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Planting Calendar for Columbus, MS

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The planting calendar below tells you when to plant in the SPRING and also plant in the FALL, based on your zip code or postal code.

Spring Planting Calendar

Our spring planting calendar starts with the very first dates that you can plant (based on the last spring frost). But if you've missed these dates, no worries! This is why we've added "last planting dates" to our spring calendar; this is meant to help new gardeners understand that if they missed the first spring planting window, they could still get crops in the ground.

In fact, many crops with short maturity times (such as radishes) can be succession planted all the way through the summer in northern areas. However, note that some cool-season crops, such as kale and lettuce, do not grow well in hot temperatures, which can cause bolting issues.  For some gardeners, especially in the South, a break to avoid summer heat is needed, but they can start once the heat has passed. 

The dates provided are based on the number of weeks before or after frost, so we can provide a unique calendar to every user in the country. Thus, several crops (especially similar crops) may appear to have the same date. Kale and lettuce, for example, or dates for starting seeds, like broccoli and cabbage. 

Fall Planting Calendar

When we say "fall," we really mean planting in summer in time for a fall harvest. Think of this as a second summer! It's easy to keep the crops going if you've already prepared the soil! 

Many crops that would be started indoors for a spring crop can just be plunked into the soil directly for a fall crop. Not only is the soil already warm but also there are less pests and it tends to be rainier so you don't need to water as often. Some fall vegetables need to be harvested by the first frost, but many are frost-tolerant and even taste better after a kiss of fall frost!

See each plant's individual Growing Guide for more specific planting, plant care, and harvesting information.

Specifically, on the charts, there are different columns labeled as follows:

  1. Start Seeds Indoors: When to sow seeds indoors to get an early start on the season.
  2. Plant Seedlings Outdoors: When to put small seedlings that you grew indoors (OR starter plants that you bought at a garden nursery) in the outdoor soil.
  3. Start Seeds Outdoors: When to plant seeds directly into the outdoor soil.
  4. Last Date to Plant: You may plant any time from the "start seeds" dates until this "last date." Don't wait any longer, or the crop won't have time to get to harvest before fall/winter frosts.

The "Moon Dates" indicate the best planting dates based on Moon phases. You can learn more about this age-old technique below.

When N/A appears in the chart, that starting method is typically not recommended, although it is likely still possible. 

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Planting Dates for Fall

On average, your first fall frost occurs on November 6 (at COLUMBUS, MS climate station).
CropFrost Based on Frost Dates
Moon Based on Moon Dates
Start Seeds OutdoorsTransplantAverage Days to MaturityFrost Tolerance
ArugulaFrost Sep 18-Oct 23
Moon Oct 2-17
N/A40Frost-hardy
BeetsFrost Aug 14-Sep 11
Moon Aug 20-Sep 1
N/A50Frost-tolerant
Bok ChoyFrost Aug 28-Sep 18
Moon Sep 2-17
N/A50Frost-tolerant
BroccoliFrost Aug 7-14
Moon Aug 7-14
Frost Aug 28-Sep 11
Moon Sep 2-11
60Frost-tolerant
Brussels SproutsFrost Jul 17-31
Moon Jul 17-21
N/A100Frost-hardy
CabbageFrost Aug 7-14
Moon Aug 7-14
Frost Aug 28-Sep 4
Moon Sep 2-4
90Frost-tolerant
CarrotsFrost Aug 21-28
Moon Aug 21-28
N/A70Frost-tolerant
CauliflowerFrost Jul 31-Aug 7
Moon Aug 4-7
Frost Aug 14-21
Moon Aug 14-19
75Frost-tolerant
ChivesFrost Aug 14-Sep 11
Moon Aug 14-19, Sep 2-11
N/A70Frost-tolerant
FennelFrost Aug 7-21
Moon Aug 7-19
N/A80Tender
GarlicFrost Nov 20-Dec 4
Moon Nov 20-30
N/A120Frost-hardy
Green BeansFrost Aug 21-Sep 4
Moon Sep 2-4
N/A55Tender
KaleFrost Aug 28-Sep 11
Moon Sep 2-11
N/A60Frost-hardy
KohlrabiFrost Sep 4-25
Moon Sep 4-17
N/A45Frost-tolerant
LettuceFrost Aug 28-Sep 11
Moon Sep 2-11
N/A60Frost-tolerant
Mustard GreensFrost Sep 4-25
Moon Sep 4-17
N/A45Tender
PeasFrost Aug 28-Sep 11
Moon Sep 2-11
N/A55Tender
RadishesFrost Sep 25-Oct 9
Moon Sep 25-Oct 1
N/A25Frost-tolerant
SpinachFrost Sep 18-Oct 9
Moon Oct 2-9
N/A30Frost-hardy
Swiss ChardFrost Aug 28-Sep 11
Moon Sep 2-11
N/A60Frost-tolerant
TurnipsFrost Sep 4-18
Moon Sep 18
N/A50Frost-tolerant

Planting Dates for Spring

On average, your last spring frost occurs on March 22 (at COLUMBUS, MS climate station, elevation 144 feet).
CropFrost Based on Frost Dates
Moon Based on Moon Dates
Start Seeds IndoorsPlant Seedlings
or Transplants
Start Seeds OutdoorsLast Date to Plant
ArugulaFrost Jan 25-Feb 8
Moon Jan 25
Frost Feb 29-Mar 15
Frost Feb 22-29
Moon Feb 22-24
Oct 9
AsparagusN/AN/AFrost Mar 7-22
Moon Mar 7-22
Mar 22
BasilFrost Feb 8-22
Moon Feb 9-22
Frost Apr 5-19
Moon Apr 8-19
Frost Apr 5-19
Moon Apr 8-19
Sep 25
BeetsN/AFrost Mar 7-22
Moon Mar 7-22
Frost Feb 22-29
Moon Feb 25-29
Apr 5
Bell PeppersFrost Jan 11-25
Moon Jan 11-25
Frost Apr 5-12
Moon Apr 8-12
N/AAug 14
Bok ChoyFrost Feb 8-22
Moon Feb 9-22
Frost Apr 5-12
Moon Apr 8-12
Frost Apr 5-12
Moon Apr 8-12
May 3
BroccoliFrost Jan 25-Feb 8
Moon Jan 25
Frost Mar 7-22
Frost Feb 22-29
Moon Feb 22-24
Sep 4
Brussels SproutsFrost Feb 8-22
Moon Feb 9-22
Frost Mar 7-22
Frost Feb 22-29
Moon Feb 22-24
Jul 31
CabbageFrost Jan 25-Feb 8
Moon Jan 25
Frost Mar 7-22
Frost Feb 22-29
Moon Feb 22-24
Mar 29
CantaloupesFrost Feb 29-Mar 15
Frost Mar 22-Apr 5
Moon Mar 22-25
Frost Mar 29-Apr 5
Jul 31
CarrotsN/AN/AFrost Feb 22-Mar 7
Moon Feb 25-Mar 7
Aug 28
CauliflowerFrost Feb 8-22
Moon Feb 9-22
Frost Mar 15-29
Moon Mar 15-25
N/AAug 21
CeleryFrost Dec 28-Jan 11
Moon Jan 11
Frost Mar 29-Apr 12
Moon Apr 8-12
Frost Mar 22
Moon Mar 22
Aug 28
ChivesFrost Jan 25-Feb 8
Moon Jan 25
Frost Feb 29-Mar 7
Frost Feb 29-Mar 7
Sep 11
Cilantro (Coriander)N/AN/AFrost Mar 22-Apr 5
Moon Mar 22-25
Apr 12
CollardsFrost Feb 8-22
Moon Feb 9-22
Frost Mar 7-22
Frost Feb 29-Mar 7
Aug 28
CucumbersFrost Feb 29-Mar 7
Frost Mar 29-Apr 12
Moon Apr 8-12
Frost Apr 5-12
Moon Apr 8-12
Aug 28
DillN/AN/AFrost Mar 15-Apr 5
Moon Mar 15-25
Sep 11
Dry BeansN/AN/AFrost Apr 5-12
Moon Apr 8-12
Jul 31
EggplantsFrost Jan 25-Feb 8
Moon Jan 25
Frost Apr 5-12
Moon Apr 8-12
N/AAug 28
Fava BeansN/AN/AFrost Feb 22-29
Moon Feb 22-24
Apr 5
FennelFrost Feb 8-22
Moon Feb 9-22
Frost Mar 29-Apr 5
Frost Mar 22-Apr 5
Moon Mar 22-25
Aug 21
GarlicN/AN/AN/A
Green BeansN/AN/AFrost Mar 29-Apr 19
Moon Apr 8-19
Aug 28
Honeydew MelonsFrost Feb 29-Mar 7
Frost Apr 5-12
Moon Apr 8-12
Frost Apr 5-12
Moon Apr 8-12
Aug 7
Jalapeño PeppersFrost Jan 11-25
Moon Jan 11-25
Frost Apr 5-12
Moon Apr 8-12
N/A
KaleFrost Jan 25-Feb 8
Moon Jan 25
Frost Mar 7-22
Frost Feb 22-29
Moon Feb 22-24
Apr 5
KohlrabiFrost Feb 8-22
Moon Feb 9-22
Frost Feb 29-Mar 7
Frost Feb 22-29
Moon Feb 22-24
Apr 5
LeeksFrost Jan 11-25
Moon Jan 11-25
Frost Feb 29-Mar 15
N/AJul 24
LettuceFrost Feb 8-22
Moon Feb 9-22
Frost Feb 29-Mar 7
Frost Feb 22-29
Moon Feb 22-24
Apr 5
MicrogreensN/AN/AN/A
Mustard GreensN/AN/AN/A
OkraFrost Feb 22-Mar 7
Moon Feb 22-24
Frost Apr 5-12
Moon Apr 8-12
Frost Apr 5-19
Moon Apr 8-19
Aug 28
OnionsN/AFrost Feb 22-Mar 7
Moon Feb 25-Mar 7
N/AJul 31
OreganoFrost Jan 11-Feb 8
Moon Jan 11-25
Frost Mar 29-Apr 12
Moon Apr 8-12
N/AAug 28
ParsleyFrost Jan 11-25
Moon Jan 11-25
Frost Mar 29-Apr 12
Moon Apr 8-12
Frost Feb 22-Mar 29
Moon Feb 22-24
Aug 21
ParsnipsN/AN/AFrost Feb 22-29
Moon Feb 25-29
Jul 31
PeanutsN/AN/AFrost Apr 12-26
Moon Apr 24-26
PeasN/AN/AFrost Feb 22-29
Moon Feb 22-24
Apr 5
PotatoesN/AN/AFrost Feb 22-Mar 7
Moon Feb 25-Mar 7
Aug 28
PumpkinsFrost Feb 29-Mar 15
Frost Apr 5-12
Moon Apr 8-12
Frost Apr 5-12
Moon Apr 8-12
Jul 24
RadishesN/AN/AFrost Feb 22-29
Moon Feb 25-29
Sep 11
RosemaryFrost Dec 28-Jan 11
Moon Jan 11
Frost Apr 5-12
Moon Apr 8-12
N/ASep 11
SageFrost Jan 25-Feb 8
Moon Jan 25
Frost Mar 29-Apr 12
Moon Apr 8-12
N/AAug 21
SalsifyN/AN/AFrost Feb 22-Mar 7
Moon Feb 25-Mar 7
Jul 31
SpinachFrost Feb 8-22
Moon Feb 9-22
Frost Feb 29-Mar 7
Frost Feb 22-29
Moon Feb 22-24
Apr 5
Sweet CornN/AN/AFrost Apr 5-19
Moon Apr 8-19
Aug 21
Sweet PotatoesN/AN/AFrost Apr 5-19
Moon Apr 5-7
Jul 24
Swiss ChardFrost Feb 8-22
Moon Feb 9-22
Frost Mar 7-22
Frost Feb 29-Mar 22
Moon Mar 16-22
Apr 5
ThymeFrost Jan 11-25
Moon Jan 11-25
Frost Mar 29-Apr 5
N/AAug 14
TomatillosFrost Feb 8-22
Moon Feb 9-22
Frost Apr 5-19
Moon Apr 8-19
N/AAug 21
TomatoesFrost Jan 25-Feb 8
Moon Jan 25
Frost Apr 5-12
Moon Apr 8-12
N/AAug 7
TurnipsN/AN/AFrost Feb 22-29
Moon Feb 25-29
Oct 9
WatermelonsFrost Feb 29-Mar 15
Frost Apr 5-12
Moon Apr 8-12
Frost Mar 29-Apr 5
Aug 7
Winter SquashFrost Feb 29-Mar 7
Frost Mar 29-Apr 12
Moon Apr 8-12
Frost Apr 5-12
Moon Apr 8-12
Jul 17
Zucchini (Summer Squash)Frost Feb 29-Mar 7
Frost Mar 29-Apr 12
Moon Apr 8-12
Frost Apr 5-12
Moon Apr 8-12
Sep 4
The Old Farmer's Store