When to plant in Madison, MS
USDA Zone 8bEverything below — frost dates, hardiness zone, and what to plant when in Madison, Mississippi — is derived from the closest NOAA station with complete climate normals.
With about 258 frost-free days, Madison supports back-to-back plantings; stagger sowings every few weeks to keep beds productive spring through fall. Heads up: the nearest complete-normals station is about 17 km from Madison, so your yard's frost dates can differ — a low spot or a paved city center can shift them by a week. Zone 8b means many perennials and even some tender shrubs overwinter in Madison, while your frost dates still decide when annuals go out.
Frost probability
JACKSON HAWKINS FLD · 1991–2020The date the last spring and first fall frost occur, by threshold and probability. A 90% date is later in spring — and earlier in fall — than a 10% date; the 50% · 32°F row is what most gardeners plan around. These are Madison’s own odds, recorded at JACKSON HAWKINS FLD.
| Threshold | SPRING 10% | SPRING 50% | SPRING 90% | FALL 10% | FALL 50% | FALL 90% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | Apr 7 | Mar 20 | Mar 2 | Oct 27 | Nov 9 | Nov 24 |
| 32°F | Mar 24 | Mar 6 | Feb 15 | Nov 4 | Nov 19 | Dec 10 |
| 28°F | Mar 13 | Feb 19 | Jan 23 | Nov 11 | Dec 4 | Jan 3 |
Download this table as CSV ↓ — every threshold and probability, plus this city’s planting-window dates.
What to plant now
TODAY · JULY 19Full-year planting calendar
Each bar is the exact window to take a planting action in Madison, drawn to the day from the local frost dates. The dashed line is today.
Nearby weather stations
3 within 24 km · complete 32°F normalsWhen stations disagree by more than a few days, that spread is real microclimate variation — elevation, water, urban heat. Judge which station best matches your own yard.
Madison planting FAQ
When is the last spring frost in Madison, MS?
Madison's average last spring frost falls near March 6 — the 50% mark at 32°F in the 1991–2020 normals. Hold tender transplants until the risk has passed, then plant out.
When is the first fall frost in Madison, MS?
The first fall frost in Madison typically arrives around November 19 (50% probability at 32°F). Harvest or protect frost-sensitive crops before then.
What hardiness zone is Madison in?
Madison is in USDA hardiness zone 8b. In zone 8b, winters are mild — many tender perennials overwinter here.
How long is the growing season in Madison?
There are roughly 258 frost-free days in Madison (a long growing season), running from the average last frost around March 6 to the first fall frost near November 19.
When should I plant tomatoes in Madison?
In Madison, start tomato seeds indoors around January 9–January 23, then transplant seedlings outdoors around March 13 once the danger of frost has passed.
Never miss a window in Madison
An email when it’s time to start seeds, transplant, and sow — timed to Madison’s frost dates. Double opt-in, one-click unsubscribe, no spam.
Nearby cities
8 within reachFrost dates recorded at JACKSON HAWKINS FLD, 17 km from the city center · 1991–2020 NOAA climate normals · zone from the USDA/PRISM 2023 map. How we compute this.
BlissGarden. "When to Plant in Madison, MS — Frost Dates & Zone 8b." Frost normals: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station USW00013927. Retrieved from https://blissgarden.com/mississippi/madison.