When to plant spinach 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). Spinach needs 37–45 days to mature, which fits comfortably within Mississippi's growing season.
When to plant spinach in Mississippi: the short answer
For a spring planting, sow Feb 8 – Feb 27. Seeds germinate in soil from 35 to 75°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 spinach in Mississippi, step by step
- 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 12 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 4 inches apart in rows 12 inches apart, sowing seed ½ inch deep. It tolerates hard frost, so it is one of the first crops to plant. 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: leaf miner, aphids, flea beetle. Diseases and disorders: downy mildew, white rust, damping off.
- Harvest (from about Mar 22 – Mar 30). Spinach takes 37-45 days to reach harvest. Bolts fast in heat and long days - it is really a spring and fall crop. A late-fall sowing under row cover often overwinters for an early-spring cut.
Figures come from our crop data; dates use Mississippi’s average frost dates. More in the full spinach growing guide.
Spinach 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 spinach dates shift with them.
When to plant spinach in nearby states
Questions gardeners in Mississippi ask
When is the best time to plant spinach in Mississippi?
Sow spinach 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 spinach in the fall in Mississippi?
Yes. For a fall crop, sow between September 7 and September 24, so the crop matures in cool weather before Mississippi's first frost around November 5.
When will spinach planted in Mississippi be ready to harvest?
Planted on time, spinach is usually ready from about March 22 to March 30, 37-45 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.