What to plant this week in Jackson, MS
With the last frost officially behind us on March 1st, Jackson's heat-hungry gardeners are ready to push out transplants and sow warm-season giants like watermelon and okra immediately. This week marks a critical pivot from spring cleanup to full-blown summer production as temperatures climb past our hardy minimum of 15°F.
The next 7 days
Jackson, MSGrowing in Jackson right now
- Soil in the Jackson basin is often heavy clay that retains moisture well; till it now before rains arrive to prevent compaction around new squash and melon roots. Take advantage of this week's dry window to add compost or aged manure to your raised beds before the humidity spikes later this month.
- While Zone 8b allows for early planting, remember that our region sees rapid heat buildup; mulch heavily with pine straw or straw immediately after sowing beans and corn to keep soil temperatures manageable.
- Watch for wind patterns moving off the Gulf of Mexico which can dry out young seedlings quickly; ensure new plantings like Thai basil and cosmos have consistent water access.
Sow this week
2 crops- Daikon Radish
- Ornamental Allium
Transplant this week
Nothing is due to go out this week.
Harvest soon
44 crops- Acorn Squash
- Basil
- Borage
- Bush Bean
- Butternut Squash
- Cantaloupe
- Celosia (Cockscomb)
- Cleome (Spider Flower)
- Cosmos
- Cowpea (Black-Eyed Pea)
- Cucumber
- Delicata Squash
- Edamame
- Fennel
- Flour Corn
- French Marigold
- Garden Verbena
- Garlic
- Gomphrena (Globe Amaranth)
- Gourd (Ornamental/Bottle)
- Honeydew Melon
- Lima Bean
- Loofah (Luffa)
- Malabar Spinach
- Morning Glory
- Nasturtium
- Okra
- Pole Bean
- Pumpkin
- Purslane
- Roselle (Cranberry Hibiscus)
- Scarlet Runner Bean
- Shiso (Japanese Basil)
- Spaghetti Squash
- Summer Savory
- Sunflower
- Sweet Corn
- Thai Basil
- Vinca (Madagascar Periwinkle)
- Watermelon
- Winter Squash
- Yellow Summer Squash
- Zinnia
- Zucchini
Seasonal tips
- Succession sow bush beans and cowpeas every two weeks for a continuous harvest through late summer.
- Mulch around heavy feeders like corn, squash, and melons to retain moisture and suppress weeds as temperatures rise.
- Pinch back the tops of basil and borage regularly to encourage bushier growth and prevent flowering.
Pest & disease watch
- Spider mites are beginning to establish in the high humidity pockets around Jackson, particularly on ornamental alliums and spider flowers.
- Early season aphid colonies are forming on the tender leaves of newly emerged bush beans and pole bean plants.
- Monitor for squash vine borers on your acorn and butternut squash vines as they enter their most vulnerable growth stage.
Watering this week
Provide deep, consistent watering at the base of plants every 2-3 days to prevent blossom drop on squash and melons.
Harvest acorn and butternut squash when they have fully ripened and developed a hard rind for best winter storage.
Jackson gardening questions
3Can I still plant garlic in Jackson now, given so many other options?
Yes, this is the ideal time to set down garlic cloves before the ground freezes out later in winter. They need a few weeks of cool soil to establish roots before our first frost hits in December.
My zucchini and yellow summer squash are producing fast; how do I keep up with harvest?
Pick cucumbers, zucchini, and squash every other day at dawn when the fruit is smallest to prevent the plant from dropping its energy into seeding. Leaving them on too long will cause a sudden drop in production for the rest of the season.
I have trouble with edamame beans bolting early; does Jackson's climate affect this?
Jackson's rapid rise in spring temperatures can trigger bolting if seeds are sown too late or not covered deeply enough. Aim to sow them directly into cool soil right now and keep the bed shaded until they emerge.
Other cities in zone 8b
12See the full zone 8b guide → · Plan your Jackson garden in SproutGuide →