When to plant zucchini / summer squash 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). Zucchini / Summer Squash needs 45–60 days to mature, which fits comfortably within Mississippi's growing season.
When to plant zucchini / summer squash in Mississippi: the short answer
For a spring planting, plant out Mar 20 – Apr 6, with seeds started indoors Feb 20 – Mar 6. Wait until the soil is at least 60°F and frost is over.
Succession sow again in Mississippi: Apr 24 · May 22 · Jun 19 · Jul 17 · Aug 14
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 zucchini / summer squash in Mississippi, step by step
- Start seeds indoors (Feb 20 – Mar 6). Sow seeds 1 inch deep in seed-starting mix under bright light. They take 5-10 days to sprout, fastest in soil around 85°F. Harden seedlings off for a week before they go outside.
- Prepare the bed. It needs at least six to eight hours of direct sun a day and loose soil at least 14 inches deep, with a pH between 5.5 and 7.5. Dig in compost before planting.
- Plant out (Mar 20 – Apr 6). Space plants about 30 inches apart in rows 42 inches apart. It is killed by frost, so nothing goes outside until the danger has passed.
- 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: squash vine borer, squash bug, striped cucumber beetle, aphids. Diseases and disorders: powdery mildew, bacterial wilt, blossom-end rot (calcium disorder).
- Harvest (from about May 11 – May 26). Zucchini / Summer Squash takes 45-60 days to reach harvest. One or two plants feed a household. A second sowing in early-mid summer dodges the first vine borer generation.
Figures come from our crop data; dates use Mississippi’s average frost dates. More in the full zucchini / summer squash growing guide.
Zucchini 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 zucchini / summer squash dates shift with them.
When to plant zucchini / summer squash in nearby states
Questions gardeners in Mississippi ask
When is the best time to plant zucchini / summer squash in Mississippi?
Plant zucchini / summer squash transplants outdoors in Mississippi between March 20 and April 6. That timing is set by Mississippi's average last spring frost of March 20.
When should I start zucchini / summer squash seeds indoors in Mississippi?
Start seeds indoors between February 20 and March 6, about 3 weeks before the last frost, so the seedlings are ready to plant out from March 20.
Can I plant zucchini / summer squash in the fall in Mississippi?
Yes. For a fall crop, sow between August 3 and August 20, so the crop matures in cool weather before Mississippi's first frost around November 5.
When will zucchini / summer squash planted in Mississippi be ready to harvest?
Planted on time, zucchini / summer squash is usually ready from about May 11 to May 26, 45-60 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.