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

Planting zone for Stennis Space Center, MS

Stennis Space Center, MS is in USDA zone 9a across its 2 ZIP codes. The median last spring frost is March 6 and the first fall frost November 19.

Stennis Space Center on the zone map

Outlined: its 1 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.

Zone9a20 to 25 °F
ZIP codes2
Last frostMar 6
First frostNov 19
Growing season262 days

9a 2 ZIPs

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Stennis Space Center, 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 Stennis Space Center, MS

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMarch 6median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMarch 27only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostNovember 19median — 10% chance by Nov 3
Growing season262 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around February 16 and returns around December 4.

From the NOAA station Bay St Louis Nasa, MS, elevation 30 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 Stennis Space Center

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Jan 23 – Feb 6
SpinachSow outdoors · Jan 23 – Feb 13
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Dec 26 – Jan 9
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Feb 13 – Feb 27
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Feb 6 – Feb 20
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Feb 13 – Feb 27
LettuceSow outdoors · Feb 6 – Feb 20
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Feb 13 – Feb 27
TomatoesStart indoors · Jan 9 – Jan 23
TomatoesTransplant · Mar 13 – Mar 27
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Dec 26 – Jan 9
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · Mar 20 – Apr 3
BeansSow outdoors · Mar 13 – Mar 27
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Mar 13 – Mar 27
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Mar 13 – Mar 27
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Sep 24 – Oct 8
GarlicPlant cloves · Nov 5 – Dec 10
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Mar 6) and first fall frost (Nov 19) 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 39522 came on Jan 11 — 15 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Jan 26).

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 9a in Mississippi

541 plants native to the lower 48 states, recorded in Mississippi, and rated by the USDA to survive 20 °F or colder — the bottom of zone 9a. Each links to its USDA PLANTS profile.

Trees 80

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 119

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 167

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 153

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 Stennis Space Center, MS.

Soil in Stennis Space Center, MS

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 39522 is Saucier — fine sandy loam, moderately well drained.

TextureFine sandy loamdrains and warms fast; dries out and needs more feeding
pH5.0strongly acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageModerately well drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter2.5%moderate
Hydrologic groupCwater soaks in slowly
Farmland classFarmland of statewide importanceUSDA classification

Map unit: Saucier fine sandy loam, 5 to 8 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 39522; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Stennis Space Center, MS

Summer high89 °Faverage high, July
Winter low40 °Faverage low, January
Hot days80days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights31nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days6,027base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day14 h 07 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day10 h 11 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growShort-daysummer days stay under about 14 h 20 min, so long-day varieties won’t bulb
Precipitation65.9 inper year, rain and melted snow

Average high and low, by month

30°40°50°60°70°80°90°100°32 °FJanuary: average high 60 °F, low 40 °F 60°40° JanFebruary: average high 64 °F, low 43 °F 64°43° FebMarch: average high 69 °F, low 48 °F 69°48° MarApril: average high 75 °F, low 54 °F 75°54° AprMay: average high 82 °F, low 62 °F 82°62° MayJune: average high 87 °F, low 69 °F 87°69° JunJuly: average high 89 °F, low 71 °F 89°71° JulAugust: average high 89 °F, low 71 °F 89°71° AugSeptember: average high 85 °F, low 67 °F 85°67° SepOctober: average high 78 °F, low 56 °F 78°56° OctNovember: average high 69 °F, low 45 °F 69°45° NovDecember: average high 61 °F, low 41 °F 61°41° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″2″4″6″8″January: 4.99 in precipitation 5.0 JanFebruary: 4.20 in precipitation 4.2 FebMarch: 4.84 in precipitation 4.8 MarApril: 6.12 in precipitation 6.1 AprMay: 4.57 in precipitation 4.6 MayJune: 7.01 in precipitation 7.0 JunJuly: 6.96 in precipitation 7.0 JulAugust: 6.83 in precipitation 6.8 AugSeptember: 6.04 in precipitation 6.0 SepOctober: 3.78 in precipitation 3.8 OctNovember: 4.01 in precipitation 4.0 NovDecember: 6.51 in precipitation 6.5 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Bay St Louis Nasa, MS (6 mi away); precipitation: Stennis-Diamondhead, MS (4 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

ZIP codes in Stennis Space Center

395229a
20 to 25 °F
395299a
20 to 25 °F

Mississippi planting zones →

Questions about Stennis Space Center

What planting zone is Stennis Space Center, MS?

Stennis Space Center, MS is in USDA hardiness zone 9a on the 2023 map (9a: 20 to 25 °F).

When is the last frost in Stennis Space Center, MS?

The median last spring frost is March 6 and the median first fall frost is November 19 (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Bay St Louis Nasa station).

When can I plant a garden in Stennis Space Center, MS?

Cool-season crops like peas and spinach go in around Jan 23 – Feb 13; tomatoes, peppers, beans and squash after about Mar 13, once frost risk has passed.

What kind of onions grow in Stennis Space Center, MS?

Short-day onions: the longest day is 14 h 07 min, so summer days stay under about 14 h 20 min, so long-day varieties won’t bulb.

How much rain and snow does Stennis Space Center, MS get?

About 65.9 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals).