Frost Dates & Planting Calendar for Madison, MS
Plan your garden around Madison, 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 14
Safe Apr 2
Typical Mar 14
Risky Feb 22
First Fall Frost
November 14
Safe Oct 31
Typical Nov 14
Risky Dec 4
Growing Season
245 days
Typical last frost to typical first frost.
USDA Hardiness Zone
Zone 8b
Mild winters and a long growing season, room for both cool- and warm-season crops.
Data: NOAA station JACKSON INTL AP, MS US, 16.2 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 17 – Jan 31 | — | Mar 21 – Mar 28 | — | 60–85 days | Start indoors 6-8 weeks before last frost; transplant out 1-2 weeks after last frost once soil has warmed. |
| Pepper | Jan 3 – Jan 17 | — | Mar 21 – Apr 4 | — | 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 | Jan 3 – Jan 17 | — | Mar 28 – Apr 4 | — | 65–85 days | Warm-season crop, similar timing to pepper; needs consistently warm soil (65F+) to transplant. |
| Cucumber | Feb 14 – Feb 21 | Mar 21 – Mar 28 | Mar 21 – Mar 28 | — | 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 21 – Feb 28 | Mar 21 – Apr 4 | Mar 21 – Mar 28 | — | 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 14 – Feb 21 | Mar 21 – Apr 4 | Mar 21 – Mar 28 | — | 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 21 – Apr 4 | — | — | 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 14 – Feb 21 | — | Mar 28 – Apr 4 | — | 70–90 days | Needs warm soil (65F+); start indoors 3-4 weeks before last frost, transplant 2-3 weeks after last frost. |
| Cantaloupe | Feb 14 – Feb 21 | — | Mar 28 – Apr 4 | — | 70–90 days | Same warm-soil requirements as watermelon; avoid disturbing roots when transplanting. |
| Corn | — | Mar 14 – Mar 28 | — | — | 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 14 – Mar 28 | — | — | 50–65 days | Direct sow at last frost to 2 weeks after, once soil has warmed; frost-tender, do not rush. |
| Pea | — | Jan 31 – Feb 14 | — | — | 55–70 days | Cold-hardy; direct sow 4-6 weeks before last frost as soon as soil can be worked. |
| Lettuce | — | Feb 14 – Feb 28 | — | Sep 19 – Oct 3 | 45–60 days | Cold-hardy; direct sow 2-4 weeks before last frost. Also transplantable from indoor starts. |
| Spinach | — | Jan 31 – Feb 14 | — | Sep 19 – Oct 3 | 40–50 days | Very cold-hardy; direct sow 4-6 weeks before last frost as soon as soil can be worked. |
| Kale | — | Feb 14 – Feb 28 | — | Sep 5 – Sep 19 | 50–65 days | Cold-hardy; direct sow 2-4 weeks before last frost or start indoors for earlier transplants. |
| Arugula | — | Feb 14 – Feb 28 | — | Oct 3 – Oct 10 | 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 21 – Mar 7 | — | — | 50–60 days | Fairly cold-hardy; direct sow 1-3 weeks before last frost. Tolerates light frost in fall too. |
| Broccoli | Jan 24 – Feb 7 | — | Feb 21 – Feb 28 | Sep 12 – Sep 19 | 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 24 – Feb 7 | — | Feb 28 – Mar 7 | Sep 5 – Sep 12 | 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 24 – Feb 7 | — | Feb 14 – Feb 28 | Sep 5 – Sep 19 | 60–100 days | Cold-hardy; start indoors 5-7 weeks before last frost, transplant 2-4 weeks before last frost. |
| Brussels Sprouts | Jan 24 – Feb 7 | — | Feb 21 – Mar 7 | — | 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 14 – Feb 28 | — | Aug 22 – Sep 5 | 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 14 – Feb 28 | — | Sep 5 – Sep 19 | 50–65 days | Direct sow 2-4 weeks before last frost; tolerates light frost. |
| Radish | — | Feb 7 – Feb 21 | — | Oct 3 – Oct 17 | 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 14 – Feb 28 | — | Sep 5 – Sep 19 | 40–60 days | Cold-hardy; direct sow 2-4 weeks before last frost. |
| Onion | Jan 3 – Jan 17 | — | Feb 14 – Feb 28 | — | 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 17 – Oct 31 | 240–270 days | Fall-planted crop only; not planted in spring in most climates. |
| Potato | — | Feb 14 – Feb 28 | — | — | 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 28 – Apr 11 | — | 90–120 days | Set out slips 2-4 weeks after last frost once soil is thoroughly warm (65F+); very frost/cold sensitive. |
| Asparagus | — | — | Feb 14 – Feb 28 | — | 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 31 – Feb 7 | — | Mar 21 – Mar 28 | — | 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 21 – Mar 7 | — | Sep 19 – Oct 3 | 45–70 days | Cool-season, bolts in heat; direct sow 1-3 weeks before last frost, succession sow through spring. |
| Parsley | Jan 17 – Jan 31 | — | Feb 28 – Mar 7 | — | 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 21 – Mar 7 | — | — | 40–60 days | Taprooted, does not transplant well; direct sow 1-3 weeks before last frost, succession sow through summer. |
| Oregano | Jan 17 – Jan 31 | — | Mar 14 – Mar 21 | — | 80–90 days | Perennial herb; start indoors 6-8 weeks before last frost, transplant around/just after last frost date. |
| Thyme | Jan 17 – Jan 31 | — | Mar 14 – Mar 21 | — | 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 21 – Apr 4 | — | — | 70–100 days | Direct sow 1-3 weeks after last frost once soil has warmed; taprooted, resents transplanting. |
| Zinnia | Feb 14 – Feb 21 | Mar 21 – Apr 4 | Mar 21 – Mar 28 | — | 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 31 – Feb 14 | — | Mar 21 – Mar 28 | — | 45–60 days | Frost-tender; start indoors 4-6 weeks before last frost, transplant after all frost danger has passed. |
| Cosmos | Feb 14 – Feb 21 | Mar 21 – Apr 4 | Mar 21 – Mar 28 | — | 60–90 days | Easy from direct seed 1-3 weeks after last frost; can also start indoors 3-4 weeks early. |
| Nasturtium | — | Mar 21 – Apr 4 | — | — | 50–65 days | Frost-tender, resents root disturbance; direct sow 1-3 weeks after last frost once soil has warmed. |
| Dahlia | — | — | Mar 21 – Apr 4 | — | 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 Madison, MS?
Based on 1991–2020 NOAA climate normals for the JACKSON INTL AP, MS US station, the last spring frost in Madison typically falls around March 14. A cautious gardener might wait until April 2 (only a 10% chance of a later frost), while February 22 marks an earlier, higher-risk planting date.
When is the first frost in Madison, MS in fall?
The first fall frost in Madison typically arrives around November 14. To stay safe, assume frost could start as early as October 31; in milder years it can hold off until December 4.
How long is the growing season in Madison, MS?
Madison's average frost-free growing season is about 245 days, running from the typical last spring frost (March 14) to the typical first fall frost (November 14).
What USDA hardiness zone is Madison, MS in?
Madison, MS is in USDA plant hardiness zone 8b, per the USDA's 2023 Plant Hardiness Zone Map. Mild winters and a long growing season, room for both cool- and warm-season crops.