Mississippi frost dates

Average last spring and first fall frost dates for Mississippi’s largest cities, with each city’s USDA hardiness zone.

Reviewed October 2026

Among Mississippi’s 20 largest cities, the average last spring frost ranges from Feb 12 in Biloxi to Apr 3 in Oxford. Elevation, distance from the coast and city heat all shift the date, so use your own ZIP code below for the closest match.

City	Average last spring frost	Average first fall frost	Frost-free days	Hardiness zone	Weather station used
Jackson	Mar 6	Nov 19	258	8b	Jackson Hawkins Fld, MS, 2 mi
Gulfport	Feb 23	Dec 3	283	9a	Gulfport - Biloxi Airport, MS
Southaven	Mar 16	Nov 16	245	8a	Memphis Intl Airport, TN, 7 mi
Hattiesburg	Mar 7	Nov 23	261	8b	Hattiesburg 5Sw, MS, 4 mi
Biloxi	Feb 12	Dec 14	305	9a	Biloxi, MS, 5 mi
Olive Branch	Mar 26	Nov 6	225	8a	Olive Branch, MS
Tupelo	Mar 21	Nov 10	234	8a	Tupelo 2, MS, 2 mi
Meridian	Mar 16	Nov 12	241	8b	Meridian Key Fld, MS, 5 mi
Pearl	Mar 14	Nov 14	245	8b	Jackson Intl Airport, MS, 3 mi
Madison	Mar 6	Nov 19	258	8b	Jackson Hawkins Fld, MS, 11 mi
Greenville	Mar 13	Nov 15	247	8b	Greenville, MS, 2 mi
Oxford	Apr 3	Oct 31	211	7b–8a	University, MS, 2 mi
Clinton	Mar 6	Nov 19	258	8b	Jackson Hawkins Fld, MS, 7 mi
Horn Lake	Mar 16	Nov 16	245	8a	Memphis Intl Airport, TN, 8 mi
Brandon	Mar 14	Nov 14	245	8b	Jackson Intl Airport, MS, 6 mi
Starkville	Mar 23	Nov 8	230	8a	State Univ, MS, 3 mi
Ridgeland	Mar 6	Nov 19	258	8b	Jackson Hawkins Fld, MS, 7 mi
Columbus	Mar 13	Nov 12	244	8b	Columbus, MS, 3 mi
Pascagoula	Mar 8	Nov 19	256	9a	Pascagoula 3 Ne, MS, 5 mi
Vicksburg	Feb 26	Nov 22	269	8b	Vicksburg City, MS, 4 mi

Frost dates are the dates after (spring) or before (fall) which the chance of a 32°F freeze is below 50%, from NOAA’s 1991–2020 U.S. Climate Normals for the weather station nearest each city’s center. Zones are from the 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map for the ZIP codes around each city; a range means nearby ZIP codes differ. Cities are the 20 largest by Census Bureau 2024 population estimates.

An average is not a guarantee. There’s still about a 1 in 2 chance of frost after the average last spring date. Many gardeners wait an extra week or two before setting out tomatoes, peppers and basil, and keep covers handy.

Planting dates for Jackson

Timed from Jackson’s average last frost of Mar 6, using University of New Hampshire Extension’s planting guidance. For your exact dates, enter your ZIP code in the calendar below.

Crop	Start seeds indoors	Plant outside
Tomatoes	Jan 16 to Jan 30	Mar 13 to Mar 20
Peppers	Jan 9 to Jan 23	Mar 20
Lettuce	Jan 2 to Jan 9	Feb 6 to Feb 13
Broccoli	Dec 26 to Jan 9	Feb 6 to Feb 20
Cucumbers	Feb 13 to Feb 20	Mar 13 to Mar 20
Basil	Jan 23 to Feb 6	Mar 20

When to plant, for your garden

Your seed-starting and planting dates, timed from your last spring frost. Full calendar, 12 crops.

ZIP code

Last frost date

Enter your ZIP code to look up your average last frost date and hardiness zone, or type the date in yourself.

Frost dates: NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020. Hardiness zones: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map, 2023, ZIP code data from PRISM Group, Oregon State University, prism.oregonstate.edu, accessed Oct. 20, 2026.

More about frost dates

How to find your last frost date, and what your zone means · Full planting calendar · How to start seeds indoors

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