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Planting Calendar for Columbia, 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 12 (at COLUMBIA, MS climate station).
CropFrost Based on Frost Dates
Moon Based on Moon Dates
Start Seeds OutdoorsTransplantAverage Days to MaturityFrost Tolerance
ArugulaFrost Sep 24-Oct 29
Moon Sep 24-Oct 6, Oct 21-29
N/A40Frost-hardy
BeetsFrost Aug 20-Sep 17
Moon Aug 20-22, Sep 8-17
N/A50Frost-tolerant
Bok ChoyFrost Sep 3-24
Moon Sep 3-7, Sep 21-24
N/A50Frost-tolerant
BroccoliFrost Aug 13-20
Frost Sep 3-17
Moon Sep 3-7
60Frost-tolerant
Brussels SproutsFrost Jul 23-Aug 6
Moon Jul 24-Aug 6
N/A100Frost-hardy
CabbageFrost Aug 13-20
Frost Sep 3-10
Moon Sep 3-7
90Frost-tolerant
CarrotsFrost Aug 27-Sep 3
N/A70Frost-tolerant
CauliflowerFrost Aug 6-13
Moon Aug 6-9
Frost Aug 20-27
Moon Aug 23-27
75Frost-tolerant
ChivesFrost Aug 20-Sep 17
Moon Aug 23-Sep 7
N/A70Frost-tolerant
FennelFrost Aug 13-27
Moon Aug 23-27
N/A80Tender
GarlicFrost Nov 26-Dec 10
Moon Dec 5-10
N/A120Frost-hardy
Green BeansFrost Aug 27-Sep 10
Moon Aug 27-Sep 7
N/A55Tender
KaleFrost Sep 3-17
Moon Sep 3-7
N/A60Frost-hardy
KohlrabiFrost Sep 10-Oct 1
Moon Sep 21-Oct 1
N/A45Frost-tolerant
LettuceFrost Sep 3-17
Moon Sep 3-7
N/A60Frost-tolerant
Mustard GreensFrost Sep 10-Oct 1
Moon Sep 21-Oct 1
N/A45Tender
PeasFrost Sep 3-17
Moon Sep 3-7
N/A55Tender
RadishesFrost Oct 1-15
Moon Oct 7-15
N/A25Frost-tolerant
SpinachFrost Sep 24-Oct 15
Moon Sep 24-Oct 6
N/A30Frost-hardy
Swiss ChardFrost Sep 3-17
Moon Sep 3-7
N/A60Frost-tolerant
TurnipsFrost Sep 10-24
Moon Sep 10-20
N/A50Frost-tolerant

Planting Dates for Spring

On average, your last spring frost occurs on March 13 (at COLUMBIA, MS climate station, elevation 150 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 15-29
Moon Jan 29
Frost Feb 19-Mar 5
Moon Feb 27-Mar 5
Frost Feb 12-19
Moon Feb 12
Oct 15
AsparagusN/AN/AFrost Feb 26-Mar 13
Moon Feb 26
Mar 13
BasilFrost Jan 29-Feb 12
Moon Jan 29-Feb 12
Frost Mar 27-Apr 10
Moon Mar 29-Apr 10
Frost Mar 27-Apr 10
Moon Mar 29-Apr 10
Oct 1
BeetsN/AFrost Feb 26-Mar 13
Moon Feb 26
Frost Feb 12-19
Moon Feb 13-19
Mar 27
Bell PeppersFrost Jan 1-15
Moon Jan 1-13
Frost Mar 27-Apr 3
Moon Mar 29-Apr 3
N/AAug 20
Bok ChoyFrost Jan 29-Feb 12
Moon Jan 29-Feb 12
Frost Mar 27-Apr 3
Moon Mar 29-Apr 3
Frost Mar 27-Apr 3
Moon Mar 29-Apr 3
Apr 24
BroccoliFrost Jan 15-29
Moon Jan 29
Frost Feb 26-Mar 13
Moon Feb 27-Mar 13
Frost Feb 12-19
Moon Feb 12
Sep 10
Brussels SproutsFrost Jan 29-Feb 12
Moon Jan 29-Feb 12
Frost Feb 26-Mar 13
Moon Feb 27-Mar 13
Frost Feb 12-19
Moon Feb 12
Aug 6
CabbageFrost Jan 15-29
Moon Jan 29
Frost Feb 26-Mar 13
Moon Feb 27-Mar 13
Frost Feb 12-19
Moon Feb 12
Mar 20
CantaloupesFrost Feb 19-Mar 5
Moon Feb 27-Mar 5
Frost Mar 13-27
Moon Mar 13-14
Frost Mar 20-27
Aug 6
CarrotsN/AN/AFrost Feb 12-26
Moon Feb 13-26
Sep 3
CauliflowerFrost Jan 29-Feb 12
Moon Jan 29-Feb 12
Frost Mar 5-20
Moon Mar 5-14
N/AAug 27
CeleryFrost Dec 18-Jan 1
Moon Dec 30-Jan 1
Frost Mar 20-Apr 3
Moon Mar 29-Apr 3
Frost Mar 13
Moon Mar 13
Sep 3
ChivesFrost Jan 15-29
Moon Jan 29
Frost Feb 19-26
Frost Feb 19-26
Sep 17
Cilantro (Coriander)N/AN/AFrost Mar 13-27
Moon Mar 13-14
Apr 3
CollardsFrost Jan 29-Feb 12
Moon Jan 29-Feb 12
Frost Feb 26-Mar 13
Moon Feb 27-Mar 13
Frost Feb 19-26
Sep 3
CucumbersFrost Feb 19-26
Frost Mar 20-Apr 3
Moon Mar 29-Apr 3
Frost Mar 27-Apr 3
Moon Mar 29-Apr 3
Sep 3
DillN/AN/AFrost Mar 5-27
Moon Mar 5-14
Sep 17
Dry BeansN/AN/AFrost Mar 27-Apr 3
Moon Mar 29-Apr 3
Aug 6
EggplantsFrost Jan 15-29
Moon Jan 29
Frost Mar 27-Apr 3
Moon Mar 29-Apr 3
N/ASep 3
Fava BeansN/AN/AFrost Feb 12-19
Moon Feb 12
Mar 27
FennelFrost Jan 29-Feb 12
Moon Jan 29-Feb 12
Frost Mar 20-27
Frost Mar 13-27
Moon Mar 13-14
Aug 27
GarlicN/AN/AN/A
Green BeansN/AN/AFrost Mar 20-Apr 10
Moon Mar 29-Apr 10
Sep 3
Honeydew MelonsFrost Feb 19-26
Frost Mar 27-Apr 3
Moon Mar 29-Apr 3
Frost Mar 27-Apr 3
Moon Mar 29-Apr 3
Aug 13
Jalapeño PeppersFrost Jan 1-15
Moon Jan 1-13
Frost Mar 27-Apr 3
Moon Mar 29-Apr 3
N/A
KaleFrost Jan 15-29
Moon Jan 29
Frost Feb 26-Mar 13
Moon Feb 27-Mar 13
Frost Feb 12-19
Moon Feb 12
Mar 27
KohlrabiFrost Jan 29-Feb 12
Moon Jan 29-Feb 12
Frost Feb 19-26
Frost Feb 12-19
Moon Feb 12
Mar 27
LeeksFrost Jan 1-15
Moon Jan 1-13
Frost Feb 19-Mar 5
Moon Feb 27-Mar 5
N/AJul 30
LettuceFrost Jan 29-Feb 12
Moon Jan 29-Feb 12
Frost Feb 19-26
Frost Feb 12-19
Moon Feb 12
Mar 27
MicrogreensN/AN/AN/A
Mustard GreensN/AN/AN/A
OkraFrost Feb 12-26
Moon Feb 12
Frost Mar 27-Apr 3
Moon Mar 29-Apr 3
Frost Mar 27-Apr 10
Moon Mar 29-Apr 10
Sep 3
OnionsN/AFrost Feb 12-26
Moon Feb 13-26
N/AAug 6
OreganoFrost Jan 1-29
Moon Jan 1-13, Jan 29
Frost Mar 20-Apr 3
Moon Mar 29-Apr 3
N/ASep 3
ParsleyFrost Jan 1-15
Moon Jan 1-13
Frost Mar 20-Apr 3
Moon Mar 29-Apr 3
Frost Feb 12-Mar 20
Moon Feb 12, Feb 27-Mar 14
Aug 27
ParsnipsN/AN/AFrost Feb 12-19
Moon Feb 13-19
Aug 6
PeanutsN/AN/AFrost Apr 3-17
Moon Apr 13-17
PeasN/AN/AFrost Feb 12-19
Moon Feb 12
Mar 27
PotatoesN/AN/AFrost Feb 12-26
Moon Feb 13-26
Sep 3
PumpkinsFrost Feb 19-Mar 5
Moon Feb 27-Mar 5
Frost Mar 27-Apr 3
Moon Mar 29-Apr 3
Frost Mar 27-Apr 3
Moon Mar 29-Apr 3
Jul 30
RadishesN/AN/AFrost Feb 12-19
Moon Feb 13-19
Sep 17
RosemaryFrost Dec 18-Jan 1
Moon Dec 30-Jan 1
Frost Mar 27-Apr 3
Moon Mar 29-Apr 3
N/ASep 17
SageFrost Jan 15-29
Moon Jan 29
Frost Mar 20-Apr 3
Moon Mar 29-Apr 3
N/AAug 27
SalsifyN/AN/AFrost Feb 12-26
Moon Feb 13-26
Aug 6
SpinachFrost Jan 29-Feb 12
Moon Jan 29-Feb 12
Frost Feb 19-26
Frost Feb 12-19
Moon Feb 12
Mar 27
Sweet CornN/AN/AFrost Mar 27-Apr 10
Moon Mar 29-Apr 10
Aug 27
Sweet PotatoesN/AN/AFrost Mar 27-Apr 10
Moon Mar 27-28
Jul 30
Swiss ChardFrost Jan 29-Feb 12
Moon Jan 29-Feb 12
Frost Feb 26-Mar 13
Moon Feb 27-Mar 13
Frost Feb 19-Mar 13
Moon Feb 27-Mar 13
Mar 27
ThymeFrost Jan 1-15
Moon Jan 1-13
Frost Mar 20-27
N/AAug 20
TomatillosFrost Jan 29-Feb 12
Moon Jan 29-Feb 12
Frost Mar 27-Apr 10
Moon Mar 29-Apr 10
N/AAug 27
TomatoesFrost Jan 15-29
Moon Jan 29
Frost Mar 27-Apr 3
Moon Mar 29-Apr 3
N/AAug 13
TurnipsN/AN/AFrost Feb 12-19
Moon Feb 13-19
Oct 15
WatermelonsFrost Feb 19-Mar 5
Moon Feb 27-Mar 5
Frost Mar 27-Apr 3
Moon Mar 29-Apr 3
Frost Mar 20-27
Aug 13
Winter SquashFrost Feb 19-26
Frost Mar 20-Apr 3
Moon Mar 29-Apr 3
Frost Mar 27-Apr 3
Moon Mar 29-Apr 3
Jul 23
Zucchini (Summer Squash)Frost Feb 19-26
Frost Mar 20-Apr 3
Moon Mar 29-Apr 3
Frost Mar 27-Apr 3
Moon Mar 29-Apr 3
Sep 10
The Old Farmer's Store