When to Plant Tomatoes in Mississippi
In Mississippi, the time to transplant tomatoes outside runs from Feb 19 – Mar 5 in Biloxi to Apr 10 – Apr 24 in Oxford. In Jackson, it's Mar 13 – Mar 27. 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.
Tomatoes are killed by frost and sulk in cold soil. Wait until nights stay above 50°F, usually one to three weeks after the average last frost.
- Start indoors: 6–8 weeks before the last frost.
- Transplant outside: 1–3 weeks after the last frost.
Tomatoes planting dates in Mississippi by city
| City | Zone | Start indoors | Transplant outside |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bay St. Louis | 9a | Dec 27 – Jan 10 | Feb 28 – Mar 14 |
| Biloxi | 9a | Dec 18 – Jan 1 | Feb 19 – Mar 5 |
| Brandon | 8b | Jan 17 – Jan 31 | Mar 21 – Apr 4 |
| Brookhaven | 8b | Jan 20 – Feb 3 | Mar 24 – Apr 7 |
| Byram | 8b | Jan 9 – Jan 23 | Mar 13 – Mar 27 |
| Canton | 8b | Jan 25 – Feb 8 | Mar 29 – Apr 12 |
| Clarksdale | 8b | Jan 19 – Feb 2 | Mar 23 – Apr 6 |
| Clinton | 8b | Jan 9 – Jan 23 | Mar 13 – Mar 27 |
| Columbus | 8b | Jan 16 – Jan 30 | Mar 20 – Apr 3 |
| Corinth | 7b | Feb 5 – Feb 19 | Apr 9 – Apr 23 |
| D'Iberville | 9a | Dec 18 – Jan 1 | Feb 19 – Mar 5 |
| Flowood | 8b | Jan 17 – Jan 31 | Mar 21 – Apr 4 |
| Gautier | 9a | Jan 4 – Jan 18 | Mar 8 – Mar 22 |
| Greenville | 8b | Jan 16 – Jan 30 | Mar 20 – Apr 3 |
| Greenwood | 8b | Jan 20 – Feb 3 | Mar 24 – Apr 7 |
| Grenada | 8a | Jan 31 – Feb 14 | Apr 4 – Apr 18 |
| Gulfport | 9a | Dec 29 – Jan 12 | Mar 2 – Mar 16 |
| Hattiesburg | 8b | Jan 10 – Jan 24 | Mar 14 – Mar 28 |
| Hernando | 8a | Jan 31 – Feb 14 | Apr 4 – Apr 18 |
| Horn Lake | 8a | Jan 19 – Feb 2 | Mar 23 – Apr 6 |
| Jackson | 8b | Jan 9 – Jan 23 | Mar 13 – Mar 27 |
| Laurel | 8b | Jan 15 – Jan 29 | Mar 19 – Apr 2 |
| Long Beach | 9a | Dec 24 – Jan 7 | Feb 25 – Mar 11 |
| Madison | 8b | Jan 9 – Jan 23 | Mar 13 – Mar 27 |
| McComb | 8b | Jan 14 – Jan 28 | Mar 18 – Apr 1 |
| Meridian | 8b | Jan 19 – Feb 2 | Mar 23 – Apr 6 |
| Moss Point | 9a | Jan 4 – Jan 18 | Mar 8 – Mar 22 |
| Natchez | 8b | Jan 19 – Feb 2 | Mar 23 – Apr 6 |
| Ocean Springs | 9a | Dec 18 – Jan 1 | Feb 19 – Mar 5 |
| Olive Branch | 8a | Jan 29 – Feb 12 | Apr 2 – Apr 16 |
| Oxford | 7b | Feb 6 – Feb 20 | Apr 10 – Apr 24 |
| Pascagoula | 9a | Jan 11 – Jan 25 | Mar 15 – Mar 29 |
| Pearl | 8b | Jan 17 – Jan 31 | Mar 21 – Apr 4 |
| Petal | 8b | Jan 11 – Jan 25 | Mar 15 – Mar 29 |
| Picayune | 9a | Jan 12 – Jan 26 | Mar 16 – Mar 30 |
| Ridgeland | 8b | Jan 9 – Jan 23 | Mar 13 – Mar 27 |
| Southaven | 8a | Jan 19 – Feb 2 | Mar 23 – Apr 6 |
| Starkville | 8a | Jan 26 – Feb 9 | Mar 30 – Apr 13 |
| Tupelo | 8a | Jan 24 – Feb 7 | Mar 28 – Apr 11 |
| Vicksburg | 8b | Jan 1 – Jan 15 | Mar 5 – Mar 19 |
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 tomatoes.
Getting beds ready? Work out how much raised bed soil, compost or mulch you need with our sister site, Yard Coverage.