When to Plant Peppers in Mississippi
In Mississippi, the time to transplant peppers outside runs from Feb 26 – Mar 12 in Biloxi to Apr 17 – May 1 in Oxford. In Jackson, it's Mar 20 – Apr 3. The average last spring frost differs by about 7 weeks across the state (Feb 12 in Biloxi, Apr 3 in Oxford), so use the dates for the town nearest you.
Peppers need even more warmth than tomatoes. Start them early indoors and set them out once the soil has warmed, two to four weeks after the last frost.
- Start indoors: 8–10 weeks before the last frost.
- Transplant outside: 2–4 weeks after the last frost.
Peppers planting dates in Mississippi by city
| City | Zone | Start indoors | Transplant outside |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bay St. Louis | 9a | Dec 13 – Dec 27 | Mar 7 – Mar 21 |
| Biloxi | 9a | Dec 4 – Dec 18 | Feb 26 – Mar 12 |
| Brandon | 8b | Jan 3 – Jan 17 | Mar 28 – Apr 11 |
| Brookhaven | 8b | Jan 6 – Jan 20 | Mar 31 – Apr 14 |
| Byram | 8b | Dec 26 – Jan 9 | Mar 20 – Apr 3 |
| Canton | 8b | Jan 11 – Jan 25 | Apr 5 – Apr 19 |
| Clarksdale | 8b | Jan 5 – Jan 19 | Mar 30 – Apr 13 |
| Clinton | 8b | Dec 26 – Jan 9 | Mar 20 – Apr 3 |
| Columbus | 8b | Jan 2 – Jan 16 | Mar 27 – Apr 10 |
| Corinth | 7b | Jan 22 – Feb 5 | Apr 16 – Apr 30 |
| D'Iberville | 9a | Dec 4 – Dec 18 | Feb 26 – Mar 12 |
| Flowood | 8b | Jan 3 – Jan 17 | Mar 28 – Apr 11 |
| Gautier | 9a | Dec 21 – Jan 4 | Mar 15 – Mar 29 |
| Greenville | 8b | Jan 2 – Jan 16 | Mar 27 – Apr 10 |
| Greenwood | 8b | Jan 6 – Jan 20 | Mar 31 – Apr 14 |
| Grenada | 8a | Jan 17 – Jan 31 | Apr 11 – Apr 25 |
| Gulfport | 9a | Dec 15 – Dec 29 | Mar 9 – Mar 23 |
| Hattiesburg | 8b | Dec 27 – Jan 10 | Mar 21 – Apr 4 |
| Hernando | 8a | Jan 17 – Jan 31 | Apr 11 – Apr 25 |
| Horn Lake | 8a | Jan 5 – Jan 19 | Mar 30 – Apr 13 |
| Jackson | 8b | Dec 26 – Jan 9 | Mar 20 – Apr 3 |
| Laurel | 8b | Jan 1 – Jan 15 | Mar 26 – Apr 9 |
| Long Beach | 9a | Dec 10 – Dec 24 | Mar 4 – Mar 18 |
| Madison | 8b | Dec 26 – Jan 9 | Mar 20 – Apr 3 |
| McComb | 8b | Dec 31 – Jan 14 | Mar 25 – Apr 8 |
| Meridian | 8b | Jan 5 – Jan 19 | Mar 30 – Apr 13 |
| Moss Point | 9a | Dec 21 – Jan 4 | Mar 15 – Mar 29 |
| Natchez | 8b | Jan 5 – Jan 19 | Mar 30 – Apr 13 |
| Ocean Springs | 9a | Dec 4 – Dec 18 | Feb 26 – Mar 12 |
| Olive Branch | 8a | Jan 15 – Jan 29 | Apr 9 – Apr 23 |
| Oxford | 7b | Jan 23 – Feb 6 | Apr 17 – May 1 |
| Pascagoula | 9a | Dec 28 – Jan 11 | Mar 22 – Apr 5 |
| Pearl | 8b | Jan 3 – Jan 17 | Mar 28 – Apr 11 |
| Petal | 8b | Dec 28 – Jan 11 | Mar 22 – Apr 5 |
| Picayune | 9a | Dec 29 – Jan 12 | Mar 23 – Apr 6 |
| Ridgeland | 8b | Dec 26 – Jan 9 | Mar 20 – Apr 3 |
| Southaven | 8a | Jan 5 – Jan 19 | Mar 30 – Apr 13 |
| Starkville | 8a | Jan 12 – Jan 26 | Apr 6 – Apr 20 |
| Tupelo | 8a | Jan 10 – Jan 24 | Apr 4 – Apr 18 |
| Vicksburg | 8b | Dec 18 – Jan 1 | Mar 12 – Mar 26 |
Calculated from each town's average (50%) frost dates, from the nearest NOAA station (1991–2020). Typical dates for the 2027 planting season, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 averages. They are long-term odds, not a forecast: always check your local forecast before planting. Zones: 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (USDA-ARS and Oregon State University). Not the official map; see planthardiness.ars.usda.gov.
See all frost dates in Mississippi, or the general guide to when to plant peppers.
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