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Planting Calendar for Meridian, 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 5 (at MERIDIAN KEY FLD, MS climate station).
CropFrost Based on Frost Dates
Moon Based on Moon Dates
Start Seeds OutdoorsTransplantAverage Days to MaturityFrost Tolerance
ArugulaFrost Sep 17-Oct 22
Moon Sep 17, Oct 2-17
N/A40Frost-hardy
BeetsFrost Aug 13-Sep 10
Moon Aug 20-Sep 1
N/A50Frost-tolerant
Bok ChoyFrost Aug 27-Sep 17
Moon Sep 2-17
N/A50Frost-tolerant
BroccoliFrost Aug 6-13
Moon Aug 6-13
Frost Aug 27-Sep 10
Moon Sep 2-10
60Frost-tolerant
Brussels SproutsFrost Jul 16-30
Moon Jul 16-21
N/A100Frost-hardy
CabbageFrost Aug 6-13
Moon Aug 6-13
Frost Aug 27-Sep 3
Moon Sep 2-3
90Frost-tolerant
CarrotsFrost Aug 20-27
Moon Aug 20-27
N/A70Frost-tolerant
CauliflowerFrost Jul 30-Aug 6
Moon Aug 4-6
Frost Aug 13-20
Moon Aug 13-19
75Frost-tolerant
ChivesFrost Aug 13-Sep 10
Moon Aug 13-19, Sep 2-10
N/A70Frost-tolerant
FennelFrost Aug 6-20
Moon Aug 6-19
N/A80Tender
GarlicFrost Nov 19-Dec 3
Moon Nov 19-30
N/A120Frost-hardy
Green BeansFrost Aug 20-Sep 3
Moon Sep 2-3
N/A55Tender
KaleFrost Aug 27-Sep 10
Moon Sep 2-10
N/A60Frost-hardy
KohlrabiFrost Sep 3-24
Moon Sep 3-17
N/A45Frost-tolerant
LettuceFrost Aug 27-Sep 10
Moon Sep 2-10
N/A60Frost-tolerant
Mustard GreensFrost Sep 3-24
Moon Sep 3-17
N/A45Tender
PeasFrost Aug 27-Sep 10
Moon Sep 2-10
N/A55Tender
RadishesFrost Sep 24-Oct 8
Moon Sep 24-Oct 1
N/A25Frost-tolerant
SpinachFrost Sep 17-Oct 8
Moon Sep 17, Oct 2-8
N/A30Frost-hardy
Swiss ChardFrost Aug 27-Sep 10
Moon Sep 2-10
N/A60Frost-tolerant
TurnipsFrost Sep 3-17
N/A50Frost-tolerant

Planting Dates for Spring

On average, your last spring frost occurs on March 23 (at MERIDIAN KEY FLD, MS climate station, elevation 295 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 26-Feb 9
Moon Feb 9
Frost Mar 1-16
Frost Feb 23-Mar 1
Moon Feb 23-24
Oct 8
AsparagusN/AN/AFrost Mar 8-23
Moon Mar 8-23
Mar 23
BasilFrost Feb 9-23
Moon Feb 9-23
Frost Apr 6-20
Moon Apr 8-20
Frost Apr 6-20
Moon Apr 8-20
Sep 24
BeetsN/AFrost Mar 8-23
Moon Mar 8-23
Frost Feb 23-Mar 1
Moon Feb 25-Mar 1
Apr 6
Bell PeppersFrost Jan 12-26
Moon Jan 12-25
Frost Apr 6-13
Moon Apr 8-13
N/AAug 13
Bok ChoyFrost Feb 9-23
Moon Feb 9-23
Frost Apr 6-13
Moon Apr 8-13
Frost Apr 6-13
Moon Apr 8-13
May 4
BroccoliFrost Jan 26-Feb 9
Moon Feb 9
Frost Mar 8-23
Frost Feb 23-Mar 1
Moon Feb 23-24
Sep 3
Brussels SproutsFrost Feb 9-23
Moon Feb 9-23
Frost Mar 8-23
Frost Feb 23-Mar 1
Moon Feb 23-24
Jul 30
CabbageFrost Jan 26-Feb 9
Moon Feb 9
Frost Mar 8-23
Frost Feb 23-Mar 1
Moon Feb 23-24
Mar 30
CantaloupesFrost Mar 1-16
Frost Mar 23-Apr 6
Moon Mar 23-25
Frost Mar 30-Apr 6
Jul 30
CarrotsN/AN/AFrost Feb 23-Mar 8
Moon Feb 25-Mar 8
Aug 27
CauliflowerFrost Feb 9-23
Moon Feb 9-23
Frost Mar 16-30
Moon Mar 16-25
N/AAug 20
CeleryFrost Dec 29-Jan 12
Moon Jan 11-12
Frost Mar 30-Apr 13
Moon Apr 8-13
Frost Mar 23
Moon Mar 23
Aug 27
ChivesFrost Jan 26-Feb 9
Moon Feb 9
Frost Mar 1-8
Frost Mar 1-8
Sep 10
Cilantro (Coriander)N/AN/AFrost Mar 23-Apr 6
Moon Mar 23-25
Apr 13
CollardsFrost Feb 9-23
Moon Feb 9-23
Frost Mar 8-23
Frost Mar 1-8
Aug 27
CucumbersFrost Mar 1-8
Frost Mar 30-Apr 13
Moon Apr 8-13
Frost Apr 6-13
Moon Apr 8-13
Aug 27
DillN/AN/AFrost Mar 16-Apr 6
Moon Mar 16-25
Sep 10
Dry BeansN/AN/AFrost Apr 6-13
Moon Apr 8-13
Jul 30
EggplantsFrost Jan 26-Feb 9
Moon Feb 9
Frost Apr 6-13
Moon Apr 8-13
N/AAug 27
Fava BeansN/AN/AFrost Feb 23-Mar 1
Moon Feb 23-24
Apr 6
FennelFrost Feb 9-23
Moon Feb 9-23
Frost Mar 30-Apr 6
Frost Mar 23-Apr 6
Moon Mar 23-25
Aug 20
GarlicN/AN/AN/A
Green BeansN/AN/AFrost Mar 30-Apr 20
Moon Apr 8-20
Aug 27
Honeydew MelonsFrost Mar 1-8
Frost Apr 6-13
Moon Apr 8-13
Frost Apr 6-13
Moon Apr 8-13
Aug 6
Jalapeño PeppersFrost Jan 12-26
Moon Jan 12-25
Frost Apr 6-13
Moon Apr 8-13
N/A
KaleFrost Jan 26-Feb 9
Moon Feb 9
Frost Mar 8-23
Frost Feb 23-Mar 1
Moon Feb 23-24
Apr 6
KohlrabiFrost Feb 9-23
Moon Feb 9-23
Frost Mar 1-8
Frost Feb 23-Mar 1
Moon Feb 23-24
Apr 6
LeeksFrost Jan 12-26
Moon Jan 12-25
Frost Mar 1-16
N/AJul 23
LettuceFrost Feb 9-23
Moon Feb 9-23
Frost Mar 1-8
Frost Feb 23-Mar 1
Moon Feb 23-24
Apr 6
MicrogreensN/AN/AN/A
Mustard GreensN/AN/AN/A
OkraFrost Feb 23-Mar 8
Moon Feb 23-24
Frost Apr 6-13
Moon Apr 8-13
Frost Apr 6-20
Moon Apr 8-20
Aug 27
OnionsN/AFrost Feb 23-Mar 8
Moon Feb 25-Mar 8
N/AJul 30
OreganoFrost Jan 12-Feb 9
Moon Jan 12-25, Feb 9
Frost Mar 30-Apr 13
Moon Apr 8-13
N/AAug 27
ParsleyFrost Jan 12-26
Moon Jan 12-25
Frost Mar 30-Apr 13
Moon Apr 8-13
Frost Feb 23-Mar 30
Moon Feb 23-24
Aug 20
ParsnipsN/AN/AFrost Feb 23-Mar 1
Moon Feb 25-Mar 1
Jul 30
PeanutsN/AN/AFrost Apr 13-27
Moon Apr 24-27
PeasN/AN/AFrost Feb 23-Mar 1
Moon Feb 23-24
Apr 6
PotatoesN/AN/AFrost Feb 23-Mar 8
Moon Feb 25-Mar 8
Aug 27
PumpkinsFrost Mar 1-16
Frost Apr 6-13
Moon Apr 8-13
Frost Apr 6-13
Moon Apr 8-13
Jul 23
RadishesN/AN/AFrost Feb 23-Mar 1
Moon Feb 25-Mar 1
Sep 10
RosemaryFrost Dec 29-Jan 12
Moon Jan 11-12
Frost Apr 6-13
Moon Apr 8-13
N/ASep 10
SageFrost Jan 26-Feb 9
Moon Feb 9
Frost Mar 30-Apr 13
Moon Apr 8-13
N/AAug 20
SalsifyN/AN/AFrost Feb 23-Mar 8
Moon Feb 25-Mar 8
Jul 30
SpinachFrost Feb 9-23
Moon Feb 9-23
Frost Mar 1-8
Frost Feb 23-Mar 1
Moon Feb 23-24
Apr 6
Sweet CornN/AN/AFrost Apr 6-20
Moon Apr 8-20
Aug 20
Sweet PotatoesN/AN/AFrost Apr 6-20
Moon Apr 6-7
Jul 23
Swiss ChardFrost Feb 9-23
Moon Feb 9-23
Frost Mar 8-23
Frost Mar 1-23
Moon Mar 17-23
Apr 6
ThymeFrost Jan 12-26
Moon Jan 12-25
Frost Mar 30-Apr 6
N/AAug 13
TomatillosFrost Feb 9-23
Moon Feb 9-23
Frost Apr 6-20
Moon Apr 8-20
N/AAug 20
TomatoesFrost Jan 26-Feb 9
Moon Feb 9
Frost Apr 6-13
Moon Apr 8-13
N/AAug 6
TurnipsN/AN/AFrost Feb 23-Mar 1
Moon Feb 25-Mar 1
Oct 8
WatermelonsFrost Mar 1-16
Frost Apr 6-13
Moon Apr 8-13
Frost Mar 30-Apr 6
Aug 6
Winter SquashFrost Mar 1-8
Frost Mar 30-Apr 13
Moon Apr 8-13
Frost Apr 6-13
Moon Apr 8-13
Jul 16
Zucchini (Summer Squash)Frost Mar 1-8
Frost Mar 30-Apr 13
Moon Apr 8-13
Frost Apr 6-13
Moon Apr 8-13
Sep 3
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