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

Planting zone for 39561 — Mc Henry, MS

ZIP code 39561 (Mc Henry, Stone County) is in USDA zone 9a: the coldest winter night averages 20 to 25 °F. The median last spring frost is March 7 and the first fall frost November 22.

Where ZIP 39561 is

Outlined: the ZIP code area · 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
Coldest night−6.7 to −3.9 °C
Last frostMar 7
First frostNov 22
2012 zone8b

Was 8b 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 9a means →

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Mc Henry, 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 Mc Henry, MS

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMarch 7median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMarch 27only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostNovember 22median — 10% chance by Nov 4
Growing season260 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around February 19 and returns around December 9.

From the NOAA station Saucier Exp Forest, MS — 8 miles away, elevation 230 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 39561

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Jan 24 – Feb 7
SpinachSow outdoors · Jan 24 – Feb 14
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Dec 27 – Jan 10
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Feb 14 – Feb 28
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Feb 7 – Feb 21
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Feb 14 – Feb 28
LettuceSow outdoors · Feb 7 – Feb 21
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Feb 14 – Feb 28
TomatoesStart indoors · Jan 10 – Jan 24
TomatoesTransplant · Mar 14 – Mar 28
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Dec 27 – Jan 10
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · Mar 21 – Apr 4
BeansSow outdoors · Mar 14 – Mar 28
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Mar 14 – Mar 28
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Mar 14 – Mar 28
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 (Mar 7) 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 39561 came on Jan 11 — 16 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Jan 27).

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 Mc Henry, MS.

Soil in Mc Henry, MS

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 39561 is Susquehanna — fine sandy loam, somewhat poorly drained.

TextureFine sandy loamdrains and warms fast; dries out and needs more feeding
pH5.0strongly acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageSomewhat poorly drainedconsider raised beds
Organic matter2%moderate
Hydrologic groupDwater soaks in very slowly
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Susquehanna silt loam, 5 to 15 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 39561; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Mc Henry, MS

Summer high90 °Faverage high, July
Winter low41 °Faverage low, January
Hot days79days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights20nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days6,447base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day14 h 08 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day10 h 09 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growShort-daysummer days stay under about 14 h 20 min, so long-day varieties won’t bulb
Precipitation70.8 inper year, rain and melted snow

Average high and low, by month

30°40°50°60°70°80°90°100°32 °FJanuary: average high 61 °F, low 41 °F 61°41° JanFebruary: average high 66 °F, low 44 °F 66°44° FebMarch: average high 72 °F, low 49 °F 72°49° MarApril: average high 77 °F, low 55 °F 77°55° AprMay: average high 84 °F, low 63 °F 84°63° MayJune: average high 88 °F, low 69 °F 88°69° JunJuly: average high 90 °F, low 72 °F 90°72° JulAugust: average high 90 °F, low 71 °F 90°71° AugSeptember: average high 87 °F, low 67 °F 87°67° SepOctober: average high 79 °F, low 57 °F 79°57° OctNovember: average high 70 °F, low 47 °F 70°47° NovDecember: average high 64 °F, low 42 °F 64°42° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″2″4″6″8″January: 5.61 in precipitation 5.6 JanFebruary: 4.80 in precipitation 4.8 FebMarch: 5.68 in precipitation, 0.1 in snowfall 5.7 MarApril: 6.28 in precipitation 6.3 AprMay: 6.71 in precipitation 6.7 MayJune: 6.94 in precipitation 6.9 JunJuly: 7.82 in precipitation 7.8 JulAugust: 7.11 in precipitation 7.1 AugSeptember: 5.81 in precipitation 5.8 SepOctober: 3.84 in precipitation 3.8 OctNovember: 4.56 in precipitation 4.6 NovDecember: 5.68 in precipitation 5.7 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Saucier Exp Forest, MS (8 mi away); precipitation: Saucier Exp Forest, MS (8 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

1 of the 8 nearest ZIP codes are in a different zone — elevation and distance from water change winter lows quickly.

395739a
Perkinston, MS · 4 mi
395749a
Saucier, MS · 7 mi
395778b
Wiggins, MS · 14 mi
395039a
Gulfport, MS · 16 mi
395329a
Biloxi, MS · 18 mi
395029a
Gulfport, MS · 21 mi
395059a
Gulfport, MS · 21 mi
395069a
Gulfport, MS · 21 mi

Mississippi planting zones →

Questions about 39561

What planting zone is ZIP code 39561?

ZIP code 39561 (Mc Henry, MS) is in USDA hardiness zone 9a on the 2023 map: the coldest night of an average winter reaches 20 to 25 °F (−6.7 to −3.9 °C).

When is the last frost in Mc Henry, MS?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 39561 is March 7; after March 27 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Saucier Exp Forest station.

When is the first frost in Mc Henry, MS?

The median first fall frost near 39561 is November 22, giving a median frost-free growing season of 260 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 39561?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Jan 10 – Jan 24 and set transplants outside around Mar 14 – Mar 28, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 39561 get?

About 70.8 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Saucier Exp Forest station).

How hot do summers get in Mc Henry, MS?

The average high peaks at 90 °F in July, with about 79 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 39561 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Susquehanna at the center of ZIP 39561: fine sandy loam, somewhat poorly drained, pH about 5.0 (strongly acidic).

Did spring come early in Mc Henry, MS in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 39561 came on Jan 11 in 2026, 16 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Jan 27), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Mc Henry, MS?

Short-day onions: the longest day near 39561 is 14 h 08 min, so summer days stay under about 14 h 20 min, so long-day varieties won’t bulb.

Did the zone for 39561 change?

Yes. The 2012 USDA map put 39561 in zone 8b; the 2023 map puts it in zone 9a. The newer map uses 1991–2020 data and more weather stations.