount PleasantMar 20–Apr 3
Rock HillApr 3–Apr 17
GreenvilleApr 4–Apr 18
SummervilleMar 29–Apr 12
Goose CreekMar 14–Mar 28
GreerApr 4–Apr 18
SumterMar 31–Apr 14
FlorenceMar 26–Apr 9
Myrtle BeachMar 28–Apr 11
SpartanburgApr 15–Apr 29
Fort MillApr 7–Apr 21
Hilton Head IslandMar 10–Mar 24
BlufftonMar 9–Mar 23
AikenMar 26–Apr 9
MauldinApr 4–Apr 18
AndersonMar 30–Apr 13
ConwayMar 22–Apr 5
SimpsonvilleApr 5–Apr 19
EasleyApr 8–Apr 22
North AugustaMar 6–Mar 20
Carolina ForestMar 28–Apr 11
LexingtonApr 1–Apr 15
SocasteeMar 22–Apr 5
TaylorsMar 23–Apr 6
GreenwoodApr 2–Apr 16
HanahanMar 14–Mar 28
North Myrtle BeachMar 20–Apr 3
All 33 cities
CityStart indoorsPlant outSow outdoorsLast frost
CharlestonDec 28 to Jan 11Feb 15 to Mar 1Feb 15 to Mar 1Feb 4
ColumbiaFeb 8 to Feb 22Mar 29 to Apr 12Mar 29 to Apr 12Mar 22
North CharlestonJan 24 to Feb 7Mar 14 to Mar 28Mar 14 to Mar 28Mar 7
Mount PleasantJan 30 to Feb 13Mar 20 to Apr 3Mar 20 to Apr 3Mar 13
Rock HillFeb 13 to Feb 27Apr 3 to Apr 17Apr 3 to Apr 17Mar 27
GreenvilleFeb 14 to Feb 28Apr 4 to Apr 18Apr 4 to Apr 18Mar 28
SummervilleFeb 8 to Feb 22Mar 29 to Apr 12Mar 29 to Apr 12Mar 22
Goose CreekJan 24 to Feb 7Mar 14 to Mar 28Mar 14 to Mar 28Mar 7
GreerFeb 14 to Feb 28Apr 4 to Apr 18Apr 4 to Apr 18Mar 28
SumterFeb 10 to Feb 24Mar 31 to Apr 14Mar 31 to Apr 14Mar 24
FlorenceFeb 5 to Feb 19Mar 26 to Apr 9Mar 26 to Apr 9Mar 19
Myrtle BeachFeb 7 to Feb 21Mar 28 to Apr 11Mar 28 to Apr 11Mar 21
SpartanburgFeb 25 to Mar 11Apr 15 to Apr 29Apr 15 to Apr 29Apr 8
Fort MillFeb 17 to Mar 3Apr 7 to Apr 21Apr 7 to Apr 21Mar 31
Hilton Head IslandJan 20 to Feb 3Mar 10 to Mar 24Mar 10 to Mar 24Mar 3
BlufftonJan 19 to Feb 2Mar 9 to Mar 23Mar 9 to Mar 23Mar 2
AikenFeb 5 to Feb 19Mar 26 to Apr 9Mar 26 to Apr 9Mar 19
MauldinFeb 14 to Feb 28Apr 4 to Apr 18Apr 4 to Apr 18Mar 28
AndersonFeb 9 to Feb 23Mar 30 to Apr 13Mar 30 to Apr 13Mar 23
ConwayFeb 1 to Feb 15Mar 22 to Apr 5Mar 22 to Apr 5Mar 15
SimpsonvilleFeb 15 to Mar 1Apr 5 to Apr 19Apr 5 to Apr 19Mar 29
EasleyFeb 18 to Mar 4Apr 8 to Apr 22Apr 8 to Apr 22Apr 1
North AugustaJan 16 to Jan 30Mar 6 to Mar 20Mar 6 to Mar 20Feb 27
Carolina ForestFeb 7 to Feb 21Mar 28 to Apr 11Mar 28 to Apr 11Mar 21
LexingtonFeb 11 to Feb 25Apr 1 to Apr 15Apr 1 to Apr 15Mar 25
SocasteeFeb 1 to Feb 15Mar 22 to Apr 5Mar 22 to Apr 5Mar 15
TaylorsFeb 2 to Feb 16Mar 23 to Apr 6Mar 23 to Apr 6Mar 16
GreenwoodFeb 12 to Feb 26Apr 2 to Apr 16Apr 2 to Apr 16Mar 26
HanahanJan 24 to Feb 7Mar 14 to Mar 28Mar 14 to Mar 28Mar 7
North Myrtle BeachJan 30 to Feb 13Mar 20 to Apr 3Mar 20 to Apr 3Mar 13
St. AndrewsFeb 2 to Feb 16Mar 23 to Apr 6Mar 23 to Apr 6Mar 16
Wade HamptonFeb 2 to Feb 16Mar 23 to Apr 6Mar 23 to Apr 6Mar 16
Moncks CornerJan 27 to Feb 10Mar 17 to Mar 31Mar 17 to Mar 31Mar 10

Questions

When should I plant basil in South Carolina?

In Charleston, plant out from February 15 to March 1. Across South Carolina the window opens between February 15 and April 15, depending on the local last frost.

How is this date worked out?

Start seeds indoors 4–6 weeks before the last frost; plant out 1–3 weeks after the last frost; sow outdoors 1–3 weeks after the last frost. Frost dates are NOAA 1991–2020 averages for the weather station nearest each city.

More for South Carolina

Basil in other states

Frost dates for every city in South Carolina