Fall in zone 8bPhoto: George Chernilevsky, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Frost dates for ZIP 39401 (Hattiesburg, 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, Hattiesburg Chain Muni AP, MS (3 miles away).
- Average last spring frostMar 850% chance of a 32°F freeze after this date
- Average first fall frostNov 1550% chance of a 32°F freeze by this date
- Growing season (frost-free)252 daysmedian, 32°F threshold
- USDA hardiness zone8b15 to 20°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
72°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 (61 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 (61 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 39401 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 20–Oct 18
- Radish: fall sowing Oct 4–18
- Garlic: fall sowing Oct 4–Nov 1
- Shallot: fall sowing Oct 4–Nov 1
Prune now
No frost-timed pruning windows are open this week.
Your average first frost is Nov 15: 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 16 |
| 50% (the "average" last frost) | Mar 8 |
| 10% (cautious: only 1 year in 10 freezes later) | Mar 28 |
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 1 |
| 50% (the "average" first frost) | Nov 15 |
| 90% (late: most years have frozen by now) | Dec 4 |
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 4 |
| 32°F (freeze) | Mar 8 | Nov 15 |
| 28°F (hard freeze) | Feb 22 | Nov 30 |
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 39401
Dates count from your average last spring frost (Mar 8) and first fall frost (Nov 15). 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 19–Aug 16 (transplant) |
| Pepper (sweet and hot) | Dec 28–Jan 11 | Mar 22–Apr 5 (transplant) | Jul 26–Aug 16 (transplant) |
| Eggplant | Dec 28–Jan 11 | Mar 22–Apr 5 (transplant) | Jul 26–Aug 16 (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 20–Oct 11 (transplant) Sep 6–Oct 4 (sowing) |
| Spinach | – | Jan 25–Feb 15 (sow outdoors) | Sep 20–Oct 11 (sowing) |
| Kale | Jan 11–25 | Feb 8–22 (transplant) Feb 8–22 (sow outdoors) | Aug 23–Sep 20 (transplant) Aug 9–Sep 6 (sowing) |
| Collards | Jan 11–25 | Feb 8–Mar 8 (transplant) Feb 8–Mar 8 (sow outdoors) | Aug 23–Sep 20 (transplant) Aug 9–Sep 6 (sowing) |
| Broccoli | Dec 28–Jan 11 | Feb 8–22 (transplant) | Aug 9–Sep 6 (transplant) |
| Cabbage | Dec 28–Jan 11 | Feb 8–22 (transplant) | Aug 9–Sep 6 (transplant) |
| Cauliflower | Dec 28–Jan 11 | Feb 22–Mar 8 (transplant) | Aug 9–Sep 6 (transplant) |
| Brussels sprouts | Dec 14–28 | Feb 8–22 (transplant) | Jul 26–Aug 16 (transplant) |
| Kohlrabi | Jan 11–25 | Feb 8–22 (transplant) Feb 8–22 (sow outdoors) | Sep 6–20 (sowing) |
| Bok choy / Asian greens | – | Feb 8–22 (sow outdoors) | Sep 20–Oct 4 (sowing) |
| Arugula | – | Feb 8–Mar 8 (sow outdoors) | Sep 20–Oct 18 (sowing) |
| Mustard greens | – | Feb 8–Mar 1 (sow outdoors) | Sep 20–Oct 4 (sowing) |
| Swiss chard | Jan 25–Feb 8 | Feb 22–Mar 15 (transplant) Feb 22–Mar 22 (sow outdoors) | Sep 6–20 (sowing) |
| Beet | – | Feb 8–Mar 8 (sow outdoors) | Sep 6–20 (sowing) |
| Carrot | – | Feb 15–Mar 15 (sow outdoors) | Aug 23–Sep 6 (sowing) |
| Radish | – | Feb 1–Mar 15 (sow outdoors) | Oct 4–18 (sowing) |
| Turnip | – | Feb 8–Mar 1 (sow outdoors) | Sep 6–20 (sowing) |
| Parsnip | – | Feb 15–Mar 8 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pea (garden, snap, snow) | – | Jan 11–Feb 8 (sow outdoors) | Aug 23–Sep 6 (sowing) |
| Onion (bulbing) | Dec 14–28 | Jan 25–Feb 8 (transplant) | – |
| Green onion / scallion | – | Jan 25–Feb 22 (sow outdoors) | Sep 6–20 (sowing) |
| Leek | Dec 14–28 | Feb 8–22 (transplant) | – |
| Garlic | – | – | Oct 4–Nov 1 (sowing) |
| Shallot | – | Jan 25–Feb 8 (transplant) | Oct 4–Nov 1 (sowing) |
| Potato | – | Feb 8–22 (transplant) | Jul 26–Aug 9 (transplant) |
| Sweet potato | – | Mar 29–Apr 12 (transplant) | – |
| Sweet corn | – | Mar 15–29 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, bush (snap) | – | Mar 15–29 (sow outdoors) | Aug 23–Sep 6 (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 23–Sep 6 (sowing) |
| Summer squash / zucchini | Feb 8–15 | Mar 15–29 (transplant) Mar 15–29 (sow outdoors) | Aug 23–Sep 6 (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 20–Oct 4 (sowing) |
| Parsley | Dec 28–Jan 11 | Feb 22–Mar 8 (transplant) Feb 15–Mar 8 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Dill | – | Mar 8–22 (sow outdoors) | Sep 20–Oct 4 (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 6–Oct 4 (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: Hattiesburg Chain Muni AP, MS (NOAA GHCN-Daily ID USW00013833), elevation 151 ft, 3.4 miles from the ZIP's center point. NOAA completeness flag: R (representative, 10+ years).
Nearby stations
| Station | Distance | Last frost (50%) | First frost (50%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hattiesburg 5SW, MS | 5 mi | Mar 7 | Nov 23 |
| Beaumont Expstation, MS | 21 mi | Mar 18 | Nov 12 |
| Wiggins, MS | 26 mi | Mar 14 | Nov 18 |
The average last-frost dates of these stations span 11 days, a rough guide to local variation. See data sources & methods.
Frost questions for 39401
When is the last frost in 39401?
The average (50% chance) last spring freeze of 32°F for ZIP 39401 is March 8. For a more cautious planting date, use March 28, when only 1 year in 10 still sees a later freeze.
When is the first frost in 39401?
The average first fall freeze is November 15. In 1 year in 10 it comes by November 1.
What hardiness zone is 39401?
ZIP 39401 is in USDA zone 8b (15 to 20°F average coldest winter night), per the 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map ZIP listing.
What is the soil temperature in 39401 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
39406 Hattiesburg 39465 Petal 39475 Purvis 39402 Hattiesburg 39462 New Augusta 39425 39459 Moselle 39455 Lumberton
Other ZIP codes in Forrest County
39406 39465 All Forrest County frost dates · Mississippi frost dates
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