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

Planting zone for Meridian, MS

Meridian, MS is in USDA zone 8b across its 7 ZIP codes. The median last spring frost is March 16 and the first fall frost November 12.

Meridian on the zone map

Outlined: its 4 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 codes7
Last frostMar 16
First frostNov 12
Growing season239 days

8b 7 ZIPs

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Meridian, 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 Meridian, MS

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMarch 16median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsApril 3only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostNovember 12median — 10% chance by Oct 29
Growing season239 daysfrost-free, median

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

From the NOAA station Meridian Key Field, MS, elevation 295 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 Meridian

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Feb 2 – Feb 16
SpinachSow outdoors · Feb 2 – Feb 23
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Jan 5 – Jan 19
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Feb 23 – Mar 9
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Feb 16 – Mar 2
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Feb 23 – Mar 9
LettuceSow outdoors · Feb 16 – Mar 2
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Feb 23 – Mar 9
TomatoesStart indoors · Jan 19 – Feb 2
TomatoesTransplant · Mar 23 – Apr 6
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Jan 5 – Jan 19
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · Mar 30 – Apr 13
BeansSow outdoors · Mar 23 – Apr 6
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Mar 23 – Apr 6
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Mar 23 – Apr 6
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 16) 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 39303 came on Feb 10 — 7 days later than the 1991–2020 average (Feb 3).

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 Meridian, MS.

Soil in Meridian, MS

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 39303 is Quitman — loam, somewhat poorly drained.

TextureLoama good balance for most vegetables
pH5.5moderately acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageSomewhat poorly drainedconsider raised beds
Organic matter2%moderate
Hydrologic groupC/Dslow when drained; wet otherwise
Farmland classprime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Quitman loam, 0 to 2 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 39303; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Meridian, MS

Summer high93 °Faverage high, July
Winter low36 °Faverage low, January
Hot days86days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights48nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days6,279base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day14 h 17 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day10 h 01 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growShort-daysummer days stay under about 14 h 20 min, so long-day varieties won’t bulb
Precipitation60.4 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall1 inper year

Average high and low, by month

30°40°50°60°70°80°90°100°32 °FJanuary: average high 59 °F, low 36 °F 59°36° JanFebruary: average high 64 °F, low 40 °F 64°40° FebMarch: average high 71 °F, low 46 °F 71°46° MarApril: average high 78 °F, low 53 °F 78°53° AprMay: average high 85 °F, low 61 °F 85°61° MayJune: average high 91 °F, low 69 °F 91°69° JunJuly: average high 93 °F, low 72 °F 93°72° JulAugust: average high 93 °F, low 71 °F 93°71° AugSeptember: average high 89 °F, low 66 °F 89°66° SepOctober: average high 80 °F, low 54 °F 80°54° OctNovember: average high 69 °F, low 43 °F 69°43° NovDecember: average high 61 °F, low 39 °F 61°39° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″2″4″6″January: 5.56 in precipitation, 0.2 in snowfall 5.6 JanFebruary: 5.53 in precipitation, 0.2 in snowfall 5.5 FebMarch: 5.45 in precipitation 5.5 MarApril: 6.04 in precipitation 6.0 AprMay: 4.68 in precipitation 4.7 MayJune: 5.33 in precipitation 5.3 JunJuly: 6.25 in precipitation 6.3 JulAugust: 4.56 in precipitation 4.6 AugSeptember: 3.12 in precipitation 3.1 SepOctober: 4.13 in precipitation 4.1 OctNovember: 4.53 in precipitation 4.5 NovDecember: 5.19 in precipitation, 0.3 in snowfall 5.2 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Meridian Key Field, MS (7 mi away); precipitation: Topton 2, MS (6 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

ZIP codes in Meridian

393018b
15 to 20 °F
393028b
15 to 20 °F
393038b
15 to 20 °F
393048b
15 to 20 °F
393058b
15 to 20 °F
393078b
15 to 20 °F
393098b
15 to 20 °F

Mississippi planting zones →

Questions about Meridian

What planting zone is Meridian, MS?

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

When is the last frost in Meridian, MS?

The median last spring frost is March 16 and the median first fall frost is November 12 (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Meridian Key Field station).

When can I plant a garden in Meridian, MS?

Cool-season crops like peas and spinach go in around Feb 2 – Feb 23; tomatoes, peppers, beans and squash after about Mar 23, once frost risk has passed.

What kind of onions grow in Meridian, MS?

Short-day onions: the longest day is 14 h 17 min, so summer days stay under about 14 h 20 min, so long-day varieties won’t bulb.

How much rain and snow does Meridian, MS get?

About 60.4 inches of precipitation a year and 1 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals).