When to plant watermelon in South Carolina

Watermelon
Plant out in Charleston
Feb 18–Mar 4

Across South Carolina the window opens between February 18 and April 22. Find your city below; the dates follow each town's own average last frost.

Start indoors, Charleston
Jan 7–Jan 14
Plant out, Charleston
Feb 18–Mar 4
Sow outdoors, Charleston
Feb 18–Mar 4
Last sowing for a harvest
Sep 7
Last frost, Charleston
Feb 4

Start seeds indoors 3–4 weeks before the last frost; plant out 2–4 weeks after the last frost; sow outdoors 2–4 weeks after the last frost. In short-season areas, start seedlings indoors and pick an early variety.

Watermelon planting dates by city

Start indoorsPlant outSow outdoorsFall plantingAverage last and first frost
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
CharlestonFeb 18–Mar 4
ColumbiaApr 5–Apr 19
North CharlestonMar 21–Apr 4
Mount PleasantMar 27–Apr 10
Rock HillApr 10–Apr 24
GreenvilleApr 11–Apr 25
SummervilleApr 5–Apr 19
Goose CreekMar 21–Apr 4
GreerApr 11–Apr 25
SumterApr 7–Apr 21
FlorenceApr 2–Apr 16
Myrtle BeachApr 4–Apr 18
SpartanburgApr 22–May 6
Fort MillApr 14–Apr 28
Hilton Head IslandMar 17–Mar 31
BlufftonMar 16–Mar 30
AikenApr 2–Apr 16
MauldinApr 11–Apr 25
AndersonApr 6–Apr 20
ConwayMar 29–Apr 12
SimpsonvilleApr 12–Apr 26
EasleyApr 15–Apr 29
North AugustaMar 13–Mar 27
Carolina ForestApr 4–Apr 18
LexingtonApr 8–Apr 22
SocasteeMar 29–Apr 12
TaylorsMar 30–Apr 13
GreenwoodApr 9–Apr 23
HanahanMar 21–Apr 4
North Myrtle BeachMar 27–Apr 10
All 33 cities
CityStart indoorsPlant outSow outdoorsLast frost
CharlestonJan 7 to Jan 14Feb 18 to Mar 4Feb 18 to Mar 4Feb 4
ColumbiaFeb 22 to Mar 1Apr 5 to Apr 19Apr 5 to Apr 19Mar 22
North CharlestonFeb 7 to Feb 14Mar 21 to Apr 4Mar 21 to Apr 4Mar 7
Mount PleasantFeb 13 to Feb 20Mar 27 to Apr 10Mar 27 to Apr 10Mar 13
Rock HillFeb 27 to Mar 6Apr 10 to Apr 24Apr 10 to Apr 24Mar 27
GreenvilleFeb 28 to Mar 7Apr 11 to Apr 25Apr 11 to Apr 25Mar 28
SummervilleFeb 22 to Mar 1Apr 5 to Apr 19Apr 5 to Apr 19Mar 22
Goose CreekFeb 7 to Feb 14Mar 21 to Apr 4Mar 21 to Apr 4Mar 7
GreerFeb 28 to Mar 7Apr 11 to Apr 25Apr 11 to Apr 25Mar 28
SumterFeb 24 to Mar 3Apr 7 to Apr 21Apr 7 to Apr 21Mar 24
FlorenceFeb 19 to Feb 26Apr 2 to Apr 16Apr 2 to Apr 16Mar 19
Myrtle BeachFeb 21 to Feb 28Apr 4 to Apr 18Apr 4 to Apr 18Mar 21
SpartanburgMar 11 to Mar 18Apr 22 to May 6Apr 22 to May 6Apr 8
Fort MillMar 3 to Mar 10Apr 14 to Apr 28Apr 14 to Apr 28Mar 31
Hilton Head IslandFeb 3 to Feb 10Mar 17 to Mar 31Mar 17 to Mar 31Mar 3
BlufftonFeb 2 to Feb 9Mar 16 to Mar 30Mar 16 to Mar 30Mar 2
AikenFeb 19 to Feb 26Apr 2 to Apr 16Apr 2 to Apr 16Mar 19
MauldinFeb 28 to Mar 7Apr 11 to Apr 25Apr 11 to Apr 25Mar 28
AndersonFeb 23 to Mar 2Apr 6 to Apr 20Apr 6 to Apr 20Mar 23
ConwayFeb 15 to Feb 22Mar 29 to Apr 12Mar 29 to Apr 12Mar 15
SimpsonvilleMar 1 to Mar 8Apr 12 to Apr 26Apr 12 to Apr 26Mar 29
EasleyMar 4 to Mar 11Apr 15 to Apr 29Apr 15 to Apr 29Apr 1
North AugustaJan 30 to Feb 6Mar 13 to Mar 27Mar 13 to Mar 27Feb 27
Carolina ForestFeb 21 to Feb 28Apr 4 to Apr 18Apr 4 to Apr 18Mar 21
LexingtonFeb 25 to Mar 4Apr 8 to Apr 22Apr 8 to Apr 22Mar 25
SocasteeFeb 15 to Feb 22Mar 29 to Apr 12Mar 29 to Apr 12Mar 15
TaylorsFeb 16 to Feb 23Mar 30 to Apr 13Mar 30 to Apr 13Mar 16
GreenwoodFeb 26 to Mar 5Apr 9 to Apr 23Apr 9 to Apr 23Mar 26
HanahanFeb 7 to Feb 14Mar 21 to Apr 4Mar 21 to Apr 4Mar 7
North Myrtle BeachFeb 13 to Feb 20Mar 27 to Apr 10Mar 27 to Apr 10Mar 13
St. AndrewsFeb 16 to Feb 23Mar 30 to Apr 13Mar 30 to Apr 13Mar 16
Wade HamptonFeb 16 to Feb 23Mar 30 to Apr 13Mar 30 to Apr 13Mar 16
Moncks CornerFeb 10 to Feb 17Mar 24 to Apr 7Mar 24 to Apr 7Mar 10

Questions

When should I plant watermelon in South Carolina?

In Charleston, plant out from February 18 to March 4. Across South Carolina the window opens between February 18 and April 22, depending on the local last frost.

How is this date worked out?

Start seeds indoors 3–4 weeks before the last frost; plant out 2–4 weeks after the last frost; sow outdoors 2–4 weeks after the last frost. Frost dates are NOAA 1991–2020 averages for the weather station nearest each city.

More for South Carolina

Watermelon in other states

Frost dates for every city in South Carolina