What does USDA hardiness zone 8b mean in Mississippi?

Zone 8b means an average annual extreme minimum winter temperature of 15 to 20 °F — the standard USDA measure of which perennials survive winter. 55 locations in Mississippi fall in this zone. It does not set planting dates; see the frost calendar below for that.

Where in Mississippi's zone 8b is the growing season longest?

Lucedale runs the longest season on this page at about 268 days; Tchula is shortest at about 218 days — they share the same hardiness zone, but they sit at different weather stations, so their frost calendars differ.

When should I plant tomatoes in Mississippi's zone 8b?

Using New Hope's frost dates (this page's median-season location): start seeds indoors about Jan 16 – Jan 30, then transplant outside about Mar 20 – Mar 27. Your own location in the table above may differ by a week or two — use the ZIP planner on the home page for your exact station's dates.

Does every location in Mississippi's zone 8b have the same frost dates?

No — they do not all share a weather station, so frost dates vary by a week or more across the 55 locations listed (see the table above for each location's own dates).

USDA zone 8b in Mississippi

15 to 20 °F avg. annual extreme minimum · 55 locations in this group · NOAA 1991–2020 normals

USDA plant hardiness zone 8b covers 55 locations across Mississippi (average annual extreme minimum 15 to 20 °F): Alcorn State University, MS, Belzoni, MS, Brookhaven, MS, Bude, MS, Canton, MS, Clarksdale, MS, and 49 more. Average last spring frost across this group ranges March 3 (Belzoni) to March 31 (Tchula), and growing seasons run 218–268 days (Tchula to Lucedale) — even within one state, because hardiness sets winter survival, not planting dates. The table below gives every Mississippi location's own frost dates; the printable planting calendar uses New Hope, this group's median-season location.

USDA zone: 8b15 to 20 °F
Last frost range: Mar 3–Mar 31avg, 32°F
First frost range: Nov 1–Nov 25avg, 32°F
Growing season range: 218–268days

Locations in this group

Every location below shares this zone and a nearby weather station, but keeps its own frost dates — find your town for its own numbers, or use the ZIP planner on the home page for an instant personalized answer.

Own frost dates per location.
Location	Also covers	Nearest station	Last frost	First frost	Season (days)
Alcorn State University	St. Joseph, Newellton, Waterproof	St Joseph 3 N	Mar 13	Nov 10	242
Belzoni	Isola	Belzoni	Mar 3	Nov 21	263
Brookhaven	Bogue Chitto, Bude, Pattison	Brookhaven City	Mar 17	Nov 12	242
Bude	—	Meadville	Mar 15	Nov 12	243
Canton	—	Canton 4n	Mar 22	Nov 6	230
Clarksdale	Tutwiler, Shelby, Rena Lara, Duncan, Sumner, Elaine, +2 more	Clarksdale	Mar 16	Nov 12	243
Cleveland	Skene, Ruleville, Drew, Shaw, Merigold, Mound Bayou, +2 more	Cleveland	Mar 14	Nov 15	248
Collins	Mount Olive, Seminary	Collins	Mar 17	Nov 12	238
Collinsville	Toomsuba, Cuba, De Kalb, Lauderdale, Lisman, Meridian Station, +1 more	Meridian Naas	Mar 14	Nov 12	245
Columbia	Prentiss, Foxworth, Kokomo, Bassfield	Columbia	Mar 5	Nov 19	262
Conehatta	Newton, Decatur, Lake, Union, Montrose, Pachuta, +2 more	Newton Exp Stn	Mar 25	Nov 2	222
Crystal Springs	Terry, Georgetown	Crystal Spgs Exp Stn	Mar 11	Nov 16	250
Forest	Lake	Forest	Mar 28	Nov 2	221
Glen Allan	Valley Park, Delta, Hollandale, Anguilla, Cary, Panther Burn	Rolling Fork	Mar 5	Nov 20	261
Glendora	—	Minter City	Mar 7	Nov 17	254
Greenville	Arcola	Greenville	Mar 13	Nov 15	247
Greenwood	Cruger, Sidon	Greenwood Leflore Ap	Mar 17	Nov 5	231
Gunnison	Tillar, Winchester, Arkansas, Beulah, Watson	Rohwer 2 Nne	Mar 12	Nov 14	247
Hattiesburg	Petal, Moselle	Hattiesburg Chain Muni Ap	Mar 8	Nov 15	252
Hattiesburg	Purvis, Sumrall, Arnold Line	Hattiesburg 5sw	Mar 7	Nov 23	261
Hazlehurst	Beauregard	Hazlehurst 5 Sw	Mar 14	Nov 13	245
Hermanville	Port Gibson, Pattison	Port Gibson 1 Ne	Mar 17	Nov 12	241
Indianola	Inverness, Itta Bena, Moorhead, Schlater, Doddsville, Sunflower, +1 more	Moorhead	Mar 8	Nov 20	255
Jackson	Clinton, Flora	Jackson Hawkins Fld	Mar 6	Nov 19	258
Jackson	Flowood, Ridgeland, Pearl, Madison, Byram, Richland, +4 more	Jackson Intl Ap	Mar 14	Nov 14	245
Laurel	Bay Springs, Ellisville, Heidelberg, Sandersville, Taylorsville, Soso, +1 more	Laurel	Mar 12	Nov 12	244
Leakesville	New Augusta, Beaumont, McLain, Richton, Leaf	Beaumont Expstation	Mar 18	Nov 12	239
Leland	Winterville, Stoneville, Metcalfe, Arcola	Stoneville Exp Stn	Mar 11	Nov 16	250
Liberty	Gloster	Liberty	Mar 25	Nov 8	230
Lucedale	Chunchula	Mobile	Mar 3	Nov 25	268
Lumberton	—	Poplarville Exp Stn	Mar 10	Nov 21	257
Macon	Brooksville, Crawford, Shuqualak	Macon 3n	Mar 21	Nov 7	231
Magnolia	Franklinton, Summit, Fernwood, Osyka	Mccomb/pike Co/john E Lewis Ap	Mar 11	Nov 18	253
Mendenhall	Magee, D'Lo, Georgetown, New Hebron, Braxton	D'lo 2 Sw	Mar 10	Nov 16	252
Meridian	Collinsville, Nellieburg, Butler, Marion, Enterprise	Meridian Key Fld	Mar 16	Nov 12	239
Monticello	Prentiss, Silver Creek	Monticello	Mar 12	Nov 10	242
Natchez	Roxie, Clayton, Fayette	Natchez	Mar 16	Nov 9	237
New Hope *	Columbus AFB, Artesia	Columbus	Mar 13	Nov 12	244
Noxapater	—	Louisville	Mar 21	Nov 13	235
Philadelphia	Bogue Chitto, Union, Sebastopol	Philadelphia 1 Wsw	Mar 20	Nov 9	235
Pickens	Goodman	Pickens	Mar 14	Nov 8	239
Polkville	Morton, Raleigh, Mize	Raleigh 6n	Mar 28	Nov 3	221
Quitman	—	P Harrison Archusa	Mar 14	Nov 16	247
Redwater	Lena, Walnut Grove, Pickens	Carthage	Mar 19	Nov 7	233
Satartia	—	Satartia 8 Sw	Mar 11	Nov 15	246
Scott	Bolivar	Greenville Asos	Mar 12	Nov 13	247
Stonewall	—	Quitman 2 Nne	Mar 18	Nov 10	236
Sumner	—	Lambert 1w	Mar 17	Nov 7	233
Tchula	—	Lexington	Mar 31	Nov 1	218
Tylertown	—	Tylertown 5ese	Mar 15	Nov 16	245
Utica	Raymond, Edwards, Bolton	Oakley Exp Stn	Mar 16	Nov 6	236
Vicksburg	Redwood	Tallulah Vicksburg Ap	Mar 3	Nov 11	254
Waynesboro	Buckatunna, Clara, Shubuta, Needham	Waynesboro 2 W	Mar 17	Nov 9	237
Wiggins	—	Wiggins	Mar 14	Nov 18	249
Yazoo	Benton, Bentonia, Pickens, Silver, Louise, Satartia	Yazoo City 5 Nne	Mar 4	Nov 24	267

* New Hope is this group's median-season location — the calendar below is computed from its data.

Data: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 (public domain) and USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map 2023. Planting windows synthesized from U.S. Cooperative Extension guides.

Planting calendar (New Hope, representative)

Computed from New Hope's average frost dates — the median-season location in this Mississippizone 8b group. hatched = start seeds indoors, solid green = plant out, teal = a fall sowing, and the terracotta dot marks the estimated first harvest. Ranges are extension-guide planning guidance, not guarantees — your own location's dates may run a week or two earlier or later (see the table above).

Crop

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

Tomato

Pepper

Cucumber

Summer squash / zucchini

Start indoors
Plant out
Fall sowing
First harvest

Planting windows for New Hope (Mississippi, zone 8b), this group's representative location.
Crop	Frost tolerance	Start indoors	Plant out	First harvest	Fall planting	Season fit
Tomato	Tender	Jan 16 – Jan 30	Mar 20 – Mar 27	May 19 – Jun 8	—	matures comfortably
Pepper	Very tender	Jan 2 – Jan 16	Mar 27 – Apr 3	May 26 – Jun 25	—	matures comfortably
Cucumber	Tender	Feb 13 – Feb 20	Mar 20 – Mar 27	May 9 – May 29	—	matures comfortably
Summer squash / zucchini	Tender	—	Mar 20 – Mar 27	May 4 – May 19	—	matures comfortably
Bush bean	Tender	—	Mar 20 – Mar 27	May 9 – May 19	Sep 13 – Sep 23	matures comfortably
Sweet corn	Tender	—	Mar 13 – Mar 27	May 12 – Jun 11	—	matures comfortably
Basil	Very tender	Jan 30 – Feb 13	Mar 20 – Mar 27	Apr 19 – May 4	—	matures comfortably
Lettuce	Half-hardy	Jan 30 – Feb 13	Feb 13 – Feb 27	Mar 30 – Apr 14	Aug 30 – Sep 14	matures comfortably
Pea	Hardy	—	Jan 30 – Feb 13	Mar 26 – Apr 10	Aug 20 – Sep 4	matures comfortably
Spinach	Hardy	—	Jan 30 – Feb 13	Mar 11 – Mar 21	Sep 9 – Sep 19	matures comfortably
Carrot	Half-hardy	—	Feb 20 – Feb 27	Apr 21 – May 11	Aug 10 – Aug 30	matures comfortably
Broccoli	Half-hardy	Jan 16 – Jan 30	Feb 13 – Feb 27	Apr 9 – Apr 29	Aug 15 – Sep 4	matures comfortably

Which crops fit this growing season

Using New Hope's own 244-day growing season (32°F, NOAA 1991–2020 median) against each crop's real days-to-maturity range: 12 of 12 crops mature here with comfortable margin. A different location in the table above with a longer or shorter season will get a different mix — the ZIP planner on the home page gives your own.

Frost & freeze dates (New Hope)

From NOAA's 1991–2020 Climate Normals at station USC00221880. The median (p50) is the average date; the 90%-safe column is the date the freeze has passed in about 9 years out of 10 — the conservative date to plant after or harvest before.

Freeze probabilities by temperature threshold (MM/DD, NOAA 1991–2020), New Hope.
Threshold	Last spring — avg	Last spring — 90%-safe	First fall — avg	First fall — 90%-safe	Season (days)
36°F	Mar 30	Apr 16	Nov 2	Nov 17	218
32°F (freeze)	Mar 13	Apr 2	Nov 12	Dec 1	244
28°F	Feb 26	Mar 17	Nov 27	Dec 23	273
24°F	Feb 7	Mar 6	Dec 15	Jan 14	311

Growing degree days

Growing degree days (GDD) accumulate warmth above a base temperature over the year — a better predictor of crop development than the calendar alone. This group's median GDD (base 50°F) across all 55 locations is 6,042; New Hope's own reading is shown below.

Annual growing degree days for New Hope (°F·days, NOAA 1991–2020).
Model	°F·days	Used for
Base 50°F (warm-season)	6,198	standard warm-season base (tomato, corn, beans)
Base 40°F (cool-season)	9,398	cool-season crops (brassicas, greens)

Hardiness zone 8b in Mississippi

Zone 8b means an average annual extreme minimum winter temperature of about 15 to 20 °F on the USDA's 2023 map — the number that tells you which perennials, shrubs, and trees reliably survive an average winter here. It does not set your planting dates, which come from the frost calendar above. Mississippi spans 4 hardiness zones in this dataset — see all Mississippi locations for the full range, including zones7b, 8a, 9a.

Explore zone 8b in other states at zone 8b, or see all USDA hardiness zones.

Frequently asked questions

What does USDA hardiness zone 8b mean in Mississippi?: Zone 8b means an average annual extreme minimum winter temperature of 15 to 20 °F — the standard USDA measure of which perennials survive winter. 55 locations in Mississippi fall in this zone. It does not set planting dates; see the frost calendar below for that.
Where in Mississippi's zone 8b is the growing season longest?: Lucedale runs the longest season on this page at about 268 days; Tchula is shortest at about 218 days — they share the same hardiness zone, but they sit at different weather stations, so their frost calendars differ.
When should I plant tomatoes in Mississippi's zone 8b?: Using New Hope's frost dates (this page's median-season location): start seeds indoors about Jan 16 – Jan 30, then transplant outside about Mar 20 – Mar 27. Your own location in the table above may differ by a week or two — use the ZIP planner on the home page for your exact station's dates.
Does every location in Mississippi's zone 8b have the same frost dates?: No — they do not all share a weather station, so frost dates vary by a week or more across the 55 locations listed (see the table above for each location's own dates).

Sources & method

Frost, freeze, growing-season, and growing-degree-day figures are NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, one reading per location's own nearest station (see the table above). The hardiness zone is the USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map 2023, matched to each location's ZIP. Planting windows are computed by counting from the average last and first frost using per-crop offsets synthesized from U.S. Cooperative Extension guides — the full method and citations are on the methodology page.