Jackson, Mississippi · vegetable planting calendar

What to plant now in Jackson

This month's sowing list for Jackson, what is ready to pick, when to plant the favourites, the planting year at a glance and the local frost dates.

October

21 vegetables to sow or plant now

18 of them are at their best time to start. The last frost is usually around March 20, and frost is unlikely after about April 8.

Quick, easy wins this month: radish, arugula, bok choy, scallions, cilantro and spinach.

Sow or plant in Jackson in October

Start seeds indoors

Onion

Direct sow

Arugula
Beets
Bok choy
Chives
Cilantro
Dill
Kale
Lettuce
Parsley
Radish
Scallions
Spinach
Swiss chard
Turnip
Carrot
Peas

Transplant

Broccoli
Chives
Garlic
Kale
Onion
Parsley
Strawberry
Cabbage

Names with a dashed outline can be started now, but it is not their best time.

Last month to start: beets, bok choy, broccoli, cabbage, carrot, cilantro, dill, lettuce, parsley, peas, scallions, Swiss chard and turnip.

Ready to pick in October

Arugula
Basil
Beets
Bell pepper
Bok choy
Broccoli
Bush beans
Cantaloupe
Carrot
Chives
Cilantro
Cucumber
Dill
Eggplant
Hot pepper
Kale
Lettuce
Parsley
Pole beans
Radish
Runner beans
Scallions
Strawberry
Sweet corn
Sweet potato
Swiss chard
Tomato
Turnip
Watermelon
Winter squash
Zucchini

Coming up in November

Celeriac
Celery

When to plant the favourites in Jackson

Tomatoes

Start seeds indoors: February to June.

Transplant: April to August.

Best time to start: April to July.

Pick: June to October.

First pick about 15 weeks after starting.

Potatoes

Plant: March to April.

Best time to start: March.

Pick: May to July.

First pick about 10 weeks after starting.

Garlic

Plant: October to December.

Best time to start: October to December.

Pick: March to July.

First pick about 24 weeks after starting.

Lettuce

Direct sow: January to April and September to October.

Best time to start: January to April and September to October.

Pick: April to May and October to January.

First pick about 7 weeks after starting.

Carrots

Direct sow: January to April and September to October.

Best time to start: January to April and September.

Pick: April to June and October to January.

First pick about 8 weeks after starting.

Bush beans

Direct sow: April to August.

Best time to start: April to August.

Pick: June to October.

First pick about 6 weeks after starting.

Onions

Start seeds indoors: August to February.

Transplant: October to April.

Best time to start: October to April.

Pick: March to July.

First pick about 25 weeks after starting.

Strawberries

Plant: October to April.

Best time to start: October to April.

Pick: April to October.

First pick about 20 weeks after starting.

Winter squash

Start seeds indoors: March to July.

Direct sow: April to July.

Transplant: April to August.

Best time to start: April to July.

Pick: July to October.

First pick about 12 weeks after starting.

Zucchini

Start seeds indoors: March to August.

Direct sow: April to September.

Transplant: April to September.

Best time to start: April to August.

Pick: May to October.

First pick about 6 weeks after starting.

The planting year in Jackson

Start seeds indoors
Direct sow
Transplant
Pick
Paler: possible, but not the best time

Vegetable	O	N	D	J	F	M	A	M	J	J	A	S	First pick
Arugula	S	S		S	S	S	S					S	about 4 weeks
Basil						T	S	S	S	S	S	P	about 6 weeks
Beets	S			S	S	S	S	S				S	about 7 weeks
Bell pepper					T	T	P	P	P	P	P		about 15 weeks
Bok choy	S			S	S	S	S	S	S	S	S	S	about 4 weeks
Broccoli	P		T	P	P	P					T	P	about 13 weeks
Brussels sprouts											T	P	about 21 weeks
Bush beans							S	S	S	S	S		about 6 weeks
Cabbage	P		T	P	P	P	P				T	P	about 14 weeks
Cantaloupe							S	S	S	S	P		about 9 weeks
Carrot	S			S	S	S	S					S	about 8 weeks
Cauliflower			T	P							T	P	about 17 weeks
Celeriac		T	T		P								about 24 weeks
Celery		T	T	T	P	P				T		P	about 21 weeks
Chives	S	P	T	T	S	S	S	S			T	S	about 8 weeks
Cilantro	S				S	S							about 6 weeks
Cucumber						T	S	S	S	S	S	P	about 5 weeks
Dill	S				S	S	S					S	about 6 weeks
Eggplant					T	T	P	P	P	P	P		about 16 weeks
Fava beans				S									about 13 weeks
Garlic	P	P	P										about 24 weeks
Hot pepper					T	T	P	P	P	P	P		about 17 weeks
Kale	S	P		S	S	S	S				T	S	about 7 weeks
Leek			T	P	P	P				T		P	about 20 weeks
Lettuce	S			S	S	S	S					S	about 7 weeks
Okra								S	S	S	S		about 6 weeks
Onion	P	P	P	P	P	P	P				T	T	about 25 weeks
Parsley	S		T	T	S	S	S	S			T	S	about 8 weeks
Parsnip				S									about 15 weeks
Peas	S			S	S	S							about 9 weeks
Pole beans							S	S	S	S	S		about 7 weeks
Potato						P	P						about 10 weeks
Radish	S	S		S	S	S	S	S				S	about 3 weeks
Runner beans											S		about 9 weeks
Rutabaga				S									about 14 weeks
Scallions	S			S	S	S	S	S	S	S	S	S	about 5 weeks
Spinach	S	S		S	S	S							about 6 weeks
Strawberry	P	P	P	P	P	P	P						about 20 weeks
Sweet corn						T	S	S	S	S	S		about 8 weeks
Sweet potato								P	P	P			about 10 weeks
Swiss chard	S			S	S	S	S	S			S	S	about 6 weeks
Tomato					T	T	P	P	P	P	P		about 15 weeks
Turnip	S			S	S	S						S	about 7 weeks
Watermelon							P	S	S	S	P		about 9 weeks
Winter squash						T	S	S	S	S	P		about 12 weeks
Zucchini						T	S	S	S	S	S	S	about 6 weeks

The chart starts at October. "First pick" is the usual time from starting to the first harvest.

Jackson season by season

Spring March to May

Time to start: basil, bush beans, cantaloupe, cucumber, okra, pole beans, potato, sweet corn, sweet potato, watermelon, winter squash and zucchini.

Last chance for: arugula, beets, broccoli, cabbage, carrot, celery, chives, cilantro, dill, kale, leek, lettuce, onion, parsley, peas, potato, radish, spinach, strawberry, Swiss chard and turnip.

Summer June to August

Time to start: broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower, celery, chives, kale, leek, onion, parsley, runner beans and Swiss chard.

Last chance for: bell pepper, bush beans, cantaloupe, celery, eggplant, hot pepper, leek, okra, pole beans, runner beans, sweet corn, sweet potato, tomato, watermelon and winter squash.

Fall September to November

Time to start: arugula, beets, carrot, celeriac, celery, cilantro, dill, garlic, leek, lettuce, peas, radish, spinach, strawberry and turnip.

Last chance for: arugula, basil, beets, bok choy, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, carrot, cauliflower, celery, cilantro, cucumber, dill, kale, leek, lettuce, parsley, peas, radish, scallions, spinach, Swiss chard, turnip and zucchini.

Winter December to February

Time to start: arugula, beets, bell pepper, bok choy, broccoli, cabbage, carrot, cauliflower, celeriac, cilantro, dill, eggplant, fava beans, hot pepper, kale, leek, lettuce, parsley, parsnip, peas, radish, rutabaga, scallions, spinach, Swiss chard, tomato and turnip.

Last chance for: cauliflower, celeriac, fava beans, garlic, parsnip and rutabaga.

Frost in Jackson

Last frost, most years: around March 20
Frost is unlikely after: about April 8
First frost, most years: around November 10
Frost-free days in a year: about 235

The end of frost is not planting time. Tender plants also need warm nights, which usually come two to four weeks later, and a week or two of hardening off first, so go by the months for each vegetable above. A low corner where cold air settles runs later. Tomatoes, peppers, beans, zucchini, winter squash and basil are the ones to hold back or cover.

Questions about planting in Jackson

What can I plant now in Jackson?

In October, 21 vegetables can be sown or planted in Jackson, including arugula, beets, bok choy, broccoli, cabbage, carrot, chives and cilantro. The full list is at the top of this page and changes every month.

When should I plant tomatoes in Jackson?

In Jackson, sow tomatoes indoors from February to June and transplant them from April to August. The best time to start is from April to July. Picking runs from June to October.

When should I plant potatoes in Jackson?

In Jackson, plant potatoes from March to April. The best time to start is in March. Picking runs from May to July.

When should I plant garlic in Jackson?

In Jackson, plant garlic from October to December. The best time to start is from October to December. Picking runs from March to July.

When is the last frost in Jackson?

In most years the last frost in Jackson comes around March 20. Frost is unlikely after about April 8, though tender vegetables go out later still, once nights are warm. The first frost of the cold season usually arrives around November 10.

Which vegetables are quickest to grow in Jackson?

The quick ones are radish (about 3 weeks), arugula (about 4 weeks), bok choy (about 4 weeks), cucumber (about 5 weeks), scallions (about 5 weeks), basil (about 6 weeks), bush beans (about 6 weeks) and cilantro (about 6 weeks). The time is from starting to the first pick.

Other cities

These dates are estimates for general guidance, based on the usual weather in Jackson. Seasons vary from year to year, so check the seed packet and local advice as well.
Temperatures: Source: Meteostat and its data providers (CC BY 4.0). Crop temperature ranges checked against FAO ECOCROP (CC BY 4.0).