Frost Dates & Planting Calendar for Carriere, MS
Plan your garden around Carriere, MS's typical frost-free growing season, using NOAA climate normals and a 42-crop planting calendar built for this location.
Last Spring Frost
March 9
Safe Mar 31
Typical Mar 9
Risky Feb 17
First Fall Frost
November 18
Safe Nov 3
Typical Nov 18
Risky Dec 11
Growing Season
255 days
Typical last frost to typical first frost.
USDA Hardiness Zone
Zone 9a
Subtropical to frost-free — heat, not cold, is the main limit on what you can grow.
Data: NOAA station PICAYUNE, MS US, 10.3 km away.
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days until the typical last spring frost
Monthly Temperatures
Avg. high
Avg. temp
Avg. low
Planting Calendar
| Crop | Start indoors | Direct sow | Transplant | Fall planting | Maturity | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tomato | Jan 12 – Jan 26 | — | Mar 16 – Mar 23 | — | 60–85 days | Start indoors 6-8 weeks before last frost; transplant out 1-2 weeks after last frost once soil has warmed. |
| Pepper | Dec 29 – Jan 12 | — | Mar 16 – Mar 30 | — | 60–90 days | Slow to germinate; start indoors 8-10 weeks before last frost. Transplant only once nights stay above 55F, 1-3 weeks after last frost. |
| Eggplant | Dec 29 – Jan 12 | — | Mar 23 – Mar 30 | — | 65–85 days | Warm-season crop, similar timing to pepper; needs consistently warm soil (65F+) to transplant. |
| Cucumber | Feb 9 – Feb 16 | Mar 16 – Mar 23 | Mar 16 – Mar 23 | — | 50–65 days | Can be started indoors 3-4 weeks before transplanting, or direct-sown 1-2 weeks after last frost once soil is warm. |
| Zucchini | Feb 16 – Feb 23 | Mar 16 – Mar 30 | Mar 16 – Mar 23 | — | 45–55 days | Fast-growing squash; direct sow 1-3 weeks after last frost, or start indoors 2-3 weeks early for a head start. |
| Winter Squash | Feb 9 – Feb 16 | Mar 16 – Mar 30 | Mar 16 – Mar 23 | — | 80–110 days | Long season; direct sow after soil warms, or start indoors 3-4 weeks before last frost in short-season climates. |
| Pumpkin | — | Mar 16 – Mar 30 | — | — | 90–120 days | Direct sow 1-3 weeks after last frost; back-time from your first fall frost so the 90-120 day maturity window lands before it. |
| Watermelon | Feb 9 – Feb 16 | — | Mar 23 – Mar 30 | — | 70–90 days | Needs warm soil (65F+); start indoors 3-4 weeks before last frost, transplant 2-3 weeks after last frost. |
| Cantaloupe | Feb 9 – Feb 16 | — | Mar 23 – Mar 30 | — | 70–90 days | Same warm-soil requirements as watermelon; avoid disturbing roots when transplanting. |
| Corn | — | Mar 9 – Mar 23 | — | — | 60–100 days | Direct sow at last frost to 2 weeks after, once soil reaches 60F; does not transplant well. Succession sow every 2 weeks. |
| Green Bean | — | Mar 9 – Mar 23 | — | — | 50–65 days | Direct sow at last frost to 2 weeks after, once soil has warmed; frost-tender, do not rush. |
| Pea | — | Jan 26 – Feb 9 | — | — | 55–70 days | Cold-hardy; direct sow 4-6 weeks before last frost as soon as soil can be worked. |
| Lettuce | — | Feb 9 – Feb 23 | — | Sep 23 – Oct 7 | 45–60 days | Cold-hardy; direct sow 2-4 weeks before last frost. Also transplantable from indoor starts. |
| Spinach | — | Jan 26 – Feb 9 | — | Sep 23 – Oct 7 | 40–50 days | Very cold-hardy; direct sow 4-6 weeks before last frost as soon as soil can be worked. |
| Kale | — | Feb 9 – Feb 23 | — | Sep 9 – Sep 23 | 50–65 days | Cold-hardy; direct sow 2-4 weeks before last frost or start indoors for earlier transplants. |
| Arugula | — | Feb 9 – Feb 23 | — | Oct 7 – Oct 14 | 30–40 days | Fast-growing, cold-tolerant green; direct sow 2-4 weeks before last frost, succession sow every 2-3 weeks. |
| Swiss Chard | — | Feb 16 – Mar 2 | — | — | 50–60 days | Fairly cold-hardy; direct sow 1-3 weeks before last frost. Tolerates light frost in fall too. |
| Broccoli | Jan 19 – Feb 2 | — | Feb 16 – Feb 23 | Sep 16 – Sep 23 | 55–80 days | Start indoors 5-7 weeks before last frost; transplant out 2-3 weeks before last frost (hardens off to light frost). |
| Cauliflower | Jan 19 – Feb 2 | — | Feb 23 – Mar 2 | Sep 9 – Sep 16 | 55–85 days | Fussier than broccoli about temperature swings; start indoors 5-7 weeks before last frost, transplant 1-2 weeks before last frost. |
| Cabbage | Jan 19 – Feb 2 | — | Feb 9 – Feb 23 | Sep 9 – Sep 23 | 60–100 days | Cold-hardy; start indoors 5-7 weeks before last frost, transplant 2-4 weeks before last frost. |
| Brussels Sprouts | Jan 19 – Feb 2 | — | Feb 16 – Mar 2 | — | 90–110 days | Long-season crop best timed to mature after a light fall frost for sweetest flavor; start indoors 5-7 weeks before last frost. |
| Carrot | — | Feb 9 – Feb 23 | — | Aug 26 – Sep 9 | 60–80 days | Direct sow only (does not transplant); sow 2-4 weeks before last frost, as soon as soil can be worked. |
| Beet | — | Feb 9 – Feb 23 | — | Sep 9 – Sep 23 | 50–65 days | Direct sow 2-4 weeks before last frost; tolerates light frost. |
| Radish | — | Feb 2 – Feb 16 | — | Oct 7 – Oct 21 | 22–30 days | Very fast and cold-hardy; direct sow 3-5 weeks before last frost, as soon as soil can be worked. |
| Turnip | — | Feb 9 – Feb 23 | — | Sep 9 – Sep 23 | 40–60 days | Cold-hardy; direct sow 2-4 weeks before last frost. |
| Onion | Dec 29 – Jan 12 | — | Feb 9 – Feb 23 | — | 90–120 days | Start seeds indoors 8-10 weeks before last frost (or use sets/transplants); set out 2-4 weeks before last frost, very cold-tolerant as seedlings. |
| Garlic | — | — | — | Oct 21 – Nov 4 | 240–270 days | Fall-planted crop only; not planted in spring in most climates. |
| Potato | — | Feb 9 – Feb 23 | — | — | 70–120 days | Plant seed potatoes 2-4 weeks before last frost, as soon as soil can be worked and is above 45F; light frost on emerging foliage is usually tolerated. |
| Sweet Potato | — | — | Mar 23 – Apr 6 | — | 90–120 days | Set out slips 2-4 weeks after last frost once soil is thoroughly warm (65F+); very frost/cold sensitive. |
| Asparagus | — | — | Feb 9 – Feb 23 | — | 730–1095 days | Perennial; plant crowns 2-4 weeks before last frost as soon as soil can be worked. Takes 2-3 years to full production. |
| Crop | Start indoors | Direct sow | Transplant | Fall planting | Maturity | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Basil | Jan 26 – Feb 2 | — | Mar 16 – Mar 23 | — | 50–70 days | Very frost/cold sensitive; start indoors 5-6 weeks before last frost, transplant only after all danger of frost (1-2 weeks after) and nights stay warm. |
| Cilantro | — | Feb 16 – Mar 2 | — | Sep 23 – Oct 7 | 45–70 days | Cool-season, bolts in heat; direct sow 1-3 weeks before last frost, succession sow through spring. |
| Parsley | Jan 12 – Jan 26 | — | Feb 23 – Mar 2 | — | 70–90 days | Slow to germinate; start indoors 6-8 weeks before last frost, transplant 1-2 weeks before last frost (biennial, cold-tolerant). |
| Dill | — | Feb 16 – Mar 2 | — | — | 40–60 days | Taprooted, does not transplant well; direct sow 1-3 weeks before last frost, succession sow through summer. |
| Oregano | Jan 12 – Jan 26 | — | Mar 9 – Mar 16 | — | 80–90 days | Perennial herb; start indoors 6-8 weeks before last frost, transplant around/just after last frost date. |
| Thyme | Jan 12 – Jan 26 | — | Mar 9 – Mar 16 | — | 85–95 days | Perennial herb, slow from seed; start indoors 6-8 weeks before last frost, transplant around/after last frost. |
| Crop | Start indoors | Direct sow | Transplant | Fall planting | Maturity | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sunflower | — | Mar 16 – Mar 30 | — | — | 70–100 days | Direct sow 1-3 weeks after last frost once soil has warmed; taprooted, resents transplanting. |
| Zinnia | Feb 9 – Feb 16 | Mar 16 – Mar 30 | Mar 16 – Mar 23 | — | 60–70 days | Frost-tender; direct sow 1-3 weeks after last frost, or start indoors 3-4 weeks early for earlier blooms. |
| Marigold | Jan 26 – Feb 9 | — | Mar 16 – Mar 23 | — | 45–60 days | Frost-tender; start indoors 4-6 weeks before last frost, transplant after all frost danger has passed. |
| Cosmos | Feb 9 – Feb 16 | Mar 16 – Mar 30 | Mar 16 – Mar 23 | — | 60–90 days | Easy from direct seed 1-3 weeks after last frost; can also start indoors 3-4 weeks early. |
| Nasturtium | — | Mar 16 – Mar 30 | — | — | 50–65 days | Frost-tender, resents root disturbance; direct sow 1-3 weeks after last frost once soil has warmed. |
| Dahlia | — | — | Mar 16 – Mar 30 | — | 90–120 days | Plant tubers 1-3 weeks after last frost once soil is warm (60F+); very frost-sensitive. |
Date ranges are estimates based on university extension guidelines and this city's NOAA frost normals — not a guarantee. Scroll to see all columns on narrow screens.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is the last frost in Carriere, MS?
Based on 1991–2020 NOAA climate normals for the PICAYUNE, MS US station, the last spring frost in Carriere typically falls around March 9. A cautious gardener might wait until March 31 (only a 10% chance of a later frost), while February 17 marks an earlier, higher-risk planting date.
When is the first frost in Carriere, MS in fall?
The first fall frost in Carriere typically arrives around November 18. To stay safe, assume frost could start as early as November 3; in milder years it can hold off until December 11.
How long is the growing season in Carriere, MS?
Carriere's average frost-free growing season is about 255 days, running from the typical last spring frost (March 9) to the typical first fall frost (November 18).
What USDA hardiness zone is Carriere, MS in?
Carriere, MS is in USDA plant hardiness zone 9a, per the USDA's 2023 Plant Hardiness Zone Map. Subtropical to frost-free — heat, not cold, is the main limit on what you can grow.