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

Planting zone for 39181 — Vicksburg, MS

ZIP code 39181 (Vicksburg, Warren County) is in USDA zone 8b: the coldest winter night averages 15 to 20 °F. The median last spring frost is February 26 and the first fall frost November 22.

Where ZIP 39181 is

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
Coldest night−9.4 to −6.7 °C
Last frostFeb 26
First frostNov 22
2012 zone8a

Was 8a on the 2012 map — half a zone warmer now. The zone is the one at the center of the ZIP code; hilly ZIPs can span two zones. What zone 8b means →

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Vicksburg, 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 Vicksburg, MS

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostFebruary 26median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMarch 16only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostNovember 22median — 10% chance by Nov 3
Growing season269 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around February 8 and returns around December 4.

From the NOAA station Vicksburg City, MS — 2 miles away, elevation 79 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 39181

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Jan 15 – Jan 29
SpinachSow outdoors · Jan 15 – Feb 5
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Dec 18 – Jan 1
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Feb 5 – Feb 19
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Jan 29 – Feb 12
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Feb 5 – Feb 19
LettuceSow outdoors · Jan 29 – Feb 12
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Feb 5 – Feb 19
TomatoesStart indoors · Jan 1 – Jan 15
TomatoesTransplant · Mar 5 – Mar 19
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Dec 18 – Jan 1
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · Mar 12 – Mar 26
BeansSow outdoors · Mar 5 – Mar 19
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Mar 5 – Mar 19
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Mar 5 – Mar 19
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Sep 27 – Oct 11
GarlicPlant cloves · Nov 8 – Dec 13
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Feb 26) and first fall frost (Nov 22) 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 39181 came on Jan 31 — about the same time as the 1991–2020 average (Feb 1).

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 Vicksburg, MS.

Soil in Vicksburg, MS

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 39181 is Unnamed hydric soils (134de) — silt loam, poorly drained.

TextureSilt loama good balance for most vegetables
pH4.8strongly acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainagePoorly drainedconsider raised beds
Organic matter2.25%moderate
Hydrologic groupDwater soaks in very slowly
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Silty land, rolling.

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 39181; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Vicksburg, MS

Summer high92 °Faverage high, July
Winter low38 °Faverage low, January
Hot days74days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights33nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days6,471base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day14 h 16 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
Precipitation59.5 inper year, rain and melted snow

Average high and low, by month

30°40°50°60°70°80°90°100°32 °FJanuary: average high 57 °F, low 38 °F 57°38° JanFebruary: average high 61 °F, low 42 °F 61°42° FebMarch: average high 69 °F, low 49 °F 69°49° MarApril: average high 76 °F, low 57 °F 76°57° AprMay: average high 83 °F, low 65 °F 83°65° MayJune: average high 89 °F, low 72 °F 89°72° JunJuly: average high 92 °F, low 74 °F 92°74° JulAugust: average high 92 °F, low 73 °F 92°73° AugSeptember: average high 88 °F, low 67 °F 88°67° SepOctober: average high 78 °F, low 56 °F 78°56° OctNovember: average high 68 °F, low 45 °F 68°45° NovDecember: average high 59 °F, low 40 °F 59°40° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″2″4″6″January: 5.77 in precipitation 5.8 JanFebruary: 5.56 in precipitation 5.6 FebMarch: 5.29 in precipitation 5.3 MarApril: 6.23 in precipitation 6.2 AprMay: 4.88 in precipitation 4.9 MayJune: 4.68 in precipitation 4.7 JunJuly: 5.05 in precipitation 5.0 JulAugust: 4.12 in precipitation 4.1 AugSeptember: 3.49 in precipitation 3.5 SepOctober: 4.34 in precipitation 4.3 OctNovember: 4.54 in precipitation 4.5 NovDecember: 5.51 in precipitation 5.5 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Vicksburg City, MS (2 mi away); precipitation: Vicksburg 2.2 Ne, MS (within 1 mile). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

All 8 nearest ZIP codes share zone 8b.

391828b
Vicksburg, MS · <1 mi
712338b
Delta, LA · 4 mi
391808b
Vicksburg, MS · 8 mi
391838b
Vicksburg, MS · 8 mi
391568b
Redwood, MS · 15 mi
390668b
Edwards, MS · 15 mi
391778b
Valley Park, MS · 18 mi
712848b
Tallulah, LA · 19 mi

All 4 ZIP codes in Vicksburg → · Mississippi planting zones →

Questions about 39181

What planting zone is ZIP code 39181?

ZIP code 39181 (Vicksburg, MS) is in USDA hardiness zone 8b on the 2023 map: the coldest night of an average winter reaches 15 to 20 °F (−9.4 to −6.7 °C).

When is the last frost in Vicksburg, MS?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 39181 is February 26; after March 16 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Vicksburg City station.

When is the first frost in Vicksburg, MS?

The median first fall frost near 39181 is November 22, giving a median frost-free growing season of 269 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 39181?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Jan 1 – Jan 15 and set transplants outside around Mar 5 – Mar 19, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 39181 get?

About 59.5 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Vicksburg 2.2 Ne station).

How hot do summers get in Vicksburg, MS?

The average high peaks at 92 °F in July, with about 74 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 39181 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Unnamed hydric soils (134de) at the center of ZIP 39181: silt loam, poorly drained, pH about 4.8 (strongly acidic).

Did spring come early in Vicksburg, MS in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 39181 came on Jan 31 in 2026, about the same as the 1991–2020 average (Feb 1), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Vicksburg, MS?

Short-day onions: the longest day near 39181 is 14 h 16 min, so summer days stay under about 14 h 20 min, so long-day varieties won’t bulb.

Did the zone for 39181 change?

Yes. The 2012 USDA map put 39181 in zone 8a; the 2023 map puts it in zone 8b. The newer map uses 1991–2020 data and more weather stations.