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Jackson, Mississippi planting calendar and frost dates

Jackson is in USDA hardiness zone 8b. The last spring frost typically comes around March 14 and the first fall frost around November 14, giving about 245 frost-free days a year.

Hardiness zone
Zone 8b
Typical last frost
March 14
Typical first frost
November 14
Frost-free season
245 days

Frost dates in Jackson

Last spring frost

  • February 22Risky: frost later than this in 9 years out of 10
  • March 14Typical: a later frost in half of years
  • April 2Safe: a later frost only 1 year in 10

First fall frost

  • October 31Risky: frost earlier than this 1 year in 10
  • November 14Typical: an earlier frost in half of years
  • December 4Late: frost before this in 9 years out of 10

The growing season between the typical last and first frosts is about 245 days. Frost here means a low of 32°F at the weather station. A hard freeze (28°F), which damages most hardy crops too, typically ends around February 28 and returns around November 28.

NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Jackson International Airport, 6.4 miles ENE of the city center. Low-lying and rural spots often frost later in spring and earlier in fall than airports and city centers.

What to plant each month in Jackson

  1. January

    Start indoors: black-eyed susans, broccoli, cabbages, cauliflower, celery, chives, cilantro, collard greens, eggplants, ginger, kale, leeks, lettuce, marigolds, nasturtiums, onions, oregano, parsley, peppers, petunias, ranunculus, rosemary, sage, snapdragons, spinach, swiss chard, tomatoes

    Plant or sow outdoors: black-eyed susans, blueberries, garlic, grapes, grass seed, hollyhocks, onions, peas, poppies, raspberries, rhubarb, strawberries, turnips, wildflowers

  2. February

    Start indoors: basil, cantaloupes, celery, cilantro, cucumbers, eggplants, marigolds, nasturtiums, peppers, pumpkins, ranunculus, spinach, swiss chard, tomatoes, watermelons, winter squash, zucchini

    Plant or sow outdoors: asparagus, beets, black-eyed susans, blackberries, blueberries, broccoli, cabbages, carrots, cauliflower, chives, cilantro, collard greens, dahlias, dill, figs, garlic, gladioli, grapes, grass seed, green onions, hollyhocks, kale, leeks, lettuce, onions, parsley, peas, poppies, potatoes, radishes, ranunculus, raspberries, rhubarb, roses, snapdragons, spinach, strawberries, swiss chard, turnips, wildflowers

  3. March

    Start indoors: cantaloupes, cosmos, cucumbers, okra, pumpkins, watermelons, winter squash, zucchini

    Plant or sow outdoors: asparagus, basil, beets, cantaloupes, carrots, cauliflower, chives, cilantro, cucumbers, dahlias, dill, eggplants, figs, garden mums, ginger, gladioli, grapes, green beans, green onions, kentucky bluegrass, lavenders, leeks, lettuce, lilies, marigolds, mints, nasturtiums, oregano, parsley, peppers, perennial ryegrass, petunias, pumpkins, ranunculus, rosemary, roses, sage, snapdragons, spinach, sunflowers, sweet corn, sweet peas, swiss chard, tall fescue, thyme, tomatoes, watermelons, winter squash, zucchini

  4. April

    Start indoors: zinnias

    Plant or sow outdoors: basil, bermudagrass, cantaloupes, celery, centipedegrass, cosmos, cucumbers, eggplants, garden mums, ginger, green beans, green onions, okra, peanuts, peppers, pumpkins, st. augustinegrass, sunflowers, sweet potatoes, tomatoes, watermelons, winter squash, zoysiagrass, zucchini

  5. May

    Plant or sow outdoors: bermudagrass, celery, centipedegrass, cosmos, okra, peanuts, st. augustinegrass, zinnias, zoysiagrass

  6. July

    Plant for fall: peppers, potatoes

  7. August

    Plant for fall: bearded irises, broccoli, brussels sprouts, carrots, collard greens, cucumbers, green beans, lettuce, peas, peppers, potatoes, snapdragons, sweet corn, swiss chard, tomatoes, zucchini

  8. September

    Plant for fall: azaleas, bearded irises, beets, broccoli, cabbages, carrots, cauliflower, clematis, collard greens, coneflowers, daylilies, hostas, hydrangeas, kale, lettuce, peas, radishes, roses, saffron, snapdragons, spinach, swiss chard, turnips, zucchini

  9. October

    Plant for fall: azaleas, bearded irises, cabbages, cauliflower, clematis, coneflowers, crocuses, daffodils, daylilies, grass seed, hostas, hyacinths, hydrangeas, kale, kentucky bluegrass, lilies, ornamental alliums, peonies, perennial ryegrass, radishes, roses, saffron, spinach, tall fescue, tulips

  10. November

    Start indoors: onions

    Plant for fall: crocuses, daffodils, garlic, hyacinths, lilies, ornamental alliums, peonies, tulips

  11. December

    Start indoors: broccoli, cauliflower, collard greens, kale, leeks, onions, petunias, ranunculus

Frost dates and zones by ZIP code in Jackson

All 7 of Jackson's main ZIP codes take their frost dates from Jackson International Airport, so the dates on this page apply across the city. Every one of them is in zone 8b.

ZIP codeZoneWeather stationTypical last frostTypical first frost
392028bJackson International Airport, 6.4 mi ENEMar 14Nov 14
392048bJackson International Airport, 6.4 mi ENEMar 14Nov 14
392068bJackson International Airport, 6.4 mi ENEMar 14Nov 14
392098bJackson International Airport, 6.4 mi ENEMar 14Nov 14
392118bJackson International Airport, 6.4 mi ENEMar 14Nov 14
392128bJackson International Airport, 6.4 mi ENEMar 14Nov 14
392138bJackson International Airport, 6.4 mi ENEMar 14Nov 14

Planting dates for popular crops in Jackson

PlantStart indoorsPlant or sow outdoorsFall planting
TomatoesJan 29 to Feb 12Mar 26 to Apr 9Aug 1 to 8
Strawberries—Jan 31 to Feb 14—
LettuceJan 17 to 31Mar 7 to 21Aug 15 to Sep 19
CilantroJan 31 to Feb 14Mar 14 to 21—
BasilFeb 5 to 19Mar 26 to Apr 2—
Potatoes—Feb 21 to 28Jul 25 to Aug 1
Garlic—Jan 31 to Feb 14Nov 14 to 28
OnionsNov 22 to Jan 3Feb 14 to 28—
CucumbersFeb 26 to Mar 12Mar 26 to Apr 9Aug 15 to 29
PumpkinsFeb 28 to Mar 14Mar 28 to Apr 11—
PeppersJan 8 to Feb 5Mar 26 to Apr 9Jul 25 to Aug 22
Carrots—Feb 21 to Mar 14Aug 22 to Sep 12
Sweet Potatoes—Apr 17 to 24—
WatermelonsFeb 19 to Mar 5Mar 26 to Apr 9—
Sweet Corn—Mar 14 to 28Aug 8 to 22
Green Beans—Mar 26 to Apr 9Aug 22 to 29
ZucchiniFeb 26 to Mar 12Mar 26 to Apr 9Aug 22 to Sep 5
BroccoliDec 27 to Jan 17Feb 14 to 28Aug 29 to Sep 26
Peas—Jan 31 to Feb 14Aug 22 to Sep 5
SpinachJan 31 to Feb 7Mar 7 to 21Sep 5 to Oct 10
Sunflowers—Mar 14 to Apr 4—
ZinniasApr 8 to 15May 6 to 20—
Tulips——Oct 3 to Nov 28
Daffodils——Oct 3 to Nov 14
Grass Seed—Jan 31 to Feb 14Oct 3 to 17

Nearby cities

Planting in MississippiAbout zone 8bPrintable calendar for Jackson

Questions

When is the last frost in Jackson?

Around March 14 in a typical year, based on NOAA's 1991-2020 records for Jackson International Airport. There is still a 1 in 10 chance of frost after April 2.

What planting zone is Jackson in?

USDA hardiness zone 8b (2023 map). The zone tells you which perennials survive the winter; planting dates depend on frost dates instead.

When should I plant tomatoes in Jackson?

Start seeds indoors January 29 to February 12 and set plants out March 26 to April 9; the safest date to plant out is after April 2.

When is the first frost in Jackson?

Around November 14 in a typical year, and before October 31 about 1 year in 10.