Mississippi · zones 8a–9a
When to plant zucchini in Mississippi.
Sow between Mar 20 to Jul 3 in a typical year, keyed to Mississippi's median last frost around Mar 13. A second, fall sowing fits Jul 26 to Aug 14. Dates below are state medians; your ZIP code shifts them by days to weeks.
The 2026 windows
Zucchini dates for a typical Mississippi season.
Direct sow
Mar 20 to Jul 3
Keyed to the ~Mar 13 last frost. Sow 1" deep, 24" apart.
Fall round
Jul 26 to Aug 14
Counted back from the ~Nov 9 first frost.
Harvest
~50 days later
~8 lb per plant over ~5 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 zucchini here.
With about 241 frost-free days, squash, summer spends longer in the ground here than in most of the country, which widens the window in which squash bugs can find it. Scout weekly from midseason and act on the first signs.
Gray shield bugs; leaves wilt and get crispy patches.
Organic fix: Lay a board out overnight and collect them at dawn; scrape bronze egg clusters off leaf undersides.
Sudden wilt with sawdust-like frass at the stem base.
Organic fix: Cover young plants; slit the stem to remove the grub, or inject Bt.
Yellow striped or spotted beetles chewing leaves and blossoms.
Organic fix: Row cover until the first female flowers open, then hand-pick.
White powder coating the leaves late in the season.
Organic fix: Space for airflow, water the soil rather than the leaves, use resistant varieties.
Your season math: Mississippi gives zucchini about 241 frost-free days, and it needs roughly 50 days to a first harvest. That fits about 7 re-sown rounds across the season, so you can keep it coming instead of picking once.
Planting zucchini in Mississippi: questions
When should I plant zucchini in Mississippi?+
In a typical Mississippi year, sow zucchini between Mar 20 to Jul 3, keyed to the state's median last frost around Mar 13. There's also a fall window: Jul 26 to Aug 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 zucchini 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.