When to plant peas 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). Pea needs 55–70 days to mature, which fits comfortably within Mississippi's growing season.
When to plant peas in Mississippi: the short answer
For a spring planting, sow Feb 8 – Feb 27. Seeds germinate in soil from 40 to 85°F.
Succession sow again in Mississippi: Feb 25 · Mar 9 · Mar 21 · Apr 2 · Apr 14
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 peas in Mississippi, step by step
- Prepare the bed. They need at least six to eight hours of direct sun a day and loose soil at least 18 inches deep, with a pH between 6.0 and 7.5. Dig in compost before planting.
- Sow outdoors (Feb 8 – Feb 27). Space plants about 2 inches apart in rows 18 inches apart, sowing seed 1 inch deep. It handles frost well, so it can go out before the last frost date. 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, pea weevil, armyworm. Diseases and disorders: powdery mildew, fusarium wilt, root rot.
- Harvest (from about Apr 9 – Apr 24). Pea takes 55-70 days to reach harvest. Sow as soon as the soil can be worked - 4 to 6 weeks before the last frost. Production stops once daytime highs stay above ~80 F.
Figures come from our crop data; dates use Mississippi’s average frost dates. More in the full pea growing guide.
Pea 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 pea dates shift with them.
When to plant peas in nearby states
Questions gardeners in Mississippi ask
When is the best time to plant peas in Mississippi?
Sow peas in Mississippi between February 8 and February 27. That timing is set by Mississippi's average last spring frost of March 20.
Can I plant peas in the fall in Mississippi?
Yes. For a fall crop, sow between August 17 and September 3, so the crop matures in cool weather before Mississippi's first frost around November 5.
When will peas planted in Mississippi be ready to harvest?
Planted on time, peas are usually ready from about April 9 to April 24, 55-70 days after sowing.
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.