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
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
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
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
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
May
Plant or sow outdoors: bermudagrass, celery, centipedegrass, cosmos, okra, peanuts, st. augustinegrass, zinnias, zoysiagrass
July
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
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
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
November
Start indoors: onions
Plant for fall: crocuses, daffodils, garlic, hyacinths, lilies, ornamental alliums, peonies, tulips
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 code | Zone | Weather station | Typical last frost | Typical first frost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 39202 | 8b | Jackson International Airport, 6.4 mi ENE | Mar 14 | Nov 14 |
| 39204 | 8b | Jackson International Airport, 6.4 mi ENE | Mar 14 | Nov 14 |
| 39206 | 8b | Jackson International Airport, 6.4 mi ENE | Mar 14 | Nov 14 |
| 39209 | 8b | Jackson International Airport, 6.4 mi ENE | Mar 14 | Nov 14 |
| 39211 | 8b | Jackson International Airport, 6.4 mi ENE | Mar 14 | Nov 14 |
| 39212 | 8b | Jackson International Airport, 6.4 mi ENE | Mar 14 | Nov 14 |
| 39213 | 8b | Jackson International Airport, 6.4 mi ENE | Mar 14 | Nov 14 |
Planting dates for popular crops in Jackson
| Plant | Start indoors | Plant or sow outdoors | Fall planting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomatoes | Jan 29 to Feb 12 | Mar 26 to Apr 9 | Aug 1 to 8 |
| Strawberries | — | Jan 31 to Feb 14 | — |
| Lettuce | Jan 17 to 31 | Mar 7 to 21 | Aug 15 to Sep 19 |
| Cilantro | Jan 31 to Feb 14 | Mar 14 to 21 | — |
| Basil | Feb 5 to 19 | Mar 26 to Apr 2 | — |
| Potatoes | — | Feb 21 to 28 | Jul 25 to Aug 1 |
| Garlic | — | Jan 31 to Feb 14 | Nov 14 to 28 |
| Onions | Nov 22 to Jan 3 | Feb 14 to 28 | — |
| Cucumbers | Feb 26 to Mar 12 | Mar 26 to Apr 9 | Aug 15 to 29 |
| Pumpkins | Feb 28 to Mar 14 | Mar 28 to Apr 11 | — |
| Peppers | Jan 8 to Feb 5 | Mar 26 to Apr 9 | Jul 25 to Aug 22 |
| Carrots | — | Feb 21 to Mar 14 | Aug 22 to Sep 12 |
| Sweet Potatoes | — | Apr 17 to 24 | — |
| Watermelons | Feb 19 to Mar 5 | Mar 26 to Apr 9 | — |
| Sweet Corn | — | Mar 14 to 28 | Aug 8 to 22 |
| Green Beans | — | Mar 26 to Apr 9 | Aug 22 to 29 |
| Zucchini | Feb 26 to Mar 12 | Mar 26 to Apr 9 | Aug 22 to Sep 5 |
| Broccoli | Dec 27 to Jan 17 | Feb 14 to 28 | Aug 29 to Sep 26 |
| Peas | — | Jan 31 to Feb 14 | Aug 22 to Sep 5 |
| Spinach | Jan 31 to Feb 7 | Mar 7 to 21 | Sep 5 to Oct 10 |
| Sunflowers | — | Mar 14 to Apr 4 | — |
| Zinnias | Apr 8 to 15 | May 6 to 20 | — |
| Tulips | — | — | Oct 3 to Nov 28 |
| Daffodils | — | — | Oct 3 to Nov 14 |
| Grass Seed | — | Jan 31 to Feb 14 | Oct 3 to 17 |
Nearby cities
- Baton Rouge, LA zone 9a, last frost Feb 25
- Gulfport, MS zone 9a, last frost Feb 23
- New Orleans, LA zone 9b, last frost Jan 24
- Kenner, LA zone 9b, last frost Jan 24
- Mobile, AL zone 9a, last frost Feb 21
- Tuscaloosa, AL zone 8a, last frost Mar 16
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.