What Grows in Kilmichael, Mississippi

USDA Zones 8a-9a · 2K acres

Kilmichael, Mississippi, sits in USDA hardiness zones 8a-9a — a zone band wide enough that plant choice, not possibility, is the interesting question.

Among the crops suited to this profile: pecan, okra, muscadine grape, and magnolia. The site-level story — soil, sun, drainage — decides the rest.

Score your parcel · free

Even in Kilmichael, no two yards are alike.

A low spot, a south-facing slope, or a stand of trees moves the frost date and sun across a single Kilmichael lot. Enter your address and we'll score 1,112 plants against your land's actual soil, sun, and frost.

We read public map data for this spot — soil, climate, flood, and parcel records. How we handle your address.

No card required · your full report in seconds

Quick Facts

USDA Zones

8a-9a

Last Frost (state avg.)

Feb 28 - Mar 30

First Frost (state avg.)

Oct 25 - Nov 20

Town Area

2K acres

Hardiness Zone Range

8a
9a
3a (Cold)13b (Hot)

Growing Season

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Last frost: Feb 28 - Mar 30First frost: Oct 25 - Nov 20

Zone maps are averages across Kilmichael. Your yard's slope, trees, and frost pockets shift what actually grows — see your land's exact reading.

Soil varies lot by lot — soil types explained.

Growing Challenges in Mississippi

What an experienced grower plans around here — each one has a move.

Extreme summer heat and humidity

Run the garden on the generous spring and fall windows — and let summer belong to okra, peas, and sweet potatoes.

Heavy alluvial clay in the Delta region

Delta clay is rich but slow to drain — raised rows get roots above the wet while keeping that fertility in reach.

Frequent severe storms and flooding

Site beds on the high ground, mound the rows, and keep water moving — drainage planning is storm insurance.

For cultivar selection, pest pressure, and planting-time guidance specific to Mississippi, the Mississippi State University Extension Service is the authoritative local source.

Environmental Intelligence

Understanding what's nearby helps you make informed decisions about where and how to grow.

Total Sites

47

within ~10 miles of Kilmichael

Risk Level

Low

Highest-severity

1 Toxics Release Inventory facility

Severity Distribution

within ~10 miles of Kilmichael

High0Moderate23Low24

Highest-Severity Sites

097f0003 Montgomery
Nitrate Monitoring · Well
097f0003 Montgomery
Nitrate Monitoring · Well
097j0010 Montgomery
Nitrate Monitoring · Well
097j0010 Montgomery
Nitrate Monitoring · Well
097k0003 Montgomery
Nitrate Monitoring · Well

A note from Gnorman

What an experienced grower watches for around here

In and around Kilmichael, Nitrate runs higher than the national average — 18 sites nearby. Knowing it is half the work — and it's nothing a thoughtful grower can't plan for.

Nitrate: Nitrate contamination primarily comes from agricultural fertilizer runoff and failing septic systems.

Test well water for nitrate if you rely on a private well for irrigation (EPA standard: 10 mg/L).

Free Report

Check your specific parcel in Kilmichael

Get exact proximity distances to contamination sources for your specific parcel — plus soil, sun, drainage, and 1,112 plant recommendations.

Three things about your exact spot that zone averages miss:

Your soil pHYour frost-free daysYour sun & shade

We read public map data for this spot — soil, climate, flood, and parcel records. How we handle your address.

25+ data sources analyzed in seconds

Your Specific Parcel Matters

Kilmichael Average

  • USDA Zones 8a-9a
  • Generic soil type for the area
  • State-average frost dates

YOUR Parcel

  • Your exact hardiness zone
  • Your SSURGO soil type & pH
  • Your sun exposure, cast in 3D

See MY Growing Report

Free Report

Read your specific parcel in Kilmichael

Pull a site-specific report for your exact address in Kilmichael, Mississippi — soil, sun, drainage, frost risk, and scored plant recommendations.

Three things about your exact spot that zone averages miss:

Your soil pHYour frost-free daysYour sun & shade

We read public map data for this spot — soil, climate, flood, and parcel records. How we handle your address.

25+ data sources analyzed in seconds

Key Growing Facts for Kilmichael, Mississippi

  • USDA Hardiness Zones: 8a-9a (USDA PHZM 2023)
  • Last Spring Frost (state avg.): Feb 28 - Mar 30 (NOAA 30-Year Climate Normals)
  • First Fall Frost (state avg.): Oct 25 - Nov 20 (NOAA 30-Year Climate Normals)
  • Land Area: 2K acres (US Census TIGER 2025)

Zone data: USDA ARS Plant Hardiness Zone Map 2023. Climate data: NOAA NCEI. Boundaries: US Census TIGER/Line 2025.

Frequently Asked Questions

What hardiness zone is Kilmichael, Mississippi?

Kilmichael sits in USDA hardiness zones 8a-9a, per the USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map 2023. Zones reflect average annual extreme minimum temperatures from 1991–2020 weather data.

When does frost risk typically end in Kilmichael?

Kilmichael follows Mississippi's statewide frost window: last spring frost around Feb 28 - Mar 30 and first fall frost around Oct 25 - Nov 20, per NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020). Frost dates shift with elevation and local microclimate, so watch your own site's cold pockets.

What vegetables grow in Kilmichael?

Kilmichael's zones 8a-9a support a wide range — strong performers include Pecan, Okra, Muscadine Grape, Magnolia, and Sweet Potato. What actually takes on any one site comes down to its soil, sun, and drainage, and we score each plant against the real conditions at your address.

Which hardiness zone is Kilmichael, really?

Officially, Kilmichael sits in USDA zones 8a-9a (USDA PHZM 2023) — but a zone is a 30-year average of winter's coldest night across an area, and it can't see any one yard. A south-facing slope, a tree line, or a low frost pocket can shift a single site by half a zone either way, which is why neighboring gardeners often quote different numbers. We read the conditions at your exact address — soil, sun, slope, and frost — and score 1,112 plants against what's actually there.

Is the soil safe to grow vegetables in Kilmichael?

The federal record around Kilmichael is light — 47 documented sites across the 9 federal source types we checked — and proximity to a documented site is information, not a diagnosis of any one yard. Growing food here starts from a strong position; a soil test before new food beds settles any site-specific question.

How do I protect my plants from frost in Kilmichael?

As the season closes around Mississippi's first fall frost near Oct 25 - Nov 20 (NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020)), a few moves buy time: cover tender plants with floating row cover or an old sheet on still, clear nights, water the soil the afternoon before a freeze so it holds warmth overnight, and harvest frost-tender crops like tomatoes, peppers, and basil before the first hard night. Hardy greens and root crops shrug off light frost and often sweeten after it, so leave them in.

Everything on this page is a Kilmichael average. Your yard writes its own version — we read soil, sun, drainage, and frost at your exact address. Try it for 14 days — no card required.