Olive Branch, MS planting zone & frost dates

Olive Branch is in USDA hardiness zone 8a. The last spring frost usually comes around March 26 and the first fall frost around November 6, for a growing season of about 227 days.

USDA hardiness zone8aavg. extreme winter low 10°F to 15°F

Average last spring frostMarch 2690% chance of no frost after April 11

Average first fall frostNovember 610% chance of frost by October 25

Growing season227 daysfrost-free days in an average year

Planting calendar for Olive Branch

Dates are counted from the average last spring frost (March 26) using the typical timing recommended by U.S. extension services. Warm-season crops go out only after the danger of frost has passed and the soil has warmed.

Crop	When
Tomatoes	Start seeds indoors: Jan 29 – Feb 12 Transplant outdoors: Apr 2 – Apr 9
Peppers	Start seeds indoors: Jan 15 – Jan 29 Transplant outdoors: Apr 9 – Apr 16
Eggplant	Start seeds indoors: Jan 15 – Jan 29 Transplant outdoors: Apr 9 – Apr 16
Broccoli	Start seeds indoors: Jan 15 – Jan 29 Transplant outdoors: Feb 26 – Mar 12
Cabbage	Start seeds indoors: Jan 15 – Jan 29 Transplant outdoors: Feb 26 – Mar 12
Onions (sets)	Plant outdoors: Feb 26 – Mar 12
Peas	Sow outdoors: Feb 12 – Feb 26
Spinach	Sow outdoors: Feb 12 – Feb 26
Lettuce	Sow outdoors: Feb 26 – Mar 12
Carrots	Sow outdoors: Feb 26 – Mar 12
Potatoes	Plant outdoors: Feb 26 – Mar 12
Beans	Sow outdoors: Apr 2 – Apr 9
Sweet corn	Sow outdoors: Apr 2 – Apr 9
Cucumbers	Sow outdoors: Apr 2 – Apr 9
Squash & zucchini	Sow outdoors: Apr 2 – Apr 9
Basil	Start seeds indoors: Feb 12 – Feb 26 Transplant outdoors: Apr 2 – Apr 9

Fall garden: cool-season crops like lettuce, spinach and kale can be sown again around Sep 11 (8 weeks before the average first fall frost on Nov 6).

Useful for zone 8a gardens

Seed starting kit with dome — to start seeds indoors before the last frost
LED grow light for seedlings — stops leggy seedlings
Frost cloth / plant covers — for late spring and early fall frosts
Soil thermometer — warm-season crops need soil above 60°F

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Frost risk in detail

	90% chance	50% chance	10% chance
Last 32°F frost in spring is after	Mar 5	Mar 26	Apr 11
First 32°F frost in fall is before	Nov 23	Nov 6	Oct 25

How to read it: in spring there is a 10% chance of a frost after April 11, so that is a safe date for tender plants. In fall there is a 10% chance of frost before October 25. A hard freeze (28°F) usually ends around March 14.

Hardiness zone by ZIP code in Olive Branch

38654 zone 8a

Nearby cities

Southaven zone 8a, last frost Mar 16
Horn Lake zone 8a, last frost Mar 16
Hernando zone 8a, last frost Mar 28
Oxford zone 7b, last frost Apr 3
Clarksdale zone 8b, last frost Mar 16
Grenada zone 8a, last frost Mar 28
Corinth zone 8a, last frost Apr 2
Tupelo zone 8a, last frost Mar 21

All cities in Mississippi → · Other zone 8a cities →

Questions

What growing zone is Olive Branch, MS?

Olive Branch is in USDA Plant Hardiness Zone 8a (average extreme winter low 10°F to 15°F), according to the USDA 2023 map.

When is the last frost in Olive Branch?

The average last spring frost (32°F) in Olive Branch is March 26. There is still a 10% chance of frost until April 11.

When can I plant tomatoes in Olive Branch?

Transplant tomatoes outdoors 1–2 weeks after the average last frost: around Apr 2 – Apr 9. Start seeds indoors 6–8 weeks before the last frost.

Frost dates: NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station Olive Branch, MS (USC00226527), 0.9 km (0.6 mi) from the city center, elevation 117 m, based on 13 years of records. Hardiness zone: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map 2023 for the ZIP code nearest to the city center. Microclimates (valleys, hills, cities, coasts) can be warmer or colder: check the local forecast before planting. How we calculate the data.