Herb

When to Plant Basil in Mississippi

The king of herbs. Basil and tomatoes are best friends in the garden and in the kitchen.

The Short Answer

In Mississippi, plant basil based on your regional frost dates. Northern Mississippi has a last frost around Mar 15 - Apr 1, while Southern Mississippi sees frost end around Feb 15 - Mar 5. Long growing season. Hot, humid summers. Mild winters. Two-season gardening possible.

Mississippi Frost Dates

Your planting dates depend on which part of Mississippi you're in. Here are the frost date ranges by region:

Region Zones Last Frost (Spring) First Frost (Fall)
Northern Mississippi 7b, 8a Mar 15 - Apr 1 Nov 1 - Nov 15
Central Mississippi 8a, 8b Mar 1 - Mar 15 Nov 10 - Nov 25
Southern Mississippi 8b, 9a Feb 15 - Mar 5 Nov 15 - Dec 5

Basil Planting Schedule for Mississippi

Northern Mississippi (Zones 7b, 8a)

Average last frost: Mar 15 - Apr 1 · Average first frost: Nov 1 - Nov 15

Start Seeds Indoors
6 wks before frost
Transplant Outside
2 wks after frost
Direct Sow
2 wks after frost

Central Mississippi (Zones 8a, 8b)

Average last frost: Mar 1 - Mar 15 · Average first frost: Nov 10 - Nov 25

Start Seeds Indoors
6 wks before frost
Transplant Outside
2 wks after frost
Direct Sow
2 wks after frost

Southern Mississippi (Zones 8b, 9a)

Average last frost: Feb 15 - Mar 5 · Average first frost: Nov 15 - Dec 5

Start Seeds Indoors
6 wks before frost
Transplant Outside
2 wks after frost
Direct Sow
2 wks after frost

Growing Basil in Mississippi

Basil in Mississippi's Climate

Basil thrives in your warm climate and can produce for 5-6 months or more. In the deep South, basil may survive mild winters in sheltered locations. African Blue basil and Thai basil handle heat better than sweet Genovese. Watch for downy mildew in humid conditions — it's become a significant basil disease in warm, humid climates over the past decade.

Soil Considerations for Mississippi

Rich delta soils in west. Heavy clay in many areas. Sandy in pine belt. Acidic throughout. Make sure soil has warmed to at least 60°F before planting basil outside.

Mississippi Climate & Growing Season

Long growing season. Hot, humid summers. Mild winters. Two-season gardening possible. Basil cannot tolerate any frost, so wait until all frost danger has passed before transplanting outside. Watch local forecasts carefully in spring.

Growing season length varies across Mississippi: Northern Mississippi (7b, 8a) has a last frost around Mar 15 - Apr 1, while Southern Mississippi (8b, 9a) sees frost end around Feb 15 - Mar 5. This difference matters for basil — transplant timing shifts by several weeks across the state.

Growing Tips

Pinch off flower buds to keep leaves producing. Harvest from the top down, cutting just above a leaf pair. Succession plant for season-long supply.

Companion Planting

Plant basil alongside these companions for better growth:

Tomatoes Peppers Oregano

Keep basil away from:

Sage

The Bottom Line

Basil can be grown successfully across Mississippi, but your exact planting dates depend on which region you're in. Northern Mississippi gardeners should plan around a Mar 15 - Apr 1 last frost, while those in Southern Mississippi can typically plant earlier. For exact dates based on your zip code, use our free planting date finder.

Related Guides

Basil Growing Guide National planting guide with all states Mississippi Planting Calendar All plants for Mississippi Basil in Alabama Alabama planting dates Basil in Alaska Alaska planting dates Basil in Arizona Arizona planting dates Basil in Arkansas Arkansas planting dates
Note: All dates are based on NOAA 30-year Climate Normals and represent historical averages, not predictions for any specific year. Always check your local weather forecast before planting frost-sensitive crops. Learn about our data sources.

Last reviewed: March 29, 2026

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