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

Planting zone for 39568 — Pascagoula, MS

ZIP code 39568 (Pascagoula, Jackson County) is in USDA zone 9a: the coldest winter night averages 20 to 25 °F. The median last spring frost is March 1 and the first fall frost November 24.

Where ZIP 39568 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.

Zone9a20 to 25 °F
Coldest night−6.7 to −3.9 °C
Last frostMar 1
First frostNov 24
2012 zone9a

Same zone as on the 2012 map. 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 Pascagoula, 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 Pascagoula, MS

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMarch 1median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMarch 24only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostNovember 24median — 10% chance by Nov 5
Growing season269 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around February 12 and returns around December 8.

From the NOAA station Pascagoula Lott Intl Airport, MS — 6 miles away, elevation 20 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 39568

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Jan 18 – Feb 1
SpinachSow outdoors · Jan 18 – Feb 8
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Dec 21 – Jan 4
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Feb 8 – Feb 22
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Feb 1 – Feb 15
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Feb 8 – Feb 22
LettuceSow outdoors · Feb 1 – Feb 15
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Feb 8 – Feb 22
TomatoesStart indoors · Jan 4 – Jan 18
TomatoesTransplant · Mar 8 – Mar 22
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Dec 21 – Jan 4
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · Mar 15 – Mar 29
BeansSow outdoors · Mar 8 – Mar 22
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Mar 8 – Mar 22
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Mar 8 – Mar 22
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Sep 29 – Oct 13
GarlicPlant cloves · Nov 10 – Dec 15
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Mar 1) and first fall frost (Nov 24) 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 39568 came on Jan 16 — 11 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 Pascagoula, MS.

Soil in Pascagoula, MS

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 39568 is Bayou — sandy loam, poorly drained.

TextureSandy loamdrains and warms fast; dries out and needs more feeding
pH5.0strongly acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainagePoorly drainedconsider raised beds
Organic matter1.5%low — add compost
Hydrologic groupB/Dmoderate when drained; wet otherwise
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Bayou sandy loam, 0 to 1 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 39568; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Pascagoula, MS

Summer high91 °Faverage high, July
Winter low41 °Faverage low, January
Hot days80days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights27nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days6,758base 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
Precipitation70.9 inper year, rain and melted snow

Average high and low, by month

30°40°50°60°70°80°90°100°32 °FJanuary: average high 63 °F, low 41 °F 63°41° JanFebruary: average high 66 °F, low 45 °F 66°45° FebMarch: average high 72 °F, low 50 °F 72°50° MarApril: average high 78 °F, low 56 °F 78°56° AprMay: average high 84 °F, low 63 °F 84°63° MayJune: average high 90 °F, low 71 °F 90°71° JunJuly: average high 91 °F, low 73 °F 91°73° JulAugust: average high 91 °F, low 73 °F 91°73° AugSeptember: average high 88 °F, low 69 °F 88°69° SepOctober: average high 81 °F, low 58 °F 81°58° OctNovember: average high 71 °F, low 47 °F 71°47° NovDecember: average high 65 °F, low 43 °F 65°43° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″2″4″6″8″January: 6.00 in precipitation 6.0 JanFebruary: 4.06 in precipitation 4.1 FebMarch: 6.08 in precipitation 6.1 MarApril: 5.50 in precipitation 5.5 AprMay: 6.13 in precipitation 6.1 MayJune: 7.30 in precipitation 7.3 JunJuly: 7.91 in precipitation 7.9 JulAugust: 7.75 in precipitation 7.8 AugSeptember: 6.77 in precipitation 6.8 SepOctober: 3.95 in precipitation 4.0 OctNovember: 4.38 in precipitation 4.4 NovDecember: 5.08 in precipitation, 0.1 in snowfall 5.1 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Pascagoula Lott Intl Airport, MS (6 mi away); precipitation: Vancleave, MS (3 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

All 8 nearest ZIP codes share zone 9a.

395529a
Escatawpa, MS · <1 mi
395539a
Gautier, MS · 2 mi
395639a
Moss Point, MS · 6 mi
395699a
Pascagoula, MS · 7 mi
395679a
Pascagoula, MS · 7 mi
395959a
Pascagoula, MS · 8 mi
395649a
Ocean Springs, MS · 9 mi
395819a
Pascagoula, MS · 10 mi

All 5 ZIP codes in Pascagoula → · Mississippi planting zones →

Questions about 39568

What planting zone is ZIP code 39568?

ZIP code 39568 (Pascagoula, 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 Pascagoula, MS?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 39568 is March 1; after March 24 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Pascagoula Lott Intl Airport station.

When is the first frost in Pascagoula, MS?

The median first fall frost near 39568 is November 24, giving a median frost-free growing season of 269 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 39568?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Jan 4 – Jan 18 and set transplants outside around Mar 8 – Mar 22, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 39568 get?

About 70.9 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Vancleave station).

How hot do summers get in Pascagoula, MS?

The average high peaks at 91 °F in July, with about 80 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 39568 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Bayou at the center of ZIP 39568: sandy loam, poorly drained, pH about 5.0 (strongly acidic).

Did spring come early in Pascagoula, MS in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 39568 came on Jan 16 in 2026, 11 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Jan 27), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Pascagoula, MS?

Short-day onions: the longest day near 39568 is 14 h 07 min, so summer days stay under about 14 h 20 min, so long-day varieties won’t bulb.