Mississippi’s humid climate can be tough on some veggies, but certain varieties actually thrive in the heat and moisture. Picking the right ones means a productive and tasty garden all season long.
These vegetables handle the humidity like champs and make gardening more rewarding. Let’s explore the best picks for your Mississippi garden.
1. Okra
Nothing says Southern gardening like okra thriving in the heat. Mississippi’s warm, humid summers provide ideal growing conditions for this vegetable that actually prefers the muggy weather others can’t stand.
Plant it after the last frost when soil temperatures reach 65°F. Many Mississippi gardeners find okra continues producing until the first fall frost, giving months of crisp pods perfect for gumbo.
2. Sweet Potatoes
These underground treasures adore Mississippi’s long, hot growing season. The state’s warm soil temperatures and ample rainfall create perfect conditions for developing large, flavorful tubers with minimal effort.
Start with slips (rooted sprouts) after all danger of frost has passed. Many Mississippi families have passed down sweet potato growing traditions through generations, celebrating harvests that can reach 5-6 pounds per plant.
3. Collard Greens
Hardy and resilient, collards actually improve in flavor after light frosts. The extended growing season in Mississippi allows these nutritional powerhouses to produce from early spring through winter.
Plant them in early spring or late summer for continuous harvests. Mississippi gardeners often find their collards become sweeter as temperatures cool in fall, making them a staple green that bridges multiple growing seasons.
4. Eggplant
Glossy purple fruits thrive in Mississippi’s hot, humid conditions where many other vegetables struggle. The state’s long summer provides ample time for multiple harvests from healthy plants.
Start seeds indoors 8-10 weeks before the last frost date. Across Mississippi, gardeners find that eggplants continue producing well into fall when other summer crops have faded, making them reliable producers worth their garden space.
5. Peppers
From sweet bells to fiery habaneros, peppers love Mississippi’s heat and humidity. The consistent warmth helps develop complex flavors and bright colors that northern gardens can’t match.
Plant after soil temperatures reach 65°F for best results. Mississippi’s climate allows peppers to produce abundantly from early summer until fall frost, with many gardeners reporting their hottest varieties develop extra spiciness in the humid conditions.
6. Tomatoes
Heat-tolerant varieties flourish in Mississippi’s growing conditions despite humidity challenges. Choose disease-resistant cultivars like ‘Arkansas Traveler’ or ‘Creole’ that were developed specifically for Southern climates.
Plant after danger of frost has passed. Throughout Mississippi, gardeners find success with mulching heavily to prevent soil-borne diseases from splashing onto plants during the state’s frequent summer thunderstorms.
7. Lima Beans
Often called butterbeans in Mississippi, these legumes thrive in the state’s hot summers. Their natural heat tolerance makes them reliable producers when other garden vegetables might struggle.
Plant after soil warms completely in late spring. Many Mississippi gardeners have family heirloom varieties passed down through generations, perfectly adapted to the state’s particular growing conditions and producing tender beans throughout the hottest months.
8. Cucumber
Fast-growing and moisture-loving, cucumbers produce abundantly in Mississippi gardens. The state’s regular rainfall and humidity help these vines develop crisp, juicy fruits throughout summer.
Plant seeds directly after frost danger passes. Across Mississippi, gardeners find success with trellising cucumbers to improve air circulation, helping prevent the powdery mildew that sometimes develops in the state’s humid conditions.
9. Mustard Greens
Quick-growing and heat-tolerant, mustard greens provide early spring and fall harvests. Mississippi’s extended growing seasons allow for multiple plantings of these peppery greens that many local cooks consider essential.
Sow seeds directly in early spring and again in late summer. Throughout Mississippi, gardeners appreciate how mustard greens can withstand light frosts, making them reliable producers when other garden vegetables have succumbed to seasonal changes.
10. Squash
Both summer and winter varieties thrive in Mississippi’s growing conditions. The state’s long season allows plenty of time for developing full-flavored fruits and reaching maturity before frost.
Plant after soil warms completely in spring. Mississippi gardeners often use succession planting for summer squash, starting new plants every few weeks to ensure continuous harvests despite the challenges of squash vine borers common in the region.
11. Cowpeas
Known locally as field peas or Southern peas, these legumes laugh at Mississippi’s heat and humidity. Their drought tolerance makes them especially reliable during occasional dry spells that punctuate the state’s typically humid conditions.
Direct sow after soil warms in late spring. Throughout Mississippi, gardeners have grown varieties like Mississippi Silver and Purple Hull for generations, appreciating how these nutritious legumes actually improve soil while producing abundant harvests.
12. Watermelon
Sprawling vines loaded with sweet fruits epitomize summer gardening in Mississippi. The state’s combination of heat, humidity, and long growing season creates perfect conditions for developing large, sugar-sweet melons.
Plant seeds or transplants after soil warms thoroughly. Across Mississippi, gardeners find that traditional varieties like ‘Charleston Gray’ and ‘Crimson Sweet’ develop exceptional sweetness in the state’s hot conditions, making homegrown melons worth their garden space.
13. Pole Beans
Vertical growers that produce all summer long once established. Mississippi’s extended growing season allows these vines to reach their full potential, often producing until first frost.
Plant after soil warms and all danger of frost has passed. Throughout Mississippi, gardeners find that heirloom varieties like ‘Kentucky Wonder’ and ‘Blue Lake’ perform exceptionally well, climbing trellises and producing tender beans that local cooks treasure.
14. Arugula
Fast-growing with peppery flavor that thrives in Mississippi’s spring and fall seasons. The state’s mild winters often allow this green to grow throughout the cooler months when summer crops rest.
Direct sow in early spring and again in late summer. Across Mississippi, gardeners appreciate arugula’s quick growth, often harvesting baby leaves just 21 days after planting, making it perfect for filling gaps between larger seasonal crops.