Data: 2023 USDA zones (PRISM/OSU) · NOAA 1991–2020 normals · updated

Planting zone for Columbus, MS

Columbus, MS is in USDA zone 8b across its 5 ZIP codes. The median last spring frost is March 13 and the first fall frost November 12.

Columbus on the zone map

Outlined: its 3 ZIP code areas · tap the map for the zone at any spot · scroll or pinch to zoom

Not the official USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map. Zones come from the 2023 USDA hardiness-zone data by the PRISM Group, Oregon State University; we re-mapped and recolored them. The official map is at planthardiness.ars.usda.gov.

Zone8b15 to 20 °F
ZIP codes5
Last frostMar 13
First frostNov 12
Growing season244 days

8b 5 ZIPs

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Columbus, MS…

Forecast data: National Weather Service (api.weather.gov), public domain. This is not a warning service — for official frost and freeze warnings see weather.gov.

Frost dates in Columbus, MS

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMarch 13median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsApril 2only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostNovember 12median — 10% chance by Oct 30
Growing season244 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around February 26 and returns around November 27.

From the NOAA station Columbus, MS, elevation 144 ft. NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, 32 °F threshold. Low spots and valleys can freeze later in spring than the station.

When to plant vegetables in Columbus

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Jan 30 – Feb 13
SpinachSow outdoors · Jan 30 – Feb 20
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Jan 2 – Jan 16
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Feb 20 – Mar 6
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Feb 13 – Feb 27
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Feb 20 – Mar 6
LettuceSow outdoors · Feb 13 – Feb 27
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Feb 20 – Mar 6
TomatoesStart indoors · Jan 16 – Jan 30
TomatoesTransplant · Mar 20 – Apr 3
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Jan 2 – Jan 16
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · Mar 27 – Apr 10
BeansSow outdoors · Mar 20 – Apr 3
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Mar 20 – Apr 3
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Mar 20 – Apr 3
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Sep 17 – Oct 1
GarlicPlant cloves · Oct 29 – Dec 3
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Mar 13) and first fall frost (Nov 12) with the rules of thumb U.S. extension services publish. Cool-season crops take a light frost; warm-season crops do best once the soil is above about 60 °F.

When spring arrived in 2026

In 2026, spring leaf-out near 39704 came on Feb 12 — 3 days later than the 1991–2020 average (Feb 9).

JanFebMarAprMayJun

The Spring Index marks the day when accumulated warmth is enough for lilac and honeysuckle to leaf out — a widely used signal that the growing season has started. Source: USA National Phenology Network, www.usanpn.org — Spring Indices, first leaf, 2026 (data as of 2026-09-08) and 30-year average 1991–2020 (CC BY 4.0).

Native plants for zone 8b in Mississippi

526 plants native to the lower 48 states, recorded in Mississippi, and rated by the USDA to survive 15 °F or colder — the bottom of zone 8b. Each links to its USDA PLANTS profile.

Trees 79

American basswood100 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −46 °FAmerican beech80 ft · blooms mid spring · low shade tolerance · to −44 °FAmerican chestnut115 ft · blooms early summer · high shade tolerance · to −33 °FAmerican elm120 ft · blooms early spring · medium shade tolerance · to −46 °FAmerican sycamore100 ft · blooms spring · medium shade tolerance · to −34 °FAtlantic white cedar50 ft · blooms spring · medium shade tolerance · to −36 °F

Shrubs 115

aloe yucca15 ft · blooms early summer · medium shade tolerance · to −1 °Falternateleaf dogwood25 ft · blooms mid spring · low shade tolerance · to −47 °FAmerican beautyberry6 ft · blooms early summer · medium shade tolerance · to −8 °FAmerican hazelnut10 ft · blooms spring · medium shade tolerance · to −33 °FAmerican holly40 ft · blooms mid spring · low shade tolerance · to −20 °FAmerican hornbeam30 ft · blooms mid spring · low shade tolerance · to −34 °F

Wildflowers & perennials 165

American bur-reed3 ft · blooms indeterminate · medium shade tolerance · to −33 °FAmerican eelgrass1 ft · blooms mid summer · high shade tolerance · to −33 °FAmerican lotus3 ft · blooms mid summer · high shade tolerance · to −36 °FAmerican pokeweed7 ft · blooms mid summer · low shade tolerance · to −33 °FAmerican spongeplant0.5 ft · blooms mid spring · high shade tolerance · to −24 °FAmerican water horehound1.8 ft · blooms early summer · low shade tolerance · to −38 °F

Grasses 147

American cupscale3 ft · blooms early summer · high shade tolerance · to −18 °Fautumn bluegrass1.5 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −8 °Fawlfruit sedge4 ft · blooms mid spring · low shade tolerance · to −38 °Fbig bluestem6 ft · blooms summer · high shade tolerance · to −46 °Fbig cordgrass8 ft · blooms spring · high shade tolerance · to −3 °Fbighead rush3 ft · blooms early summer · low shade tolerance · to 12 °F

Vines 13

American bittersweet15 ft · blooms spring · low shade tolerance · to −38 °FAmerican wisteria50 ft · blooms spring · low shade tolerance · to −3 °Fcatbird grape30 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −13 °Fcupseed30 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −3 °Fdevil's darning needles15 ft · blooms mid summer · medium shade tolerance · to −38 °Ffrost grape83 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −23 °F

Source: USDA, NRCS. 2026. The PLANTS Database (plants.usda.gov), National Plant Data Team — state distribution, native status and the “Temperature, Minimum” characteristic. Check light, moisture and soil needs before buying; local nurseries and your state native plant society can confirm what thrives in Columbus, MS.

Soil in Columbus, MS

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 39704 is Prentiss — loam, moderately well drained.

TextureLoama good balance for most vegetables
pH5.0strongly acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageModerately well drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter2%moderate
Hydrologic groupCwater soaks in slowly
Farmland classprime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Prentiss loam, 2 to 5 percent slopes.

Soil Survey Staff, Natural Resources Conservation Service, USDA. Soil Survey Geographic (SSURGO) Database, via Soil Data Access, accessed 2026-10-29. The soil at the center point of ZIP 39704; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Columbus, MS

Summer high94 °Faverage high, July
Winter low36 °Faverage low, January
Hot days83days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights50nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days6,198base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day14 h 22 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 56 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growIntermediateday-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully
Precipitation58.9 inper year, rain and melted snow

Average high and low, by month

30°40°50°60°70°80°90°100°32 °FJanuary: average high 56 °F, low 36 °F 56°36° JanFebruary: average high 61 °F, low 39 °F 61°39° FebMarch: average high 70 °F, low 46 °F 70°46° MarApril: average high 78 °F, low 53 °F 78°53° AprMay: average high 85 °F, low 62 °F 85°62° MayJune: average high 91 °F, low 69 °F 91°69° JunJuly: average high 94 °F, low 73 °F 94°73° JulAugust: average high 93 °F, low 72 °F 93°72° AugSeptember: average high 88 °F, low 66 °F 88°66° SepOctober: average high 78 °F, low 54 °F 78°54° OctNovember: average high 67 °F, low 43 °F 67°43° NovDecember: average high 58 °F, low 38 °F 58°38° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″2″4″6″January: 5.58 in precipitation 5.6 JanFebruary: 5.37 in precipitation 5.4 FebMarch: 5.20 in precipitation 5.2 MarApril: 6.25 in precipitation 6.3 AprMay: 4.63 in precipitation 4.6 MayJune: 4.83 in precipitation 4.8 JunJuly: 4.55 in precipitation 4.5 JulAugust: 4.17 in precipitation 4.2 AugSeptember: 3.96 in precipitation 4.0 SepOctober: 3.84 in precipitation 3.8 OctNovember: 4.68 in precipitation 4.7 NovDecember: 5.83 in precipitation 5.8 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Columbus, MS (6 mi away); precipitation: Columbus 5.3 N, MS (2 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

ZIP codes in Columbus

397018b
15 to 20 °F
397028b
15 to 20 °F
397038b
15 to 20 °F
397048b
15 to 20 °F
397058b
15 to 20 °F

Mississippi planting zones →

Questions about Columbus

What planting zone is Columbus, MS?

Columbus, MS is in USDA hardiness zone 8b on the 2023 map (8b: 15 to 20 °F).

When is the last frost in Columbus, MS?

The median last spring frost is March 13 and the median first fall frost is November 12 (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Columbus station).

When can I plant a garden in Columbus, MS?

Cool-season crops like peas and spinach go in around Jan 30 – Feb 20; tomatoes, peppers, beans and squash after about Mar 20, once frost risk has passed.

What kind of onions grow in Columbus, MS?

Intermediate onions: the longest day is 14 h 22 min, so day-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully.

How much rain and snow does Columbus, MS get?

About 58.9 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals).