Frost Dates & Planting Calendar for West Gulfport, MS

The average first fall frost in West Gulfport, MS is December 3, and the average last spring frost is February 23, giving a growing season of about 287 days.

Plan your garden around West Gulfport, MS's typical frost-free growing season, using NOAA climate normals and a 42-crop planting calendar built for this location.

Last Spring Frost

February 23

Safe Mar 16 Typical Feb 23 Risky Jan 25

First Fall Frost

December 3

Safe Nov 12 Typical Dec 3 Risky Jan 5

Growing Season

287 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 GULFPORT - BILOXI AP, MS US, 1.6 km away.

— days until the typical last spring frost

How West Gulfport Compares

West Gulfport's typical last spring frost (Feb 23) comes earlier than in 84% of the 45 Mississippi cities we track.
Its 287-day growing season is 40 days longer than the Mississippi median of 247 days.
Compared with Gulfport (4 km away), West Gulfport's last spring frost comes 5 days later than Gulfport's, and its first fall frost arrives 11 days earlier.
August is the warmest month (average high 91°F) and January the coldest (average low 42°F).

Monthly Temperatures

Avg. high Avg. temp Avg. low

Planting Calendar

Vegetables
Crop	Start indoors	Direct sow	Transplant	Fall planting	Maturity	Notes
Tomato	Dec 29 – Jan 12	—	Mar 2 – Mar 9	—	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 15 – Dec 29	—	Mar 2 – Mar 16	—	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 15 – Dec 29	—	Mar 9 – Mar 16	—	65–85 days	Warm-season crop, similar timing to pepper; needs consistently warm soil (65F+) to transplant.
Cucumber	Jan 26 – Feb 2	Mar 2 – Mar 9	Mar 2 – Mar 9	—	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 2 – Feb 9	Mar 2 – Mar 16	Mar 2 – Mar 9	—	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	Jan 26 – Feb 2	Mar 2 – Mar 16	Mar 2 – Mar 9	—	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 2 – Mar 16	—	—	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	Jan 26 – Feb 2	—	Mar 9 – Mar 16	—	70–90 days	Needs warm soil (65F+); start indoors 3-4 weeks before last frost, transplant 2-3 weeks after last frost.
Cantaloupe	Jan 26 – Feb 2	—	Mar 9 – Mar 16	—	70–90 days	Same warm-soil requirements as watermelon; avoid disturbing roots when transplanting.
Corn	—	Feb 23 – Mar 9	—	—	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	—	Feb 23 – Mar 9	—	—	50–65 days	Direct sow at last frost to 2 weeks after, once soil has warmed; frost-tender, do not rush.
Pea	—	Jan 12 – Jan 26	—	—	55–70 days	Cold-hardy; direct sow 4-6 weeks before last frost as soon as soil can be worked.
Lettuce	—	Jan 26 – Feb 9	—	Oct 8 – Oct 22	45–60 days	Cold-hardy; direct sow 2-4 weeks before last frost. Also transplantable from indoor starts.
Spinach	—	Jan 12 – Jan 26	—	Oct 8 – Oct 22	40–50 days	Very cold-hardy; direct sow 4-6 weeks before last frost as soon as soil can be worked.
Kale	—	Jan 26 – Feb 9	—	Sep 24 – Oct 8	50–65 days	Cold-hardy; direct sow 2-4 weeks before last frost or start indoors for earlier transplants.
Arugula	—	Jan 26 – Feb 9	—	Oct 22 – Oct 29	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 2 – Feb 16	—	—	50–60 days	Fairly cold-hardy; direct sow 1-3 weeks before last frost. Tolerates light frost in fall too.
Broccoli	Jan 5 – Jan 19	—	Feb 2 – Feb 9	Oct 1 – Oct 8	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 5 – Jan 19	—	Feb 9 – Feb 16	Sep 24 – Oct 1	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 5 – Jan 19	—	Jan 26 – Feb 9	Sep 24 – Oct 8	60–100 days	Cold-hardy; start indoors 5-7 weeks before last frost, transplant 2-4 weeks before last frost.
Brussels Sprouts	Jan 5 – Jan 19	—	Feb 2 – Feb 16	—	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	—	Jan 26 – Feb 9	—	Sep 10 – Sep 24	60–80 days	Direct sow only (does not transplant); sow 2-4 weeks before last frost, as soon as soil can be worked.
Beet	—	Jan 26 – Feb 9	—	Sep 24 – Oct 8	50–65 days	Direct sow 2-4 weeks before last frost; tolerates light frost.
Radish	—	Jan 19 – Feb 2	—	Oct 22 – Nov 5	22–30 days	Very fast and cold-hardy; direct sow 3-5 weeks before last frost, as soon as soil can be worked.
Turnip	—	Jan 26 – Feb 9	—	Sep 24 – Oct 8	40–60 days	Cold-hardy; direct sow 2-4 weeks before last frost.
Onion	Dec 15 – Dec 29	—	Jan 26 – Feb 9	—	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	—	—	—	Nov 5 – Nov 19	240–270 days	Fall-planted crop only; not planted in spring in most climates.
Potato	—	Jan 26 – Feb 9	—	—	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 9 – Mar 23	—	90–120 days	Set out slips 2-4 weeks after last frost once soil is thoroughly warm (65F+); very frost/cold sensitive.
Asparagus	—	—	Jan 26 – Feb 9	—	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.

Herbs
Crop	Start indoors	Direct sow	Transplant	Fall planting	Maturity	Notes
Basil	Jan 12 – Jan 19	—	Mar 2 – Mar 9	—	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 2 – Feb 16	—	Oct 8 – Oct 22	45–70 days	Cool-season, bolts in heat; direct sow 1-3 weeks before last frost, succession sow through spring.
Parsley	Dec 29 – Jan 12	—	Feb 9 – Feb 16	—	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 2 – Feb 16	—	—	40–60 days	Taprooted, does not transplant well; direct sow 1-3 weeks before last frost, succession sow through summer.
Oregano	Dec 29 – Jan 12	—	Feb 23 – Mar 2	—	80–90 days	Perennial herb; start indoors 6-8 weeks before last frost, transplant around/just after last frost date.
Thyme	Dec 29 – Jan 12	—	Feb 23 – Mar 2	—	85–95 days	Perennial herb, slow from seed; start indoors 6-8 weeks before last frost, transplant around/after last frost.

Flowers
Crop	Start indoors	Direct sow	Transplant	Fall planting	Maturity	Notes
Sunflower	—	Mar 2 – Mar 16	—	—	70–100 days	Direct sow 1-3 weeks after last frost once soil has warmed; taprooted, resents transplanting.
Zinnia	Jan 26 – Feb 2	Mar 2 – Mar 16	Mar 2 – Mar 9	—	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 12 – Jan 26	—	Mar 2 – Mar 9	—	45–60 days	Frost-tender; start indoors 4-6 weeks before last frost, transplant after all frost danger has passed.
Cosmos	Jan 26 – Feb 2	Mar 2 – Mar 16	Mar 2 – Mar 9	—	60–90 days	Easy from direct seed 1-3 weeks after last frost; can also start indoors 3-4 weeks early.
Nasturtium	—	Mar 2 – Mar 16	—	—	50–65 days	Frost-tender, resents root disturbance; direct sow 1-3 weeks after last frost once soil has warmed.
Dahlia	—	—	Mar 2 – Mar 16	—	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 West Gulfport, MS?

Based on 1991–2020 NOAA climate normals for the GULFPORT - BILOXI AP, MS US station, the last spring frost in West Gulfport typically falls around February 23. A cautious gardener might wait until March 16 (only a 10% chance of a later frost), while January 25 marks an earlier, higher-risk planting date.

When is the first frost in West Gulfport, MS in fall?

The first fall frost in West Gulfport typically arrives around December 3. To stay safe, assume frost could start as early as November 12; in milder years it can hold off until January 5.

How long is the growing season in West Gulfport, MS?

West Gulfport's average frost-free growing season is about 287 days, running from the typical last spring frost (February 23) to the typical first fall frost (December 3).

What USDA hardiness zone is West Gulfport, MS in?

West Gulfport, 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.