When to plant in Starkville, MS
USDA Zone 8aEverything below — frost dates, hardiness zone, and what to plant when in Starkville, Mississippi — is derived from the closest NOAA station with complete climate normals.
Zone 8a means many perennials and even some tender shrubs overwinter in Starkville, while your frost dates still decide when annuals go out.
Frost probability
STATE UNIV · 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 Starkville’s own odds, recorded at STATE UNIV.
| Threshold | SPRING 10% | SPRING 50% | SPRING 90% | FALL 10% | FALL 50% | FALL 90% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | Apr 23 | Apr 5 | Mar 16 | Oct 17 | Oct 31 | Nov 14 |
| 32°F | Apr 13 | Mar 23 | Feb 28 | Oct 27 | Nov 8 | Dec 1 |
| 28°F | Mar 30 | Mar 7 | Feb 14 | Nov 4 | Nov 22 | Dec 17 |
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 Starkville, drawn to the day from the local frost dates. The dashed line is today.
Nearby weather stations
3 within 41 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.
Starkville planting FAQ
When is the last spring frost in Starkville, MS?
On average, the last spring frost in Starkville is around March 23 (50% probability at 32°F, from 1991–2020 NOAA normals). Wait until after this date to set out tender plants like tomatoes and peppers.
When is the first fall frost in Starkville, MS?
Expect Starkville's first fall frost near November 8 — a 50% chance of 32°F by that date. Bring in or cover tender crops ahead of it.
What hardiness zone is Starkville in?
Starkville is in USDA hardiness zone 8a. In zone 8a, winters are mild — many tender perennials overwinter here.
How long is the growing season in Starkville?
There are roughly 230 frost-free days in Starkville (a long growing season), running from the average last frost around March 23 to the first fall frost near November 8.
When should I plant tomatoes in Starkville?
In Starkville, start tomato seeds indoors around January 26–February 9, then transplant seedlings outdoors around March 30 once the danger of frost has passed.
Never miss a window in Starkville
An email when it’s time to start seeds, transplant, and sow — timed to Starkville’s frost dates. Double opt-in, one-click unsubscribe, no spam.
Nearby cities
8 within reachFrost dates recorded at STATE UNIV, 4 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 Starkville, MS — Frost Dates & Zone 8a." Frost normals: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station USC00228374. Retrieved from https://blissgarden.com/mississippi/starkville.