Mississippi · zones 8a–9a
When to plant spinach in Mississippi.
Sow between Jan 20 to Mar 3 in a typical year, keyed to Mississippi's median last frost around Mar 13. A second, fall sowing fits Aug 26 to Oct 14. Dates below are state medians; your ZIP code shifts them by days to weeks.
The 2026 windows
Spinach dates for a typical Mississippi season.
Direct sow
Jan 20 to Mar 3
Keyed to the ~Mar 13 last frost. Sow 0.5" deep, 3" apart.
Fall round
Aug 26 to Oct 14
Counted back from the ~Nov 9 first frost.
Harvest
~42 days later
~0.25 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 spinach here.
With about 241 frost-free days, spinach spends longer in the ground here than in most of the country, which widens the window in which leaf miners can find it. Scout weekly from midseason and act on the first signs.
Winding pale tunnels or blotches inside the leaves.
Organic fix: Pick and destroy mined leaves; cover the row.
Cercospora leaf spot
Round spots with gray centers and a red-purple rim, oldest leaves worst.
Organic fix: Space wider so leaves dry fast, clear old debris, and pull pigweed and lambsquarters nearby.
Your season math: Mississippi gives spinach about 241 frost-free days, and it needs roughly 42 days to a first harvest. That fits about 29 re-sown rounds across the season, so you can keep it coming instead of picking once.
Planting spinach in Mississippi: questions
When should I plant spinach in Mississippi?+
In a typical Mississippi year, sow spinach between Jan 20 to Mar 3, keyed to the state's median last frost around Mar 13. There's also a fall window: Aug 26 to Oct 14. 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 spinach 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.