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Planting Calendar for Columbus, MS

Enter your zip code or postal code above.

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 Sep 21-Oct 6
N/A40Frost-hardy
BeetsFrost Aug 14-Sep 11
Moon Aug 14-22, Sep 8-11
N/A50Frost-tolerant
Bok ChoyFrost Aug 28-Sep 18
Moon Aug 28-Sep 7
N/A50Frost-tolerant
BroccoliFrost Aug 7-14
Moon Aug 7-9
Frost Aug 28-Sep 11
Moon Aug 28-Sep 7
60Frost-tolerant
Brussels SproutsFrost Jul 17-31
Moon Jul 24-31
N/A100Frost-hardy
CabbageFrost Aug 7-14
Moon Aug 7-9
Frost Aug 28-Sep 4
Moon Aug 28-Sep 4
90Frost-tolerant
CarrotsFrost Aug 21-28
Moon Aug 21-22
N/A70Frost-tolerant
CauliflowerFrost Jul 31-Aug 7
Moon Jul 31-Aug 7
Frost Aug 14-21
75Frost-tolerant
ChivesFrost Aug 14-Sep 11
Moon Aug 23-Sep 7
N/A70Frost-tolerant
FennelFrost Aug 7-21
Moon Aug 7-9
N/A80Tender
GarlicFrost Nov 20-Dec 4
N/A120Frost-hardy
Green BeansFrost Aug 21-Sep 4
Moon Aug 23-Sep 4
N/A55Tender
KaleFrost Aug 28-Sep 11
Moon Aug 28-Sep 7
N/A60Frost-hardy
KohlrabiFrost Sep 4-25
Moon Sep 4-7, Sep 21-25
N/A45Frost-tolerant
LettuceFrost Aug 28-Sep 11
Moon Aug 28-Sep 7
N/A60Frost-tolerant
Mustard GreensFrost Sep 4-25
Moon Sep 4-7, Sep 21-25
N/A45Tender
PeasFrost Aug 28-Sep 11
Moon Aug 28-Sep 7
N/A55Tender
RadishesFrost Sep 25-Oct 9
Moon Oct 7-9
N/A25Frost-tolerant
SpinachFrost Sep 18-Oct 9
Moon Sep 21-Oct 6
N/A30Frost-hardy
Swiss ChardFrost Aug 28-Sep 11
Moon Aug 28-Sep 7
N/A60Frost-tolerant
TurnipsFrost Sep 4-18
Moon Sep 8-18
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 24-Feb 7
Moon Jan 29-Feb 7
Frost Feb 28-Mar 15
Moon Feb 28-Mar 14
Frost Feb 21-28
Moon Feb 27-28
Oct 9
AsparagusN/AN/AFrost Mar 7-22
Moon Mar 15-22
Mar 22
BasilFrost Feb 7-21
Moon Feb 7-12
Frost Apr 5-19
Moon Apr 5-12
Frost Apr 5-19
Moon Apr 5-12
Sep 25
BeetsN/AFrost Mar 7-22
Moon Mar 15-22
Frost Feb 21-28
Moon Feb 21-26
Apr 5
Bell PeppersFrost Jan 10-24
Moon Jan 10-13
Frost Apr 5-12
Moon Apr 5-12
N/AAug 14
Bok ChoyFrost Feb 7-21
Moon Feb 7-12
Frost Apr 5-12
Moon Apr 5-12
Frost Apr 5-12
Moon Apr 5-12
May 3
BroccoliFrost Jan 24-Feb 7
Moon Jan 29-Feb 7
Frost Mar 7-22
Moon Mar 7-14
Frost Feb 21-28
Moon Feb 27-28
Sep 4
Brussels SproutsFrost Feb 7-21
Moon Feb 7-12
Frost Mar 7-22
Moon Mar 7-14
Frost Feb 21-28
Moon Feb 27-28
Jul 31
CabbageFrost Jan 24-Feb 7
Moon Jan 29-Feb 7
Frost Mar 7-22
Moon Mar 7-14
Frost Feb 21-28
Moon Feb 27-28
Mar 29
CantaloupesFrost Feb 28-Mar 15
Moon Feb 28-Mar 14
Frost Mar 22-Apr 5
Moon Mar 29-Apr 5
Frost Mar 29-Apr 5
Moon Mar 29-Apr 5
Jul 31
CarrotsN/AN/AFrost Feb 21-Mar 7
Moon Feb 21-26
Aug 28
CauliflowerFrost Feb 7-21
Moon Feb 7-12
Frost Mar 15-29
Moon Mar 29
N/AAug 21
CeleryFrost Dec 27-Jan 10
Moon Dec 30-Jan 10
Frost Mar 29-Apr 12
Moon Mar 29-Apr 12
Frost Mar 22
Aug 28
ChivesFrost Jan 24-Feb 7
Moon Jan 29-Feb 7
Frost Feb 28-Mar 7
Moon Feb 28-Mar 7
Frost Feb 28-Mar 7
Moon Feb 28-Mar 7
Sep 11
Cilantro (Coriander)N/AN/AFrost Mar 22-Apr 5
Moon Mar 29-Apr 5
Apr 12
CollardsFrost Feb 7-21
Moon Feb 7-12
Frost Mar 7-22
Moon Mar 7-14
Frost Feb 28-Mar 7
Moon Feb 28-Mar 7
Aug 28
CucumbersFrost Feb 28-Mar 7
Moon Feb 28-Mar 7
Frost Mar 29-Apr 12
Moon Mar 29-Apr 12
Frost Apr 5-12
Moon Apr 5-12
Aug 28
DillN/AN/AFrost Mar 15-Apr 5
Moon Mar 29-Apr 5
Sep 11
Dry BeansN/AN/AFrost Apr 5-12
Moon Apr 5-12
Jul 31
EggplantsFrost Jan 24-Feb 7
Moon Jan 29-Feb 7
Frost Apr 5-12
Moon Apr 5-12
N/AAug 28
Fava BeansN/AN/AFrost Feb 21-28
Moon Feb 27-28
Apr 5
FennelFrost Feb 7-21
Moon Feb 7-12
Frost Mar 29-Apr 5
Moon Mar 29-Apr 5
Frost Mar 22-Apr 5
Moon Mar 29-Apr 5
Aug 21
GarlicN/AN/AN/A
Green BeansN/AN/AFrost Mar 29-Apr 19
Moon Mar 29-Apr 12
Aug 28
Honeydew MelonsFrost Feb 28-Mar 7
Moon Feb 28-Mar 7
Frost Apr 5-12
Moon Apr 5-12
Frost Apr 5-12
Moon Apr 5-12
Aug 7
Jalapeño PeppersFrost Jan 10-24
Moon Jan 10-13
Frost Apr 5-12
Moon Apr 5-12
N/A
KaleFrost Jan 24-Feb 7
Moon Jan 29-Feb 7
Frost Mar 7-22
Moon Mar 7-14
Frost Feb 21-28
Moon Feb 27-28
Apr 5
KohlrabiFrost Feb 7-21
Moon Feb 7-12
Frost Feb 28-Mar 7
Moon Feb 28-Mar 7
Frost Feb 21-28
Moon Feb 27-28
Apr 5
LeeksFrost Jan 10-24
Moon Jan 10-13
Frost Feb 28-Mar 15
Moon Feb 28-Mar 14
N/AJul 24
LettuceFrost Feb 7-21
Moon Feb 7-12
Frost Feb 28-Mar 7
Moon Feb 28-Mar 7
Frost Feb 21-28
Moon Feb 27-28
Apr 5
MicrogreensN/AN/AN/A
Mustard GreensN/AN/AN/A
OkraFrost Feb 21-Mar 7
Moon Feb 27-Mar 7
Frost Apr 5-12
Moon Apr 5-12
Frost Apr 5-19
Moon Apr 5-12
Aug 28
OnionsN/AFrost Feb 21-Mar 7
Moon Feb 21-26
N/AJul 31
OreganoFrost Jan 10-Feb 7
Moon Jan 10-13, Jan 29-Feb 7
Frost Mar 29-Apr 12
Moon Mar 29-Apr 12
N/AAug 28
ParsleyFrost Jan 10-24
Moon Jan 10-13
Frost Mar 29-Apr 12
Moon Mar 29-Apr 12
Frost Feb 21-Mar 29
Moon Feb 27-Mar 14
Aug 21
ParsnipsN/AN/AFrost Feb 21-28
Moon Feb 21-26
Jul 31
PeanutsN/AN/AFrost Apr 12-26
Moon Apr 13-26
PeasN/AN/AFrost Feb 21-28
Moon Feb 27-28
Apr 5
PotatoesN/AN/AFrost Feb 21-Mar 7
Moon Feb 21-26
Aug 28
PumpkinsFrost Feb 28-Mar 15
Moon Feb 28-Mar 14
Frost Apr 5-12
Moon Apr 5-12
Frost Apr 5-12
Moon Apr 5-12
Jul 24
RadishesN/AN/AFrost Feb 21-28
Moon Feb 21-26
Sep 11
RosemaryFrost Dec 27-Jan 10
Moon Dec 30-Jan 10
Frost Apr 5-12
Moon Apr 5-12
N/ASep 11
SageFrost Jan 24-Feb 7
Moon Jan 29-Feb 7
Frost Mar 29-Apr 12
Moon Mar 29-Apr 12
N/AAug 21
SalsifyN/AN/AFrost Feb 21-Mar 7
Moon Feb 21-26
Jul 31
SpinachFrost Feb 7-21
Moon Feb 7-12
Frost Feb 28-Mar 7
Moon Feb 28-Mar 7
Frost Feb 21-28
Moon Feb 27-28
Apr 5
Sweet CornN/AN/AFrost Apr 5-19
Moon Apr 5-12
Aug 21
Sweet PotatoesN/AN/AFrost Apr 5-19
Moon Apr 13-19
Jul 24
Swiss ChardFrost Feb 7-21
Moon Feb 7-12
Frost Mar 7-22
Moon Mar 7-14
Frost Feb 28-Mar 22
Moon Feb 28-Mar 14
Apr 5
ThymeFrost Jan 10-24
Moon Jan 10-13
Frost Mar 29-Apr 5
Moon Mar 29-Apr 5
N/AAug 14
TomatillosFrost Feb 7-21
Moon Feb 7-12
Frost Apr 5-19
Moon Apr 5-12
N/AAug 21
TomatoesFrost Jan 24-Feb 7
Moon Jan 29-Feb 7
Frost Apr 5-12
Moon Apr 5-12
N/AAug 7
TurnipsN/AN/AFrost Feb 21-28
Moon Feb 21-26
Oct 9
WatermelonsFrost Feb 28-Mar 15
Moon Feb 28-Mar 14
Frost Apr 5-12
Moon Apr 5-12
Frost Mar 29-Apr 5
Moon Mar 29-Apr 5
Aug 7
Winter SquashFrost Feb 28-Mar 7
Moon Feb 28-Mar 7
Frost Mar 29-Apr 12
Moon Mar 29-Apr 12
Frost Apr 5-12
Moon Apr 5-12
Jul 17
Zucchini (Summer Squash)Frost Feb 28-Mar 7
Moon Feb 28-Mar 7
Frost Mar 29-Apr 12
Moon Mar 29-Apr 12
Frost Apr 5-12
Moon Apr 5-12
Sep 4
The Old Farmer's Store