When to plant onions in South Carolina

Onions
Plant out in Charleston
Dec 24–Jan 14

Across South Carolina the window opens between December 24 and February 25. Find your city below; the dates follow each town's own average last frost.

Start indoors, Charleston
Nov 12–Dec 10
Plant out, Charleston
Dec 24–Jan 14
Last frost, Charleston
Feb 4

Start seeds indoors 8–12 weeks before the last frost; plant out 3–6 weeks before the last frost. Northern gardens need long-day varieties and southern gardens need short-day ones. A wrong pick gives small bulbs.

Onions planting dates by city

Start indoorsPlant outSow outdoorsFall plantingAverage last and first frost
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
CharlestonDec 24–Jan 14
ColumbiaFeb 8–Mar 1
North CharlestonJan 24–Feb 14
Mount PleasantJan 30–Feb 20
Rock HillFeb 13–Mar 6
GreenvilleFeb 14–Mar 7
SummervilleFeb 8–Mar 1
Goose CreekJan 24–Feb 14
GreerFeb 14–Mar 7
SumterFeb 10–Mar 3
FlorenceFeb 5–Feb 26
Myrtle BeachFeb 7–Feb 28
SpartanburgFeb 25–Mar 18
Fort MillFeb 17–Mar 10
Hilton Head IslandJan 20–Feb 10
BlufftonJan 19–Feb 9
AikenFeb 5–Feb 26
MauldinFeb 14–Mar 7
AndersonFeb 9–Mar 2
ConwayFeb 1–Feb 22
SimpsonvilleFeb 15–Mar 8
EasleyFeb 18–Mar 11
North AugustaJan 16–Feb 6
Carolina ForestFeb 7–Feb 28
LexingtonFeb 11–Mar 4
SocasteeFeb 1–Feb 22
TaylorsFeb 2–Feb 23
GreenwoodFeb 12–Mar 5
HanahanJan 24–Feb 14
North Myrtle BeachJan 30–Feb 20
All 33 cities
CityStart indoorsPlant outLast frost
CharlestonNov 12 to Dec 10Dec 24 to Jan 14Feb 4
ColumbiaDec 28 to Jan 25Feb 8 to Mar 1Mar 22
North CharlestonDec 13 to Jan 10Jan 24 to Feb 14Mar 7
Mount PleasantDec 19 to Jan 16Jan 30 to Feb 20Mar 13
Rock HillJan 2 to Jan 30Feb 13 to Mar 6Mar 27
GreenvilleJan 3 to Jan 31Feb 14 to Mar 7Mar 28
SummervilleDec 28 to Jan 25Feb 8 to Mar 1Mar 22
Goose CreekDec 13 to Jan 10Jan 24 to Feb 14Mar 7
GreerJan 3 to Jan 31Feb 14 to Mar 7Mar 28
SumterDec 30 to Jan 27Feb 10 to Mar 3Mar 24
FlorenceDec 25 to Jan 22Feb 5 to Feb 26Mar 19
Myrtle BeachDec 27 to Jan 24Feb 7 to Feb 28Mar 21
SpartanburgJan 14 to Feb 11Feb 25 to Mar 18Apr 8
Fort MillJan 6 to Feb 3Feb 17 to Mar 10Mar 31
Hilton Head IslandDec 9 to Jan 6Jan 20 to Feb 10Mar 3
BlufftonDec 8 to Jan 5Jan 19 to Feb 9Mar 2
AikenDec 25 to Jan 22Feb 5 to Feb 26Mar 19
MauldinJan 3 to Jan 31Feb 14 to Mar 7Mar 28
AndersonDec 29 to Jan 26Feb 9 to Mar 2Mar 23
ConwayDec 21 to Jan 18Feb 1 to Feb 22Mar 15
SimpsonvilleJan 4 to Feb 1Feb 15 to Mar 8Mar 29
EasleyJan 7 to Feb 4Feb 18 to Mar 11Apr 1
North AugustaDec 5 to Jan 2Jan 16 to Feb 6Feb 27
Carolina ForestDec 27 to Jan 24Feb 7 to Feb 28Mar 21
LexingtonDec 31 to Jan 28Feb 11 to Mar 4Mar 25
SocasteeDec 21 to Jan 18Feb 1 to Feb 22Mar 15
TaylorsDec 22 to Jan 19Feb 2 to Feb 23Mar 16
GreenwoodJan 1 to Jan 29Feb 12 to Mar 5Mar 26
HanahanDec 13 to Jan 10Jan 24 to Feb 14Mar 7
North Myrtle BeachDec 19 to Jan 16Jan 30 to Feb 20Mar 13
St. AndrewsDec 22 to Jan 19Feb 2 to Feb 23Mar 16
Wade HamptonDec 22 to Jan 19Feb 2 to Feb 23Mar 16
Moncks CornerDec 16 to Jan 13Jan 27 to Feb 17Mar 10

Questions

When should I plant onions in South Carolina?

In Charleston, plant out from December 24 to January 14. Across South Carolina the window opens between December 24 and February 25, depending on the local last frost.

How is this date worked out?

Start seeds indoors 8–12 weeks before the last frost; plant out 3–6 weeks before the last frost. Frost dates are NOAA 1991–2020 averages for the weather station nearest each city.

More for South Carolina

Onions in other states

Frost dates for every city in South Carolina