Columbia, South Carolina · vegetable planting calendar

What to plant now in Columbia

This month's sowing list for Columbia, what is ready to pick, when to plant the favourites, the planting year at a glance and the local frost dates.

October

20 vegetables to sow or plant now

17 of them are at their best time to start. The last frost is usually around April 7, and frost is unlikely after about April 17.

Quick, easy wins this month: bok choy, radish, arugula, scallions, cilantro and Swiss chard.

Sow or plant in Columbia in October

Start seeds indoors

Onion

Direct sow

Arugula
Beets
Bok choy
Cilantro
Dill
Kale
Lettuce
Parsley
Radish
Scallions
Spinach
Swiss chard
Turnip
Peas
Carrot Late

Transplant

Chives
Garlic
Kale
Onion
Parsley
Strawberry
Broccoli

Names with a dashed outline can be started now, but it is not their best time. Late ones give only a short harvest.

Last month to start: beets, bok choy, broccoli, carrot, cilantro, dill, kale, lettuce, parsley, peas, scallions, spinach, Swiss chard and turnip.

Ready to pick in October

Arugula
Basil
Beets
Bell pepper
Bok choy
Broccoli
Brussels sprouts
Bush beans
Cantaloupe
Carrot
Chives
Cilantro
Cucumber
Dill
Eggplant
Hot pepper
Kale
Lettuce
Parsley
Pole beans
Radish
Runner beans
Scallions
Strawberry
Sweet corn
Sweet potato
Swiss chard
Tomato
Turnip
Watermelon
Winter squash
Zucchini

Coming up in November

Nothing new starts in November. This month's list carries on.

When to plant the favourites in Columbia

Tomatoes

Start seeds indoors: March to June.

Transplant: April to August.

Best time to start: April to July.

Pick: July to October.

First pick about 15 weeks after starting.

Potatoes

Plant: March to April.

Best time to start: March.

Pick: June to July.

First pick about 10 weeks after starting.

Garlic

Plant: September to December.

Best time to start: September to December.

Pick: April to July.

First pick about 24 weeks after starting.

Lettuce

Direct sow: January to April and September to October.

Best time to start: January to April and September to October.

Pick: April to May and October to January.

First pick about 7 weeks after starting.

Carrots

Direct sow: January to April and September to October.

Best time to start: January to April and September.

Pick: April to June and October to January.

First pick about 9 weeks after starting.

Bush beans

Direct sow: April to August.

Best time to start: April to August.

Pick: June to October.

First pick about 6 weeks after starting.

Onions

Start seeds indoors: August to February.

Transplant: October to April.

Best time to start: October to April.

Pick: April to July.

First pick about 26 weeks after starting.

Strawberries

Plant: October to April.

Best time to start: October to April.

Pick: April to October.

First pick about 20 weeks after starting.

Winter squash

Start seeds indoors: April to July.

Direct sow: April to July.

Transplant: April to July.

Best time to start: April to July.

Pick: July to October.

First pick about 12 weeks after starting.

Zucchini

Start seeds indoors: April to August.

Direct sow: April to August.

Transplant: April to September.

Best time to start: April to August.

Pick: June to October.

First pick about 6 weeks after starting.

The planting year in Columbia

Start seeds indoors
Direct sow
Transplant
Pick
Paler: possible, but not the best time

Vegetable	O	N	D	J	F	M	A	M	J	J	A	S	First pick
Arugula	S	S		S	S	S	S					S	about 5 weeks
Basil						T	S	S	S	S	S	P	about 6 weeks
Beets	S			S	S	S	S	S				S	about 7 weeks
Bell pepper						T	P	P	P	P	P		about 15 weeks
Bok choy	S			S	S	S	S	S	S	S	S	S	about 4 weeks
Broccoli	P		T	P	P	P					T	P	about 13 weeks
Brussels sprouts									T	T	P	P	about 17 weeks
Bush beans							S	S	S	S	S		about 6 weeks
Cabbage			T	P	P	P	P				T	P	about 15 weeks
Cantaloupe							T	S	S	S	P		about 9 weeks
Carrot	S			S	S	S	S					S	about 9 weeks
Cauliflower			T	P							T	P	about 17 weeks
Celeriac			T		P								about 24 weeks
Celery			T	T	P	P							about 21 weeks
Chives	P	P	T	T	S	S	S	S			T	S	about 9 weeks
Cilantro	S				S	S						S	about 6 weeks
Cucumber							S	S	S	S	S	P	about 5 weeks
Dill	S				S	S	S					S	about 6 weeks
Eggplant						T	P	P	P	P			about 16 weeks
Fava beans				S	S	S							about 12 weeks
Garlic	P	P	P									P	about 24 weeks
Hot pepper						T	P	P	P	P	P		about 17 weeks
Kale	S			S	S	S	S				T	S	about 7 weeks
Leek			T	P	P	P				T		P	about 20 weeks
Lettuce	S			S	S	S	S					S	about 7 weeks
Okra								S	S	S	S		about 6 weeks
Onion	P	P	P	P	P	P	P				T	T	about 26 weeks
Parsley	S		T	T	S	S	S	S			T	S	about 8 weeks
Parsnip					S	S	S					S	about 13 weeks
Peas	S			S	S	S						S	about 9 weeks
Pole beans							S	S	S	S	S		about 7 weeks
Potato						P	P						about 10 weeks
Radish	S	S		S	S	S	S	S				S	about 4 weeks
Runner beans											S		about 9 weeks
Rutabaga												S	about 15 weeks
Scallions	S			S	S	S	S	S	S	S	S	S	about 5 weeks
Spinach	S			S	S	S							about 7 weeks
Strawberry	P	P	P	P	P	P	P						about 20 weeks
Sweet corn							S	S	S	S	S		about 8 weeks
Sweet potato								P	P	P			about 10 weeks
Swiss chard	S			S	S	S	S	S			S	S	about 6 weeks
Tomato						T	P	P	P	P	P		about 15 weeks
Turnip	S			S	S	S	S					S	about 7 weeks
Watermelon							T	S	S	S	P		about 9 weeks
Winter squash							S	S	S	S			about 12 weeks
Zucchini							S	S	S	S	S	P	about 6 weeks

The chart starts at October. "First pick" is the usual time from starting to the first harvest.

Choose a heat-tolerant variety of: Brussels sprouts, fava beans and parsnip.

Columbia season by season

Spring March to May

Time to start: basil, bell pepper, bush beans, cantaloupe, cucumber, eggplant, hot pepper, okra, pole beans, potato, sweet corn, sweet potato, tomato, watermelon, winter squash and zucchini.

Last chance for: arugula, beets, broccoli, cabbage, carrot, celery, chives, cilantro, dill, fava beans, kale, leek, lettuce, onion, parsley, parsnip, peas, potato, radish, spinach, strawberry, Swiss chard and turnip.

Summer June to August

Time to start: broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower, chives, kale, leek, onion, parsley, runner beans and Swiss chard.

Last chance for: bell pepper, bush beans, cantaloupe, eggplant, hot pepper, leek, okra, pole beans, runner beans, sweet corn, sweet potato, tomato, watermelon and winter squash.

Fall September to November

Time to start: arugula, beets, carrot, cilantro, dill, garlic, leek, lettuce, parsnip, peas, radish, rutabaga, spinach, strawberry and turnip.

Last chance for: arugula, basil, beets, bok choy, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, carrot, cauliflower, cilantro, cucumber, dill, kale, leek, lettuce, parsley, parsnip, peas, radish, rutabaga, scallions, spinach, Swiss chard, turnip and zucchini.

Winter December to February

Time to start: arugula, beets, bok choy, broccoli, cabbage, carrot, cauliflower, celeriac, celery, cilantro, dill, fava beans, kale, leek, lettuce, parsley, parsnip, peas, radish, scallions, spinach, Swiss chard and turnip.

Last chance for: cauliflower, celeriac and garlic.

Frost in Columbia

Last frost, most years: around April 7
Frost is unlikely after: about April 17
First frost, most years: around November 3
Frost-free days in a year: about 210

The end of frost is not planting time. Tender plants also need warm nights, which usually come two to four weeks later, and a week or two of hardening off first, so go by the months for each vegetable above. A low corner where cold air settles runs later. Tomatoes, peppers, beans, zucchini, winter squash and basil are the ones to hold back or cover.

Questions about planting in Columbia

What can I plant now in Columbia?

In October, 20 vegetables can be sown or planted in Columbia, including arugula, beets, bok choy, broccoli, carrot, chives, cilantro and dill. The full list is at the top of this page and changes every month.

When should I plant tomatoes in Columbia?

In Columbia, sow tomatoes indoors from March to June and transplant them from April to August. The best time to start is from April to July. Picking runs from July to October.

When should I plant potatoes in Columbia?

In Columbia, plant potatoes from March to April. The best time to start is in March. Picking runs from June to July.

When should I plant garlic in Columbia?

In Columbia, plant garlic from September to December. The best time to start is from September to December. Picking runs from April to July.

When is the last frost in Columbia?

In most years the last frost in Columbia comes around April 7. Frost is unlikely after about April 17, though tender vegetables go out later still, once nights are warm. The first frost of the cold season usually arrives around November 3.

Which vegetables are quickest to grow in Columbia?

The quick ones are bok choy (about 4 weeks), radish (about 4 weeks), arugula (about 5 weeks), cucumber (about 5 weeks), scallions (about 5 weeks), basil (about 6 weeks), bush beans (about 6 weeks) and cilantro (about 6 weeks). The time is from starting to the first pick.

Other cities

These dates are estimates for general guidance, based on the usual weather in Columbia. Seasons vary from year to year, so check the seed packet and local advice as well.
Temperatures: Source: Meteostat and its data providers (CC BY 4.0). Crop temperature ranges checked against FAO ECOCROP (CC BY 4.0).