US Grow Zones

Gulfport, Mississippi: planting zone & frost dates

Last updated · Sources: PRISM/OSU 2023 ZIP zone listings; NOAA NCEI 1991–2020 Climate Normals (station USW00093874); U.S. Census Bureau — see methodology

Gulfport is in USDA plant hardiness zone 9a, where the average coldest winter night reaches 20 to 25°F (-6.7 to -3.9°C). The typical last spring frost is around Mar 5 and the first fall frost around Nov 25.

Hardiness zone9A20 to 25°F
Last spring frostMar 530% chance of frost after
First fall frostNov 2530% chance of frost before
Growing season287 daysmedian frost-free days

Frost dates

ProbabilityLast spring frost (32°F)First fall frost (32°F)
Safer (10% risk)Mar 16Nov 12
Typical planning date (30% risk)Mar 5Nov 25
Median (50%)Feb 23Dec 3

How to read this: after the spring "10% risk" date, a 32°F frost happens in only about 1 year in 10. In fall, the "10% risk" date is the early end — a frost before it happens about 1 year in 10.

Frost data comes from NOAA station GULFPORT - BILOXI AP, MS (USW00093874), 0.9 mi (1.4 km) from the city center and 30 ft higher than the city center (+9 m). Record used for the 1991–2020 normals: 21 years.

Frost probability in spring and fall, Gulfport, MSChance of a 32°F frost in Gulfport, MS, NOAA 1991–2020. Spring: the chance of another frost falls from 90% on Jan 25 to 10% on Mar 16. Fall: the chance that the first frost has arrived rises from 10% on Nov 12 to 90% on Jan 5.0%50%100%Spring: later frostJan 1Feb 1Mar 130%: Mar 5Fall: frost arrivedNov 15Dec 15Jan 1530%: Nov 2532°F frost28°F hard freezeplanning date
Shaded areas show the chance of a 32°F frost: falling through spring, rising through fall. The dashed line is the 28°F hard-freeze curve. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 Normals, station USW00093874.
Frost-free growing season in Gulfport, MS1 in 10 risk: Mar 16 to Nov 12 (241 days); 3 in 10 risk: Mar 5 to Nov 25 (265 days); Median (50%): Feb 23 to Dec 3 (283 days); No 28°F freeze: Feb 1 to Dec 31 (333 days). In 9 of 10 years the 32°F-free season is at least 255 days.Frost-free days, spring to fallJFMAMJJASOND1 in 10 risk241 days3 in 10 risk265 daysMedian (50%)283 daysNo 28°F freeze333 days
Frost-free window at three risk levels, plus the window between 28°F hard freezes. Read about what the probabilities mean.

Why your yard may differ from the station: microclimates.

Hardiness zone across Gulfport

All 3 ZIP codes covering Gulfport are in zone 9a.

ZIP codes in Gulfport and their zones
ZIPZoneShare of city land
395039a60.7%
395019a24.4%
395079a14.7%

Vegetable planting calendar for Gulfport

Dates are counted from the 30%-risk frost dates above (last frost Mar 5, first frost Nov 25). Shift a week later in cold spots or low-lying ground.

CropStart indoorsTransplant / plant outDirect sowFall crop sow/plant
TomatoJan 8 – Jan 22Mar 12 – Mar 26——
PepperDec 25 – Jan 8Mar 19 – Apr 2——
LettuceJan 22 – Feb 5Feb 19 – Mar 12Feb 5 – Mar 19Sep 16 – Oct 14
Green Beans——Mar 12 – Apr 16Sep 2 – Sep 16
Sweet Corn——Mar 12 – Apr 9—
Zucchini & Summer SquashFeb 5 – Feb 12Mar 12 – Mar 26Mar 12 – Apr 2Sep 2 – Sep 16
CucumberFeb 5 – Feb 12Mar 19 – Mar 26Mar 12 – Apr 2Sep 2 – Sep 16
Carrot——Feb 12 – Mar 19Sep 2 – Sep 16
OnionDec 11 – Dec 25Feb 5 – Feb 19——
Potato—Feb 5 – Feb 26——
BasilJan 22 – Feb 5Mar 19 – Apr 2Mar 19 – Apr 9—
Spinach——Jan 22 – Feb 19Sep 30 – Oct 28
KaleJan 8 – Jan 22Feb 5 – Feb 26Feb 5 – Feb 26Sep 16 – Oct 14
BroccoliJan 8 – Jan 22Feb 19 – Mar 12—Sep 2 – Sep 16
Peas——Jan 22 – Feb 12Sep 16 – Sep 30
EggplantDec 25 – Jan 8Mar 19 – Apr 2——
CabbageJan 8 – Jan 22Feb 5 – Feb 19—Sep 2 – Sep 16
Radish——Jan 29 – Mar 19Oct 14 – Nov 11
Strawberry—Feb 5 – Feb 26——
Beets——Feb 12 – Mar 26Sep 16 – Sep 30

Nearby cities in Mississippi

More: all Mississippi cities · other zone 9a cities: San Antonio, TX, Austin, TX, Seattle, WA, Las Vegas, NV, Portland, OR, Tucson, AZ, Baton Rouge, LA, Tallahassee, FL

Gulfport gardening questions

When is the last frost in Gulfport, MS?

Plan around Mar 5. At NOAA's Gulfport - Biloxi Airport, MS station, 0.9 mi from the city center, there is a 30% chance of a 32°F frost after that date. Half of springs have their last frost by Feb 23, and after Mar 16 the risk drops to about 1 in 10. A hard freeze (28°F) usually ends earlier, around Feb 1. Springs here are erratic: 50 days separate the 90% and 10% dates, versus a median of 36 days for cities on this site, so watch the forecast rather than the calendar.

When should I plant tomatoes in Gulfport, MS?

Start seeds indoors Jan 8 – Jan 22 and set transplants outside Mar 12 – Mar 26, once nights stay above 50°F and the soil is near 60°F. With about 265 frost-free days, frost is not the main limit — fruit set drops when nights stay above about 75°F, so early plantings tend to do best. More: tomato planting dates by zone.

How long is the growing season in Gulfport?

About 287 days without a 32°F frost in a typical (median) year. In 9 years out of 10 the season lasts at least 255 days, and in 1 year in 10 it runs 323 days or more. In fall there is a 10% chance of frost by Nov 12 and a 30% chance by Nov 25.

When should I plant a fall garden in Gulfport?

Count back from the first fall frost (Nov 25): transplant broccoli Sep 2 – Sep 16; sow kale Sep 16 – Oct 14; sow lettuce Sep 16 – Oct 14; sow radishes Oct 14 – Nov 11. Hardy crops keep growing through light frosts; the median 28°F hard freeze here is Dec 31. How the math works: succession and fall planting.

Did Gulfport's hardiness zone change on the 2023 map?

No. Going by the zone that covers most of the city's land, Gulfport is zone 9a on both the 2012 and the 2023 USDA maps (PRISM/OSU ZIP listings). About 42% of U.S. ZIP codes kept their half-zone in 2023. Why the 2023 map is warmer.

How does Gulfport compare with New Orleans, LA?

Gulfport is zone 9a and New Orleans is zone 9b. The typical last spring frost in Gulfport (Mar 5) comes about 32 days later than in New Orleans, LA (Feb 1), 58 miles away, and the first fall frost is Nov 25 versus Dec 29. The two cities use different NOAA stations.