Fall in zone 8bPhoto: George Chernilevsky, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Frost dates for ZIP 39208 (Pearl, MS)
Average last spring and first fall frost dates with 10%, 50% and 90% odds, from NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the nearest weather station, Jackson Intl AP, MS (4 miles away).
- Average last spring frostMar 1450% chance of a 32°F freeze after this date
- Average first fall frostNov 1450% chance of a 32°F freeze by this date
- Growing season (frost-free)245 daysmedian, 32°F threshold
- USDA hardiness zone8b15 to 20°F avg. coldest night
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This week in your yard
As of Oct 18, 2026, from your frost dates, zone and soil temperature. Lawn timing · Vegetables · Pruning · Plants
Soil temperature now
2-inch depth
67°F 55°F or warmer
24-hour average · latest 65°F, as of Oct 18, 2:00 AM CDT
Estimate Not a measurement at this ZIP: distance-weighted average of Mayday (48 mi), Newton 5 ENE (60 mi), Onward (60 mi).
4-inch depth
69°F 55°F or warmer
24-hour average · latest 68°F, as of Oct 18, 2:00 AM CDT
Estimate Not a measurement at this ZIP: distance-weighted average of Mayday (48 mi), Newton 5 ENE (60 mi), Onward (60 mi).
Fall: Texas A&M AgriLife times fall pre-emergent (for winter weeds such as annual bluegrass) to soil cooling to about 70°F for several days. The 50–55°F band is the spring trigger. Always read and follow the product label.
7-day forecast and frost risk
The latest National Weather Service 7-day forecast and any Frost Advisory or Freeze Warning for 39208 load here. You can also open the NWS forecast for this ZIP.
Pre-emergent
Soil is 69°F at 4 inches (estimated soil temperature, not a station reading). Fall pre-emergent (annual bluegrass, winter weeds): window open as soil cools through the 70s and 60s.
Fertilizer window
Lawn region: Southeast (warm, humid). Timing only; always follow the product label.
- Centipedegrass (warm-season): Spring: Not before mid-May (NC State); after full green-up (about Apr 29 here, using green-up about 3–4 weeks after your average last frost); Summer: Optional mid-summer feeding, especially on sandy coastal soils. Avoid: Early-spring feeding, frequent feeding and liming unless a soil test calls for it (centipede decline).
Plant now
Prune now
No frost-timed pruning windows are open this week.
Your average first frost is Nov 14: skip heavy pruning in the 6–8 weeks before it, because new growth may not harden off in time.
Spring-flowering shrubs are pruned right after their flowers fade, not by date. See the pruning guide.
Last spring frost odds
| Chance of a 32°F freeze after this date | Date |
|---|---|
| 90% (early: most years still freeze after this) | Feb 22 |
| 50% (the "average" last frost) | Mar 14 |
| 10% (cautious: only 1 year in 10 freezes later) | Apr 2 |
Most gardeners plant frost-tender crops (tomatoes, peppers, basil) after the 50% date, and closer to the 10% date for less risk.
First fall frost odds
| Chance the first 32°F freeze has happened by this date | Date |
|---|---|
| 10% (early: 1 year in 10 freezes this soon) | Oct 31 |
| 50% (the "average" first frost) | Nov 14 |
| 90% (late: most years have frozen by now) | Dec 4 |
Light frost, freeze and hard freeze
| Threshold | Last spring (50%) | First fall (50%) |
|---|---|---|
| 36°F (light frost possible on clear, calm nights) | Mar 29 | Nov 3 |
| 32°F (freeze) | Mar 14 | Nov 14 |
| 28°F (hard freeze) | Feb 28 | Nov 28 |
n/a means NOAA did not publish a date at that threshold for this station (usually because it rarely gets that cold).
Vegetable planting calendar for 39208
Dates count from your average last spring frost (Mar 14) and first fall frost (Nov 14). Half of years have a frost after the spring date, so give tender crops (tomatoes, peppers, squash) some slack.
| Crop | Start indoors | Spring planting | Fall planting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomato | Jan 17–31 | Mar 21–Apr 4 (transplant) | Jul 18–Aug 15 (transplant) |
| Pepper (sweet and hot) | Jan 3–17 | Mar 28–Apr 11 (transplant) | Jul 25–Aug 15 (transplant) |
| Eggplant | Jan 3–17 | Mar 28–Apr 11 (transplant) | Jul 25–Aug 15 (transplant) |
| Tomatillo | Jan 17–31 | Mar 21–Apr 4 (transplant) | – |
| Lettuce | Jan 17–31 | Feb 21–Mar 14 (transplant) Feb 14–Mar 28 (sow outdoors) | Sep 19–Oct 10 (transplant) Sep 5–Oct 3 (sowing) |
| Spinach | – | Jan 31–Feb 21 (sow outdoors) | Sep 19–Oct 10 (sowing) |
| Kale | Jan 17–31 | Feb 14–28 (transplant) Feb 14–28 (sow outdoors) | Aug 22–Sep 19 (transplant) Aug 8–Sep 5 (sowing) |
| Collards | Jan 17–31 | Feb 14–Mar 14 (transplant) Feb 14–Mar 14 (sow outdoors) | Aug 22–Sep 19 (transplant) Aug 8–Sep 5 (sowing) |
| Broccoli | Jan 3–17 | Feb 14–28 (transplant) | Aug 8–Sep 5 (transplant) |
| Cabbage | Jan 3–17 | Feb 14–28 (transplant) | Aug 8–Sep 5 (transplant) |
| Cauliflower | Jan 3–17 | Feb 28–Mar 14 (transplant) | Aug 8–Sep 5 (transplant) |
| Brussels sprouts | Dec 20–Jan 3 | Feb 14–28 (transplant) | Jul 25–Aug 15 (transplant) |
| Kohlrabi | Jan 17–31 | Feb 14–28 (transplant) Feb 14–28 (sow outdoors) | Sep 5–19 (sowing) |
| Bok choy / Asian greens | – | Feb 14–28 (sow outdoors) | Sep 19–Oct 3 (sowing) |
| Arugula | – | Feb 14–Mar 14 (sow outdoors) | Sep 19–Oct 17 (sowing) |
| Mustard greens | – | Feb 14–Mar 7 (sow outdoors) | Sep 19–Oct 3 (sowing) |
| Swiss chard | Jan 31–Feb 14 | Feb 28–Mar 21 (transplant) Feb 28–Mar 28 (sow outdoors) | Sep 5–19 (sowing) |
| Beet | – | Feb 14–Mar 14 (sow outdoors) | Sep 5–19 (sowing) |
| Carrot | – | Feb 21–Mar 21 (sow outdoors) | Aug 22–Sep 5 (sowing) |
| Radish | – | Feb 7–Mar 21 (sow outdoors) | Oct 3–17 (sowing) |
| Turnip | – | Feb 14–Mar 7 (sow outdoors) | Sep 5–19 (sowing) |
| Parsnip | – | Feb 21–Mar 14 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pea (garden, snap, snow) | – | Jan 17–Feb 14 (sow outdoors) | Aug 22–Sep 5 (sowing) |
| Onion (bulbing) | Dec 20–Jan 3 | Jan 31–Feb 14 (transplant) | – |
| Green onion / scallion | – | Jan 31–Feb 28 (sow outdoors) | Sep 5–19 (sowing) |
| Leek | Dec 20–Jan 3 | Feb 14–28 (transplant) | – |
| Garlic | – | – | Oct 3–31 (sowing) |
| Shallot | – | Jan 31–Feb 14 (transplant) | Oct 3–31 (sowing) |
| Potato | – | Feb 14–28 (transplant) | Jul 25–Aug 8 (transplant) |
| Sweet potato | – | Apr 4–18 (transplant) | – |
| Sweet corn | – | Mar 21–Apr 4 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, bush (snap) | – | Mar 21–Apr 4 (sow outdoors) | Aug 22–Sep 5 (sowing) |
| Bean, pole | – | Mar 21–Apr 4 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Lima bean | – | Mar 28–Apr 11 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Southern pea (cowpea, black-eyed pea) | – | Apr 4–25 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cucumber | Feb 14–21 | Mar 21–Apr 4 (transplant) Mar 21–Apr 4 (sow outdoors) | Aug 22–Sep 5 (sowing) |
| Summer squash / zucchini | Feb 14–21 | Mar 21–Apr 4 (transplant) Mar 21–Apr 4 (sow outdoors) | Aug 22–Sep 5 (sowing) |
| Winter squash | Feb 14–21 | Mar 21–Apr 4 (transplant) Mar 21–Apr 4 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pumpkin | – | Mar 21–Apr 4 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Watermelon | Feb 14–21 | Mar 28–Apr 11 (transplant) Mar 28–Apr 11 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cantaloupe / muskmelon | Feb 14–21 | Mar 28–Apr 11 (transplant) Mar 28–Apr 11 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Okra | Jan 31–Feb 14 | Mar 28–Apr 11 (transplant) Mar 28–Apr 11 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Celery | Dec 20–Jan 3 | Mar 21–28 (transplant) | – |
| Basil | Jan 31–Feb 14 | Mar 21–Apr 4 (transplant) Mar 21–Apr 4 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cilantro | – | Feb 28–Mar 28 (sow outdoors) | Sep 19–Oct 3 (sowing) |
| Parsley | Jan 3–17 | Feb 28–Mar 14 (transplant) Feb 21–Mar 14 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Dill | – | Mar 14–28 (sow outdoors) | Sep 19–Oct 3 (sowing) |
| Sunflower | – | Mar 14–28 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Asparagus (crowns) | – | Feb 14–28 (transplant) | – |
| Rhubarb (crowns) | – | Feb 14–28 (transplant) | – |
| Strawberry (plants) | – | Feb 14–28 (transplant) | Sep 5–Oct 3 (transplant) |
Typical ranges from university extension planting calendars, adjusted to your frost dates. Probabilities, not guarantees. Fall windows that would overlap spring planting are left out, as are fall crops of frost-tender plants where the frost-free season is under 210 days.
Plants that do well here
Mississippi has a university or garden plant program: Mississippi Medallion. Plant frost-tender annuals after March 14 here (the average last frost). Not affiliated with the program.
Where these numbers come from
Station: Jackson Intl AP, MS (NOAA GHCN-Daily ID USW00003940), elevation 296 ft, 4.2 miles from the ZIP's center point. NOAA completeness flag: S (standard, 24+ years).
Nearby stations
| Station | Distance | Last frost (50%) | First frost (50%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jackson Hawkins Fld, MS | 9 mi | Mar 6 | Nov 19 |
| D'lo 2 SW, MS | 23 mi | Mar 10 | Nov 16 |
| Oakley EXP STN, MS | 25 mi | Mar 16 | Nov 6 |
The average last-frost dates of these stations span 10 days, a rough guide to local variation. See data sources & methods.
Frost questions for 39208
When is the last frost in 39208?
The average (50% chance) last spring freeze of 32°F for ZIP 39208 is March 14. For a more cautious planting date, use April 2, when only 1 year in 10 still sees a later freeze.
When is the first frost in 39208?
The average first fall freeze is November 14. In 1 year in 10 it comes by October 31.
What hardiness zone is 39208?
ZIP 39208 is in USDA zone 8b (15 to 20°F average coldest winter night), per the 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map ZIP listing.
What is the soil temperature in 39208 right now?
This page shows the latest 2-inch and 4-inch soil temperature from the nearest public soil station (USDA SCAN, NOAA USCRN or TexMesonet), or a labeled estimate when no station is close, against the 50–55°F spring pre-emergent band.
Nearby ZIP codes
39193 39218 Richland 39232 Flowood 39202 Jackson 39201 Jackson 39269 Jackson 39216 Jackson 39210 Jackson
Other ZIP codes in Rankin County
39042 39047 39073 39145 39148 39167 39193 39218 39232 All Rankin County frost dates · Mississippi frost dates
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Weekly yard timing, plus frost and soil-temperature alerts for your ZIP code.
- Freeze alerts
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- Weekly yard to-dos
Free. One weekly email plus alerts when your ZIP has a frost or a soil-temperature change worth acting on. After you submit, Kit (our email provider) sends a confirmation email: check your email and click the link to confirm. You aren't subscribed until you do. We collect only your email address and ZIP, sent to Kit to deliver The Dial. Unsubscribe anytime.