FrostCal

When to Plant Cosmos in Mississippi

In a typical Mississippi location, start seeds indoors Feb 13 – Feb 20, then sow outdoors Mar 20 – Apr 3, then transplant outdoors Mar 20 – Mar 27. Across the state, the outdoor planting window starts as early as Feb 19 in Biloxi and as late as Apr 10 in Oxford.

Method Direct sow
Days to maturity 60–90 days

Easy from direct seed 1-3 weeks after last frost; can also start indoors 3-4 weeks early.

Cosmos Planting Dates by City

CityStart indoorsDirect sowTransplant
JacksonFeb 6 – Feb 13Mar 13 – Mar 27Mar 13 – Mar 20
GulfportJan 21 – Jan 28Feb 25 – Mar 11Feb 25 – Mar 4
West GulfportJan 26 – Feb 2Mar 2 – Mar 16Mar 2 – Mar 9
SouthavenFeb 16 – Feb 23Mar 23 – Apr 6Mar 23 – Mar 30
HattiesburgFeb 8 – Feb 15Mar 15 – Mar 29Mar 15 – Mar 22
BiloxiJan 15 – Jan 22Feb 19 – Mar 5Feb 19 – Feb 26
MeridianFeb 16 – Feb 23Mar 23 – Apr 6Mar 23 – Mar 30
Olive BranchFeb 26 – Mar 5Apr 2 – Apr 16Apr 2 – Apr 9
TupeloFeb 21 – Feb 28Mar 28 – Apr 11Mar 28 – Apr 4
GreenvilleFeb 13 – Feb 20Mar 20 – Apr 3Mar 20 – Mar 27
Horn LakeFeb 16 – Feb 23Mar 23 – Apr 6Mar 23 – Mar 30
PearlFeb 14 – Feb 21Mar 21 – Apr 4Mar 21 – Mar 28
MadisonFeb 14 – Feb 21Mar 21 – Apr 4Mar 21 – Mar 28
StarkvilleFeb 23 – Mar 2Mar 30 – Apr 13Mar 30 – Apr 6
ClintonFeb 6 – Feb 13Mar 13 – Mar 27Mar 13 – Mar 20
RidgelandFeb 14 – Feb 21Mar 21 – Apr 4Mar 21 – Mar 28
BrandonFeb 14 – Feb 21Mar 21 – Apr 4Mar 21 – Mar 28
ColumbusFeb 13 – Feb 20Mar 20 – Apr 3Mar 20 – Mar 27
VicksburgJan 29 – Feb 5Mar 5 – Mar 19Mar 5 – Mar 12
OxfordMar 6 – Mar 13Apr 10 – Apr 24Apr 10 – Apr 17
PascagoulaFeb 8 – Feb 15Mar 15 – Mar 29Mar 15 – Mar 22
LaurelFeb 12 – Feb 19Mar 19 – Apr 2Mar 19 – Mar 26
GautierFeb 1 – Feb 8Mar 8 – Mar 22Mar 8 – Mar 15
Ocean SpringsJan 15 – Jan 22Feb 19 – Mar 5Feb 19 – Feb 26
ClarksdaleFeb 16 – Feb 23Mar 23 – Apr 6Mar 23 – Mar 30
Long BeachJan 21 – Jan 28Feb 25 – Mar 11Feb 25 – Mar 4
HernandoFeb 28 – Mar 7Apr 4 – Apr 18Apr 4 – Apr 11
GreenwoodFeb 17 – Feb 24Mar 24 – Apr 7Mar 24 – Mar 31
NatchezFeb 16 – Feb 23Mar 23 – Apr 6Mar 23 – Mar 30
CorinthMar 5 – Mar 12Apr 9 – Apr 23Apr 9 – Apr 16

Showing the 30 most populous of 45 Mississippi cities. Dates are estimates from each city's NOAA frost normals and university extension timing guidelines. See all Mississippi cities.

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I plant cosmos in Mississippi?

In a typical Mississippi location, start seeds indoors Feb 13 – Feb 20, then sow outdoors Mar 20 – Apr 3, then transplant outdoors Mar 20 – Mar 27. Across the state, the outdoor planting window starts as early as Feb 19 in Biloxi and as late as Apr 10 in Oxford.

When is the last frost in Mississippi?

The average last spring frost in Mississippi ranges from February 12 in Biloxi to April 3 in Oxford, based on NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals.

How long do cosmos take to grow?

Cosmos typically take 60–90 days from planting to harvest. Easy from direct seed 1-3 weeks after last frost; can also start indoors 3-4 weeks early.

Other Crops in Mississippi

When to plant cosmos in other states

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