When to plant in Meridian, MS
USDA Zone 8bEverything below — frost dates, hardiness zone, and what to plant when in Meridian, Mississippi — is derived from the closest NOAA station with complete climate normals.
Meridian enjoys a long ~241-day frost-free season — you can succession-sow, fit in a second crop, and grow long-season heat-lovers with room to spare. In zone 8b, Meridian supports a wide range of perennials year-round; the frost dates above are what set your annual vegetable timing.
The average last spring frost in Meridian is now 15 days earlier than in the 1981–2010 normals. See how frost dates are shifting nationwide →
Frost probability
MERIDIAN KEY 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 Meridian’s own odds, recorded at MERIDIAN KEY FLD.
| Threshold | SPRING 10% | SPRING 50% | SPRING 90% | FALL 10% | FALL 50% | FALL 90% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | Apr 17 | Mar 31 | Mar 12 | Oct 19 | Nov 1 | Nov 17 |
| 32°F | Apr 3 | Mar 16 | Feb 24 | Oct 29 | Nov 12 | Dec 2 |
| 28°F | Mar 21 | Feb 28 | Feb 1 | Nov 7 | Nov 27 | Dec 27 |
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 Meridian, drawn to the day from the local frost dates. The dashed line is today.
Nearby weather stations
3 within 35 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.
Meridian planting FAQ
When is the last spring frost in Meridian, MS?
Meridian's average last spring frost falls near March 16 — 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 Meridian, MS?
In Meridian, the first 32°F freeze of fall lands around November 12 on average. Time your last harvests and any season-extension cover before it.
What hardiness zone is Meridian in?
Meridian is in USDA hardiness zone 8b. In zone 8b, winters are mild — many tender perennials overwinter here.
How long is the growing season in Meridian?
Meridian has about 241 frost-free days — a long growing season — between the average last spring frost (March 16) and first fall frost (November 12).
When should I plant tomatoes in Meridian?
For Meridian, sow tomatoes indoors about January 19–February 2 and move the seedlings out around March 23, after the last spring frost.
Never miss a window in Meridian
An email when it’s time to start seeds, transplant, and sow — timed to Meridian’s frost dates. Double opt-in, one-click unsubscribe, no spam.
Nearby cities
8 within reachFrost dates recorded at MERIDIAN KEY FLD, 8 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 Meridian, MS — Frost Dates & Zone 8b." Frost normals: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station USW00013865. Retrieved from https://blissgarden.com/mississippi/meridian.