When to plant lettuce in Mississippi
Mississippi’s average last spring frost is March 20, and the first fall frost typically arrives around November 5 — about 230 frost-free days (USDA zones 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a). Lettuce needs 30–60 days to mature, which fits comfortably within Mississippi's growing season.
When to plant lettuce in Mississippi: the short answer
For a spring planting, plant out Feb 27 – Mar 16, with seeds started indoors Feb 13 – Feb 27. Seeds germinate in soil from 35 to 80°F.
Succession sow again in Mississippi: Mar 18 · Mar 30 · Apr 11 · Apr 23
Spring succession stops before summer heat makes it bolt. Start sowing again in late summer for a fall crop (see the fall window above).
Windows are ~1–2 week bands around each date. Frost dates are a statewide average from NOAA/NCEI normals; your town may differ by two weeks or more. Calendar year 2026.
How to grow lettuce in Mississippi, step by step
- Start seeds indoors (Feb 13 – Feb 27). Sow seeds ⅛ inch deep in seed-starting mix under bright light. They take 2-10 days to sprout, fastest in soil around 65°F. Harden seedlings off for a week before they go outside.
- Prepare the bed. It needs six or more hours of sun for the best growth, though four to six hours in partial shade is enough and loose soil at least 8 inches deep, with a pH between 6.0 and 7.0. Dig in compost before planting.
- Plant out (Feb 27 – Mar 16). Space plants about 10 inches apart in rows 14 inches apart. It tolerates a light frost but not a hard freeze. As a cool-season crop it does best before summer heat arrives in Mississippi.
- Water and feed. Give it steady, even moisture, about an inch of water a week from rain or the hose.
- Watch for pests and problems. Pests: aphids, slugs, snails, cutworm. Diseases and disorders: downy mildew, bottom rot, tipburn (calcium disorder).
- Harvest (from about Apr 5 – May 5). Lettuce takes 30-60 days to reach harvest. Seed needs light - barely cover it. Will not germinate above ~80 F soil. Loose-leaf types give the fastest, most forgiving cut-and-come-again harvest.
Figures come from our crop data; dates use Mississippi’s average frost dates. More in the full lettuce growing guide.
Lettuce planting dates by USDA zone in Mississippi
Mississippi spans USDA zones 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a. Colder zones, usually higher or further inland, have a later last spring frost and an earlier first fall frost than the state average, so the lettuce dates shift with them.
When to plant lettuce in nearby states
Questions gardeners in Mississippi ask
When is the best time to plant lettuce in Mississippi?
Plant lettuce transplants outdoors in Mississippi between February 27 and March 16. That timing is set by Mississippi's average last spring frost of March 20.
When should I start lettuce seeds indoors in Mississippi?
Start seeds indoors between February 13 and February 27, about 4 weeks before the last frost, so the seedlings are ready to plant out from February 27.
Can I plant lettuce in the fall in Mississippi?
Yes. For a fall crop, sow between August 31 and September 17, so the crop matures in cool weather before Mississippi's first frost around November 5.
When will lettuce planted in Mississippi be ready to harvest?
Planted on time, lettuce is usually ready from about April 5 to May 5, 30-60 days after planting.
When is the last frost in Mississippi?
On average around March 20, with the first fall frost around November 5 - about 230 frost-free days. Your town may differ by two weeks or more.