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Mississippi planting calendar

When to plant potatoes in Mississippi — sow, transplant & harvest dates

Mississippi is mostly USDA zone 8b (range 7b-9a). Dates below are derived from potatoes's frost tolerance and Mississippi's frost window — not generic national averages.

Potatoes planting timetable for Mississippi

StageWhen in MississippiAnchor
Direct-sow outsideearly March (March 4)21 days before the last frost (late March)
First harvest (estimate)late May (May 28)~85 days from direct sow

Dates are state-wide averages for the dominant zone. Local microclimates — elevation, urban heat, coastal moderation — can shift the window by 1-2 weeks. Use the frost-date calculator for a date tuned to your town.

Why Mississippi's climate shifts the potatoes dates

Mississippi's last spring frost averages late March and first fall frost early November, which sets the whole planting clock. Mississippi has a hot, humid, long season with mild winters. The Gulf Coast is nearly frost-free; the north sees a short cold spell. Sow early — potatoes bolt once daytime temperatures hold above 24 °C, so the earlier they go in, the longer the harvest.

Potatoes are planted as certified seed potatoes (not supermarket tubers) 2-4 weeks before the last spring frost, once soil temperature reaches at least 7 °C; they tolerate light frost in the ground but emerging foliage is killed below -2 °C, so hill soil over any shoots that break through during a late freeze. In zones 9-11 potatoes are a winter or early-spring crop, planted in late January-February to mature before summer heat forces them dormant. Days-to-harvest ranges from 70 days for early/new-potato types to 110-120 days for maincrop storage varieties.

Frost-risk note

Don't plant before late March — a hard freeze can still set young plants back. In the northern hill country near Tupelo (zone 7b) the safe date runs a week or two later.

Regional variation within Mississippi

the northern hill country near Tupelo (zone 7b) runs roughly 1-2 weeks behind the state average; the Gulf Coast around Gulfport (zone 9a) can plant 1-2 weeks earlier.

What else to plant in Mississippi around then

The same early window suits peas, lettuce, spinach, and onion sets.

Quick-grow guide

Frequently asked questions

When is the best time to plant potatoes in Mississippi?

In Mississippi (mostly USDA zone 8b), direct-sow potatoes early March (before the last frost, late March), and harvest from late May. Potatoes are half-hardy — young plants shrug off a light frost but not a hard freeze, so sowing can start a couple of weeks before the last spring frost.

What USDA zone is Mississippi?

Most of Mississippi sits in USDA hardiness zone 8b, with the state spanning roughly 7b-9a from the northern hill country near Tupelo (zone 7b) to the Gulf Coast around Gulfport (zone 9a). The last spring frost averages late March and the first fall frost early November.

Can you grow potatoes in Mississippi?

Yes. Mississippi's dominant zone 8b supports potatoes — the key is timing. Potatoes are half-hardy — young plants shrug off a light frost but not a hard freeze, so sowing can start a couple of weeks before the last spring frost.

Does the planting date change across Mississippi?

the northern hill country near Tupelo (zone 7b) runs roughly 1-2 weeks behind the state average; the Gulf Coast around Gulfport (zone 9a) can plant 1-2 weeks earlier.

What else can I plant in Mississippi around the same time?

The same early window suits peas, lettuce, spinach, and onion sets.

Source and methodology

State zone spans from the USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (2023); frost-date averages from NOAA Climate Data Online. Hot-state two-season timing cross-checked against the UF/IFAS Florida Gardening Calendar and the University of Arizona Cooperative Extension planting calendar. Curated by the Growli editorial team.

Keep going

Same crop, nearby states (Southeast)

Other crops for Mississippi