Planting calendar

When to plant zucchini in South Carolina

South Carolina spans USDA hardiness zones 7a-9a. Average last spring frost: 04-05. This calendar gives you the indoor start, transplant, and direct-sow dates for Cucurbita pepo.

South Carolina planting dates for zucchini

PhaseDate in South CarolinaNotes
Start seeds indoorsMarch 153 weeks before last frost
Transplant outdoorsApril 121 weeks after last frost
Direct sow outsideApril 121 weeks after last frost

Why these dates

Zucchini germinates fast in warm soil. Squash vine borer is the main killer in the eastern US - row covers until flowering, then hand-pick adults in late June.

The dates above are anchored to South Carolina's average last spring frost date of 04-05, with offsets standard across university Extension publications. For zone-specific local timing, use the frost date lookup tool with your ZIP code.

More on growing zucchini

The full growing guide for zucchini - varieties, soil, fertilization, pests, harvest, storage - is here: Zucchini growing guide.

More South Carolina planting information

Sources