Gulfport, Mississippi planting calendar and frost dates
Gulfport is in USDA hardiness zone 9a. The last spring frost typically comes around February 23 and the first fall frost around December 3, giving about 287 frost-free days a year.
- Hardiness zone
- Zone 9a
- Typical last frost
- February 23
- Typical first frost
- December 3
- Frost-free season
- 287 days
Frost dates in Gulfport
Last spring frost
- January 25Risky: frost later than this in 9 years out of 10
- February 23Typical: a later frost in half of years
- March 16Safe: a later frost only 1 year in 10
First fall frost
- November 12Risky: frost earlier than this 1 year in 10
- December 3Typical: an earlier frost in half of years
- New yearLate: in about 1 year in 10, the first frost waits until after December 31
The growing season between the typical last and first frosts is about 287 days. Frost here means a low of 32°F at the weather station. A hard freeze (28°F), which damages most hardy crops too, typically ends around February 1 and returns around December 31.
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Gulfport - Biloxi Airport, 3.2 miles NNE of the city center. Low-lying and rural spots often frost later in spring and earlier in fall than airports and city centers.
What to plant each month in Gulfport
January
Start indoors: basil, black-eyed susans, cabbages, cauliflower, celery, chives, cilantro, collard greens, eggplants, ginger, lettuce, marigolds, nasturtiums, peppers, ranunculus, sage, snapdragons, spinach, swiss chard, tomatoes
Plant or sow outdoors: asparagus, beets, black-eyed susans, blackberries, blueberries, broccoli, cauliflower, chives, cilantro, collard greens, figs, garlic, gladioli, grapes, grass seed, green onions, hollyhocks, kale, leeks, onions, peas, poppies, radishes, ranunculus, raspberries, rhubarb, roses, spinach, strawberries, swiss chard, turnips, wildflowers
February
Start indoors: basil, cantaloupes, cosmos, cucumbers, okra, pumpkins, ranunculus, watermelons, winter squash, zucchini
Plant or sow outdoors: asparagus, beets, black-eyed susans, blackberries, broccoli, cabbages, carrots, cauliflower, chives, cilantro, collard greens, dahlias, dill, figs, garden mums, gladioli, grapes, green onions, kentucky bluegrass, lavenders, leeks, lettuce, lilies, marigolds, mints, nasturtiums, onions, oregano, parsley, petunias, potatoes, radishes, ranunculus, rosemary, roses, sage, snapdragons, spinach, sunflowers, sweet corn, sweet peas, swiss chard, tall fescue, thyme, turnips
March
Start indoors: cosmos, okra, zinnias
Plant or sow outdoors: basil, cantaloupes, chives, cilantro, cucumbers, dahlias, dill, eggplants, garden mums, ginger, gladioli, grapes, green beans, green onions, lavenders, lettuce, lilies, marigolds, mints, nasturtiums, oregano, parsley, peppers, petunias, pumpkins, ranunculus, rosemary, sage, spinach, st. augustinegrass, sunflowers, sweet corn, swiss chard, thyme, tomatoes, watermelons, winter squash, zucchini
April
Start indoors: zinnias
Plant or sow outdoors: bermudagrass, celery, centipedegrass, cosmos, okra, peanuts, st. augustinegrass, sweet potatoes, zinnias, zoysiagrass
May
Plant or sow outdoors: bermudagrass, centipedegrass, st. augustinegrass, zinnias, zoysiagrass
August
Plant for fall: brussels sprouts, peppers, potatoes, sweet corn, tomatoes
September
Plant for fall: bearded irises, beets, broccoli, brussels sprouts, cabbages, carrots, cauliflower, collard greens, cucumbers, green beans, lettuce, peas, peppers, radishes, snapdragons, spinach, sweet corn, swiss chard, turnips, zucchini
October
Plant for fall: azaleas, bearded irises, beets, broccoli, cabbages, carrots, cauliflower, clematis, coneflowers, crocuses, daffodils, daylilies, grass seed, hostas, hydrangeas, kale, kentucky bluegrass, lettuce, lilies, ornamental alliums, peonies, perennial ryegrass, radishes, roses, saffron, snapdragons, spinach, swiss chard, tall fescue, tulips, turnips
November
Start indoors: onions
Plant for fall: crocuses, daffodils, daylilies, grass seed, hostas, hyacinths, kale, kentucky bluegrass, lilies, ornamental alliums, peonies, perennial ryegrass, radishes, saffron, tall fescue, tulips
December
Start indoors: black-eyed susans, broccoli, cabbages, cauliflower, chives, collard greens, ginger, kale, leeks, lettuce, marigolds, onions, oregano, parsley, peppers, petunias, ranunculus, rosemary, sage, snapdragons
Plant for fall: crocuses, daffodils, garlic, hyacinths, lilies, ornamental alliums, peonies, tulips
Frost dates and zones by ZIP code in Gulfport
All 3 of Gulfport's main ZIP codes take their frost dates from Gulfport - Biloxi Airport, so the dates on this page apply across the city. Every one of them is in zone 9a.
Planting dates for popular crops in Gulfport
| Plant | Start indoors | Plant or sow outdoors | Fall planting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomatoes | Jan 14 to 28 | Mar 11 to 25 | Aug 20 to 27 |
| Strawberries | — | Jan 12 to 26 | — |
| Lettuce | Dec 29 to Jan 12 | Feb 16 to Mar 2 | Sep 3 to Oct 8 |
| Cilantro | Jan 12 to 26 | Feb 23 to Mar 2 | — |
| Basil | Jan 21 to Feb 4 | Mar 11 to 18 | — |
| Potatoes | — | Feb 2 to 9 | Aug 13 to 20 |
| Garlic | — | Jan 12 to 26 | Dec 3 to 17 |
| Onions | Nov 3 to Dec 15 | Jan 26 to Feb 9 | — |
| Cucumbers | Feb 11 to 25 | Mar 11 to 25 | Sep 3 to 17 |
| Pumpkins | Feb 11 to 25 | Mar 11 to 25 | — |
| Peppers | Dec 24 to Jan 21 | Mar 11 to 25 | Aug 13 to Sep 10 |
| Carrots | — | Feb 2 to 23 | Sep 10 to Oct 1 |
| Sweet Potatoes | — | Apr 5 to 12 | — |
| Watermelons | Feb 4 to 18 | Mar 11 to 25 | — |
| Sweet Corn | — | Feb 23 to Mar 9 | Aug 27 to Sep 10 |
| Green Beans | — | Mar 11 to 25 | Sep 10 to 17 |
| Zucchini | Feb 11 to 25 | Mar 11 to 25 | Sep 10 to 24 |
| Broccoli | Dec 8 to 29 | Jan 26 to Feb 9 | Sep 17 to Oct 15 |
| Peas | — | Jan 12 to 26 | Sep 10 to 24 |
| Spinach | Jan 12 to 19 | Feb 16 to Mar 2 | Sep 24 to Oct 29 |
| Sunflowers | — | Feb 23 to Mar 16 | — |
| Zinnias | Mar 30 to Apr 6 | Apr 27 to May 11 | — |
| Tulips | — | — | Oct 22 to Dec 17 |
| Daffodils | — | — | Oct 22 to Dec 3 |
| Grass Seed | — | Jan 12 to 26 | Oct 22 to Nov 5 |
Nearby cities
- New Orleans, LA zone 9b, last frost Jan 24
- Mobile, AL zone 9a, last frost Feb 21
- Kenner, LA zone 9b, last frost Jan 24
- Pensacola, FL zone 9a, last frost Feb 14
- Baton Rouge, LA zone 9a, last frost Feb 25
- Jackson, MS zone 8b, last frost Mar 14
Planting in MississippiAbout zone 9aPrintable calendar for Gulfport
Questions
When is the last frost in Gulfport?
Around February 23 in a typical year, based on NOAA's 1991-2020 records for Gulfport - Biloxi Airport. There is still a 1 in 10 chance of frost after March 16.
What planting zone is Gulfport in?
USDA hardiness zone 9a (2023 map). The zone tells you which perennials survive the winter; planting dates depend on frost dates instead.
When should I plant tomatoes in Gulfport?
Start seeds indoors January 14 to 28 and set plants out March 11 to 25; the safest date to plant out is after March 16.
When is the first frost in Gulfport?
Around December 3 in a typical year, and before November 12 about 1 year in 10.