Mississippi · zones 8a–9a
When to plant carrots in Mississippi.
Sow between Feb 3 to Mar 8 in a typical year, keyed to Mississippi's median last frost around Mar 13. A second, fall sowing fits Aug 14 to Sep 9. Dates below are state medians; your ZIP code shifts them by days to weeks.
The 2026 windows
Carrots dates for a typical Mississippi season.
Direct sow
Feb 3 to Mar 8
Keyed to the ~Mar 13 last frost. Sow 0.25" deep, 2" apart.
Fall round
Aug 14 to Sep 9
Counted back from the ~Nov 9 first frost.
Harvest
~68 days later
~0.2 lb per plant over ~2 weeks.
Mississippi spans more than one climate: Zone 8 is the most common zone, but the state runs 8a to 9a. That's why the planner works from your ZIP code's frost dates, not your zone: mountain and coastal gardens in the same state can be three weeks apart.
In Mississippi: watch for
The pests that find carrots here.
With about 241 frost-free days, carrot spends longer in the ground here than in most of the country, which widens the window in which carrot rust fly can find it. Scout weekly from midseason and act on the first signs.
Rusty tunnels in the roots and stunted tops.
Organic fix: Cover the row; rotate away from last year's carrots.
Big green-and-black striped caterpillars on the foliage.
Organic fix: Handpick (or leave for swallowtails); Bt if heavy.
Brown spots ringed in yellow on the oldest leaves first, darkening until the tops look scorched.
Organic fix: Water at the base rather than overhead, turn under old carrot tops, and leave 2 years between carrot crops.
Your season math: Mississippi gives carrots about 241 frost-free days, and it needs roughly 68 days to a first harvest. That fits about 9 re-sown rounds across the season, so you can keep it coming instead of picking once.
Planting carrots in Mississippi: questions
When should I plant carrots in Mississippi?+
In a typical Mississippi year, sow carrots between Feb 3 to Mar 8, keyed to the state's median last frost around Mar 13. There's also a fall window: Aug 14 to Sep 9. Your exact dates shift with your ZIP code and microclimate.
What USDA zone is Mississippi?+
Mississippi spans zones 8a–9a, mostly zone 8. But frost dates, not zones, set planting time. The free planner uses your ZIP code's actual frost dates.
How many carrots plants do I need?+
Depends who you're feeding. The crop page has exact counts per household size, or the free planner does the math for your family in about 60 seconds.