Fall in zone 9aPhoto: George Chernilevsky, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Frost dates for ZIP 39520 (Bay St. Louis, 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, Waveland, MS (6 miles away).
- Average last spring frostFeb 2150% chance of a 32°F freeze after this date
- Average first fall frostDec 350% chance of a 32°F freeze by this date
- Growing season (frost-free)287 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
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 (46 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 (46 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 39520 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 8 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
- Lettuce: fall sowing Sep 24–Oct 22
- Lettuce: fall transplant Oct 8–29
- Spinach: fall sowing Oct 8–29
- Bok choy / Asian greens: fall sowing Oct 8–22
- Arugula: fall sowing Oct 8–Nov 5
- Mustard greens: fall sowing Oct 8–22
- Cilantro: fall sowing Oct 8–22
- Dill: fall sowing Oct 8–22
- Strawberry (plants): fall transplant Sep 24–Oct 22
Coming up in the next 3 weeks
Prune now
No frost-timed pruning windows are open this week.
Your average first frost is Dec 3: 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) | Jan 25 |
| 50% (the "average" last frost) | Feb 21 |
| 10% (cautious: only 1 year in 10 freezes later) | Mar 18 |
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 13 |
| 50% (the "average" first frost) | Dec 3 |
| 90% (late: most years have frozen by now) | Jan 2 (next year) |
Light frost, freeze and hard freeze
| Threshold | Last spring (50%) | First fall (50%) |
|---|---|---|
| 36°F (light frost possible on clear, calm nights) | Mar 10 | Nov 19 |
| 32°F (freeze) | Feb 21 | Dec 3 |
| 28°F (hard freeze) | Feb 2 | Dec 25 |
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 39520
Dates count from your average last spring frost (Feb 21) and first fall frost (Dec 3). 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 | Dec 27–Jan 10 | Feb 28–Mar 14 (transplant) | Aug 6–Sep 3 (transplant) |
| Pepper (sweet and hot) | Dec 13–27 | Mar 7–21 (transplant) | Aug 13–Sep 3 (transplant) |
| Eggplant | Dec 13–27 | Mar 7–21 (transplant) | Aug 13–Sep 3 (transplant) |
| Tomatillo | Dec 27–Jan 10 | Feb 28–Mar 14 (transplant) | – |
| Lettuce | Dec 27–Jan 10 | Jan 31–Feb 21 (transplant) Jan 24–Mar 7 (sow outdoors) | Oct 8–29 (transplant) Sep 24–Oct 22 (sowing) |
| Spinach | – | Jan 10–31 (sow outdoors) | Oct 8–29 (sowing) |
| Kale | Dec 27–Jan 10 | Jan 24–Feb 7 (transplant) Jan 24–Feb 7 (sow outdoors) | Sep 10–Oct 8 (transplant) Aug 27–Sep 24 (sowing) |
| Collards | Dec 27–Jan 10 | Jan 24–Feb 21 (transplant) Jan 24–Feb 21 (sow outdoors) | Sep 10–Oct 8 (transplant) Aug 27–Sep 24 (sowing) |
| Broccoli | Dec 13–27 | Jan 24–Feb 7 (transplant) | Aug 27–Sep 24 (transplant) |
| Cabbage | Dec 13–27 | Jan 24–Feb 7 (transplant) | Aug 27–Sep 24 (transplant) |
| Cauliflower | Dec 13–27 | Feb 7–21 (transplant) | Aug 27–Sep 24 (transplant) |
| Brussels sprouts | Nov 29–Dec 13 | Jan 24–Feb 7 (transplant) | Aug 13–Sep 3 (transplant) |
| Kohlrabi | Dec 27–Jan 10 | Jan 24–Feb 7 (transplant) Jan 24–Feb 7 (sow outdoors) | Sep 24–Oct 8 (sowing) |
| Bok choy / Asian greens | – | Jan 24–Feb 7 (sow outdoors) | Oct 8–22 (sowing) |
| Arugula | – | Jan 24–Feb 21 (sow outdoors) | Oct 8–Nov 5 (sowing) |
| Mustard greens | – | Jan 24–Feb 14 (sow outdoors) | Oct 8–22 (sowing) |
| Swiss chard | Jan 10–24 | Feb 7–28 (transplant) Feb 7–Mar 7 (sow outdoors) | Sep 24–Oct 8 (sowing) |
| Beet | – | Jan 24–Feb 21 (sow outdoors) | Sep 24–Oct 8 (sowing) |
| Carrot | – | Jan 31–Feb 28 (sow outdoors) | Sep 10–24 (sowing) |
| Radish | – | Jan 17–Feb 28 (sow outdoors) | Oct 22–Nov 5 (sowing) |
| Turnip | – | Jan 24–Feb 14 (sow outdoors) | Sep 24–Oct 8 (sowing) |
| Parsnip | – | Jan 31–Feb 21 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pea (garden, snap, snow) | – | Dec 27–Jan 24 (sow outdoors) | Sep 10–24 (sowing) |
| Onion (bulbing) | Nov 29–Dec 13 | Jan 10–24 (transplant) | – |
| Green onion / scallion | – | Jan 10–Feb 7 (sow outdoors) | Sep 24–Oct 8 (sowing) |
| Leek | Nov 29–Dec 13 | Jan 24–Feb 7 (transplant) | – |
| Garlic | – | – | Oct 22–Nov 19 (sowing) |
| Shallot | – | Jan 10–24 (transplant) | Oct 22–Nov 19 (sowing) |
| Potato | – | Jan 24–Feb 7 (transplant) | Aug 13–27 (transplant) |
| Sweet potato | – | Mar 14–28 (transplant) | – |
| Sweet corn | – | Feb 28–Mar 14 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, bush (snap) | – | Feb 28–Mar 14 (sow outdoors) | Sep 10–24 (sowing) |
| Bean, pole | – | Feb 28–Mar 14 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Lima bean | – | Mar 7–21 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Southern pea (cowpea, black-eyed pea) | – | Mar 14–Apr 4 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cucumber | Jan 24–31 | Feb 28–Mar 14 (transplant) Feb 28–Mar 14 (sow outdoors) | Sep 10–24 (sowing) |
| Summer squash / zucchini | Jan 24–31 | Feb 28–Mar 14 (transplant) Feb 28–Mar 14 (sow outdoors) | Sep 10–24 (sowing) |
| Winter squash | Jan 24–31 | Feb 28–Mar 14 (transplant) Feb 28–Mar 14 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pumpkin | – | Feb 28–Mar 14 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Watermelon | Jan 24–31 | Mar 7–21 (transplant) Mar 7–21 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cantaloupe / muskmelon | Jan 24–31 | Mar 7–21 (transplant) Mar 7–21 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Okra | Jan 10–24 | Mar 7–21 (transplant) Mar 7–21 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Celery | Nov 29–Dec 13 | Feb 28–Mar 7 (transplant) | – |
| Basil | Jan 10–24 | Feb 28–Mar 14 (transplant) Feb 28–Mar 14 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cilantro | – | Feb 7–Mar 7 (sow outdoors) | Oct 8–22 (sowing) |
| Parsley | Dec 13–27 | Feb 7–21 (transplant) Jan 31–Feb 21 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Dill | – | Feb 21–Mar 7 (sow outdoors) | Oct 8–22 (sowing) |
| Sunflower | – | Feb 21–Mar 7 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Asparagus (crowns) | – | Jan 24–Feb 7 (transplant) | – |
| Rhubarb (crowns) | – | Jan 24–Feb 7 (transplant) | – |
| Strawberry (plants) | – | Jan 24–Feb 7 (transplant) | Sep 24–Oct 22 (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 February 21 here (the average last frost). Not affiliated with the program.
Where these numbers come from
Station: Waveland, MS (NOAA GHCN-Daily ID USC00229426), elevation 8 ft, 6.1 miles from the ZIP's center point. NOAA completeness flag: R (representative, 10+ years).
Nearby stations
| Station | Distance | Last frost (50%) | First frost (50%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bay St Louis Nasa, MS | 10 mi | Mar 6 | Nov 19 |
| Slidell, LA | 17 mi | Feb 24 | Dec 1 |
| Slidell AP, LA | 21 mi | Mar 3 | Nov 21 |
The average last-frost dates of these stations span 16 days, a rough guide to local variation. See data sources & methods.
Frost questions for 39520
When is the last frost in 39520?
The average (50% chance) last spring freeze of 32°F for ZIP 39520 is February 21. For a more cautious planting date, use March 18, when only 1 year in 10 still sees a later freeze.
When is the first frost in 39520?
The average first fall freeze is December 3. In 1 year in 10 it comes by November 13.
What hardiness zone is 39520?
ZIP 39520 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 39520 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
39576 Waveland 39572 Pearlington 39525 Diamondhead 39529 39556 Kiln 70461 39571 Pass Christian 70458 Slidell
Other ZIP codes in Hancock County
39525 39529 39556 39572 39576 All Hancock County frost dates · Mississippi frost dates
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- Freeze alerts
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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.