Fall in zone 9aPhoto: George Chernilevsky, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Frost dates for ZIP 39581 (Pascagoula, MS)
Average last spring and first fall frost dates with 10%, 50% and 90% odds, from NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the nearest weather station, Pascagoula 3 NE, MS (3 miles away).
- Average last spring frostMar 850% chance of a 32°F freeze after this date
- Average first fall frostNov 1950% chance of a 32°F freeze by this date
- Growing season (frost-free)256 daysmedian, 32°F threshold
- USDA hardiness zone9a20 to 25°F avg. coldest night
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This week in your yard
As of Oct 18, 2026, from your frost dates, zone and soil temperature. Lawn timing · Vegetables · Pruning · Plants
Soil temperature now
2-inch depth
71°F 55°F or warmer
24-hour average · latest 65°F, as of Oct 18, 2:00 AM CDT
Estimate Not a measurement at this ZIP: distance-weighted average of Tnc Fort Bayou (17 mi), Koptis Farms (49 mi).
4-inch depth
73°F 55°F or warmer
24-hour average · latest 69°F, as of Oct 18, 2:00 AM CDT
Estimate Not a measurement at this ZIP: distance-weighted average of Tnc Fort Bayou (17 mi).
Fall: Texas A&M AgriLife times fall pre-emergent (for winter weeds such as annual bluegrass) to soil cooling to about 70°F for several days. The 50–55°F band is the spring trigger. Always read and follow the product label.
7-day forecast and frost risk
The latest National Weather Service 7-day forecast and any Frost Advisory or Freeze Warning for 39581 load here. You can also open the NWS forecast for this ZIP.
Pre-emergent
Soil is 73°F at 4 inches (estimated soil temperature, not a station reading). Fall pre-emergent (annual bluegrass, winter weeds): window open as soil cools through the 70s and 60s.
Fertilizer window
Lawn region: Southeast (warm, humid). Timing only; always follow the product label.
- Centipedegrass (warm-season): Spring: Not before mid-May (NC State); after full green-up (about Apr 23 here, using green-up about 3–4 weeks after your average last frost); Summer: Optional mid-summer feeding, especially on sandy coastal soils. Avoid: Early-spring feeding, frequent feeding and liming unless a soil test calls for it (centipede decline).
Plant now
- Arugula: fall sowing Sep 24–Oct 22
- Radish: fall sowing Oct 8–22
- Garlic: fall sowing Oct 8–Nov 5
- Shallot: fall sowing Oct 8–Nov 5
Prune now
No frost-timed pruning windows are open this week.
Your average first frost is Nov 19: skip heavy pruning in the 6–8 weeks before it, because new growth may not harden off in time.
Spring-flowering shrubs are pruned right after their flowers fade, not by date. See the pruning guide.
Last spring frost odds
| Chance of a 32°F freeze after this date | Date |
|---|---|
| 90% (early: most years still freeze after this) | Feb 15 |
| 50% (the "average" last frost) | Mar 8 |
| 10% (cautious: only 1 year in 10 freezes later) | Mar 31 |
Most gardeners plant frost-tender crops (tomatoes, peppers, basil) after the 50% date, and closer to the 10% date for less risk.
First fall frost odds
| Chance the first 32°F freeze has happened by this date | Date |
|---|---|
| 10% (early: 1 year in 10 freezes this soon) | Nov 3 |
| 50% (the "average" first frost) | Nov 19 |
| 90% (late: most years have frozen by now) | Dec 11 |
Light frost, freeze and hard freeze
| Threshold | Last spring (50%) | First fall (50%) |
|---|---|---|
| 36°F (light frost possible on clear, calm nights) | Mar 24 | Nov 8 |
| 32°F (freeze) | Mar 8 | Nov 19 |
| 28°F (hard freeze) | Feb 22 | Dec 4 |
n/a means NOAA did not publish a date at that threshold for this station (usually because it rarely gets that cold).
Vegetable planting calendar for 39581
Dates count from your average last spring frost (Mar 8) and first fall frost (Nov 19). Half of years have a frost after the spring date, so give tender crops (tomatoes, peppers, squash) some slack.
| Crop | Start indoors | Spring planting | Fall planting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomato | Jan 11–25 | Mar 15–29 (transplant) | Jul 23–Aug 20 (transplant) |
| Pepper (sweet and hot) | Dec 28–Jan 11 | Mar 22–Apr 5 (transplant) | Jul 30–Aug 20 (transplant) |
| Eggplant | Dec 28–Jan 11 | Mar 22–Apr 5 (transplant) | Jul 30–Aug 20 (transplant) |
| Tomatillo | Jan 11–25 | Mar 15–29 (transplant) | – |
| Lettuce | Jan 11–25 | Feb 15–Mar 8 (transplant) Feb 8–Mar 22 (sow outdoors) | Sep 24–Oct 15 (transplant) Sep 10–Oct 8 (sowing) |
| Spinach | – | Jan 25–Feb 15 (sow outdoors) | Sep 24–Oct 15 (sowing) |
| Kale | Jan 11–25 | Feb 8–22 (transplant) Feb 8–22 (sow outdoors) | Aug 27–Sep 24 (transplant) Aug 13–Sep 10 (sowing) |
| Collards | Jan 11–25 | Feb 8–Mar 8 (transplant) Feb 8–Mar 8 (sow outdoors) | Aug 27–Sep 24 (transplant) Aug 13–Sep 10 (sowing) |
| Broccoli | Dec 28–Jan 11 | Feb 8–22 (transplant) | Aug 13–Sep 10 (transplant) |
| Cabbage | Dec 28–Jan 11 | Feb 8–22 (transplant) | Aug 13–Sep 10 (transplant) |
| Cauliflower | Dec 28–Jan 11 | Feb 22–Mar 8 (transplant) | Aug 13–Sep 10 (transplant) |
| Brussels sprouts | Dec 14–28 | Feb 8–22 (transplant) | Jul 30–Aug 20 (transplant) |
| Kohlrabi | Jan 11–25 | Feb 8–22 (transplant) Feb 8–22 (sow outdoors) | Sep 10–24 (sowing) |
| Bok choy / Asian greens | – | Feb 8–22 (sow outdoors) | Sep 24–Oct 8 (sowing) |
| Arugula | – | Feb 8–Mar 8 (sow outdoors) | Sep 24–Oct 22 (sowing) |
| Mustard greens | – | Feb 8–Mar 1 (sow outdoors) | Sep 24–Oct 8 (sowing) |
| Swiss chard | Jan 25–Feb 8 | Feb 22–Mar 15 (transplant) Feb 22–Mar 22 (sow outdoors) | Sep 10–24 (sowing) |
| Beet | – | Feb 8–Mar 8 (sow outdoors) | Sep 10–24 (sowing) |
| Carrot | – | Feb 15–Mar 15 (sow outdoors) | Aug 27–Sep 10 (sowing) |
| Radish | – | Feb 1–Mar 15 (sow outdoors) | Oct 8–22 (sowing) |
| Turnip | – | Feb 8–Mar 1 (sow outdoors) | Sep 10–24 (sowing) |
| Parsnip | – | Feb 15–Mar 8 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pea (garden, snap, snow) | – | Jan 11–Feb 8 (sow outdoors) | Aug 27–Sep 10 (sowing) |
| Onion (bulbing) | Dec 14–28 | Jan 25–Feb 8 (transplant) | – |
| Green onion / scallion | – | Jan 25–Feb 22 (sow outdoors) | Sep 10–24 (sowing) |
| Leek | Dec 14–28 | Feb 8–22 (transplant) | – |
| Garlic | – | – | Oct 8–Nov 5 (sowing) |
| Shallot | – | Jan 25–Feb 8 (transplant) | Oct 8–Nov 5 (sowing) |
| Potato | – | Feb 8–22 (transplant) | Jul 30–Aug 13 (transplant) |
| Sweet potato | – | Mar 29–Apr 12 (transplant) | – |
| Sweet corn | – | Mar 15–29 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, bush (snap) | – | Mar 15–29 (sow outdoors) | Aug 27–Sep 10 (sowing) |
| Bean, pole | – | Mar 15–29 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Lima bean | – | Mar 22–Apr 5 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Southern pea (cowpea, black-eyed pea) | – | Mar 29–Apr 19 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cucumber | Feb 8–15 | Mar 15–29 (transplant) Mar 15–29 (sow outdoors) | Aug 27–Sep 10 (sowing) |
| Summer squash / zucchini | Feb 8–15 | Mar 15–29 (transplant) Mar 15–29 (sow outdoors) | Aug 27–Sep 10 (sowing) |
| Winter squash | Feb 8–15 | Mar 15–29 (transplant) Mar 15–29 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pumpkin | – | Mar 15–29 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Watermelon | Feb 8–15 | Mar 22–Apr 5 (transplant) Mar 22–Apr 5 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cantaloupe / muskmelon | Feb 8–15 | Mar 22–Apr 5 (transplant) Mar 22–Apr 5 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Okra | Jan 25–Feb 8 | Mar 22–Apr 5 (transplant) Mar 22–Apr 5 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Celery | Dec 14–28 | Mar 15–22 (transplant) | – |
| Basil | Jan 25–Feb 8 | Mar 15–29 (transplant) Mar 15–29 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cilantro | – | Feb 22–Mar 22 (sow outdoors) | Sep 24–Oct 8 (sowing) |
| Parsley | Dec 28–Jan 11 | Feb 22–Mar 8 (transplant) Feb 15–Mar 8 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Dill | – | Mar 8–22 (sow outdoors) | Sep 24–Oct 8 (sowing) |
| Sunflower | – | Mar 8–22 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Asparagus (crowns) | – | Feb 8–22 (transplant) | – |
| Rhubarb (crowns) | – | Feb 8–22 (transplant) | – |
| Strawberry (plants) | – | Feb 8–22 (transplant) | Sep 10–Oct 8 (transplant) |
Typical ranges from university extension planting calendars, adjusted to your frost dates. Probabilities, not guarantees. Fall windows that would overlap spring planting are left out, as are fall crops of frost-tender plants where the frost-free season is under 210 days.
Plants that do well here
Mississippi has a university or garden plant program: Mississippi Medallion. Plant frost-tender annuals after March 8 here (the average last frost). Not affiliated with the program.
Where these numbers come from
Station: Pascagoula 3 NE, MS (NOAA GHCN-Daily ID USC00226718), elevation 12 ft, 3.3 miles from the ZIP's center point. NOAA completeness flag: R (representative, 10+ years).
Nearby stations
| Station | Distance | Last frost (50%) | First frost (50%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pascagoula Lott Intl AP, MS | 8 mi | Mar 1 | Nov 24 |
| Coden, AL | 16 mi | Mar 13 | Nov 24 |
| Dauphin Is #2, AL | 26 mi | Jan 31 | Jan 6 (next year) |
The average last-frost dates of these stations span 44 days, a rough guide to local variation. See data sources & methods.
Frost questions for 39581
When is the last frost in 39581?
The average (50% chance) last spring freeze of 32°F for ZIP 39581 is March 8. For a more cautious planting date, use March 31, when only 1 year in 10 still sees a later freeze.
When is the first frost in 39581?
The average first fall freeze is November 19. In 1 year in 10 it comes by November 3.
What hardiness zone is 39581?
ZIP 39581 is in USDA zone 9a (20 to 25°F average coldest winter night), per the 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map ZIP listing.
What is the soil temperature in 39581 right now?
This page shows the latest 2-inch and 4-inch soil temperature from the nearest public soil station (USDA SCAN, NOAA USCRN or TexMesonet), or a labeled estimate when no station is close, against the 50–55°F spring pre-emergent band.
Nearby ZIP codes
39567 Pascagoula 39595 Pascagoula 39563 Moss Point 39553 Gautier 36541 Grand Bay 39562 Escatawpa 36509 Bayou La Batre 39564 Ocean Springs
Other ZIP codes in Jackson County
39553 39562 39563 39564 39565 39567 39595 All Jackson County frost dates · Mississippi frost dates
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Free. One weekly email plus alerts when your ZIP has a frost or a soil-temperature change worth acting on. After you submit, Kit (our email provider) sends a confirmation email: check your email and click the link to confirm. You aren't subscribed until you do. We collect only your email address and ZIP, sent to Kit to deliver The Dial. Unsubscribe anytime.