Mississippi · zones 8a–9a
When to plant lettuce in Mississippi.
Sow between Feb 3 to Mar 20 in a typical year, keyed to Mississippi's median last frost around Mar 13. A second, fall sowing fits Aug 26 to Oct 25. Dates below are state medians; your ZIP code shifts them by days to weeks.
The 2026 windows
Lettuce dates for a typical Mississippi season.
Direct sow
Feb 3 to Mar 20
Keyed to the ~Mar 13 last frost. Sow 0.25" deep, 6" apart.
Fall round
Aug 26 to Oct 25
Counted back from the ~Nov 9 first frost.
Harvest
~45 days later
~0.4 lb per plant over ~1 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 lettuce here.
With about 241 frost-free days, lettuce, leaf spends longer in the ground here than in most of the country, which widens the window in which aphids can find it. Scout weekly from midseason and act on the first signs.
Clusters tucked into the heart of the head.
Organic fix: Rinse well; insecticidal soap on young plants.
Ragged holes and slime trails, worse after rain.
Organic fix: Iron-phosphate bait; a diatomaceous-earth ring; hand-pick at night.
Seedlings clipped off at the soil line overnight.
Organic fix: Collars around the stems; Bt or diatomaceous earth.
Pale yellow patches boxed in by the leaf veins, with white fuzz underneath.
Organic fix: Give plants room, let them dry between waterings, clear old leaves, and pick resistant varieties.
Your season math: Mississippi gives lettuce about 241 frost-free days, and it needs roughly 45 days to a first harvest. That fits about 20 re-sown rounds across the season, so you can keep it coming instead of picking once.
Planting lettuce in Mississippi: questions
When should I plant lettuce in Mississippi?+
In a typical Mississippi year, sow lettuce between Feb 3 to Mar 20, keyed to the state's median last frost around Mar 13. There's also a fall window: Aug 26 to Oct 25. 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 lettuce 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.