What Grows in Randolph, Mississippi

USDA Zones 8a-9a · 1K acres

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

Expect pecan, okra, muscadine grape, and magnolia to be strong candidates here; the deciding factors on any one parcel stay local — soil, sun, and drainage.

Score your parcel · free

Even in Randolph, 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 Randolph 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 Hard Freeze (28°F)

Jan 24

Town normal — light frosts run a few weeks later

First Frost (state avg.)

Oct 25 - Nov 20

Town Area

1K acres

Hardiness Zone Range

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

Growing Season (statewide frost window)

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 Randolph. 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

77

within ~10 miles of Randolph

Risk Level

Elevated

Highest-severity

2 Toxics Release Inventory facilities

Severity Distribution

within ~10 miles of Randolph

High3Moderate34Low40

Highest-Severity Sites

City of Pontotoc
PFAS Sampling · PFAS Detected
Oak Hill Water Assn
PFAS Sampling · PFAS Detected
Randolph Water Association #1
PFAS Sampling · PFAS Detected
115a0013 Pontotoc
Nitrate Monitoring · Well
115a0013 Pontotoc
Nitrate Monitoring · Well

A note from Gnorman

What an experienced grower watches for around here

In and around Randolph, two things run higher than the national average — PFAS (3 sites) and Nitrate (22 sites). Knowing it is half the work — and it's nothing a thoughtful grower can't plan for.

PFAS: PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) are called "forever chemicals" because they do not biodegrade.

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

Test irrigation water source — this is the primary pathway for PFAS to reach garden crops.

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 Randolph

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

Randolph 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 Randolph

Pull a site-specific report for your exact address in Randolph, 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 Randolph, Mississippi

  • USDA Hardiness Zones: 8a-9a (USDA PHZM 2023)
  • Last Hard Freeze (28°F): Jan 24 (town normal, NOAA 1991–2020 Climate Normals — light frosts can follow for a few weeks)
  • First Fall Frost (state avg.): Oct 25 - Nov 20 (NOAA 30-Year Climate Normals)
  • Land Area: 1K 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 Randolph, Mississippi?

Randolph 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 Randolph?

The last hard freeze (28°F) in Randolph typically lands around Jan 24, per NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals — an earlier marker than the light-frost dates many planting charts quote. That marks the hard freeze, not the last light frost — light frosts can still bite for a few more weeks, so tender transplants usually wait another 2–3 weeks.

What vegetables grow in Randolph?

Randolph'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 Randolph, really?

Officially, Randolph 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 Randolph?

The federal record around Randolph is a meaningful one — 77 documented sites — so a soil test before new food beds is a sensible precaution here, not a reason to hold back from growing. Remember that proximity to a documented site is information, not a diagnosis of any one yard; the contamination map shows exactly what sits where.

How do I protect my plants from frost in Randolph?

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 Randolph 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.