Garlic Varieties That Suit Mississippi Winters
A county-by-county look at when to plant softneck and hardneck garlic in Mississippi, using NOAA’s frost normals and the state’s winter chill.
Gardening in Mississippi
Everything we have worked out for Mississippi: what to plant and when, which varieties finish in time, the pests that actually turn up here, and the jobs that pay off month by month. We also cover the rest of the property, from lawns and soil to home care and energy, because a garden rarely stops at the vegetable bed.
The numbers first, because everything else follows from them. Measured at the weather station in Jackson, the last spring freeze runs March 6 to March 22 and the first fall freeze runs November 7 to November 22, USDA zones 7b-9a, 6,057 growing degree days in the year.
Garlic does well: 13 weeks below 40 °F, comfortably past the six it needs to form a proper head.
Elsewhere on the property in Mississippi: the pests that turn up here.
Figures from NOAA's 1991-2020 climate normals. A state is not one climate: elevation, a large lake or the coast can move these dates by two weeks either way, so check your own county with the extension service before you spend money.
When to Plant Garlic in Mississippi: Counting Back From the First Frost
Mississippi’s fall garlic planting window runs mid-October to early November, timed against NOAA’s Jackson first-frost range of November 7 to 22.
Growing Garlic in Mississippi: Planting Dates, Varieties and Winter Cold
Mississippi’s frost dates, chill requirements, and best garlic varieties, drawn from NOAA climate normals and Mississippi State Extension guidance for home gardeners.
Tomato Pests in Mississippi: Which Ones Actually Show Up Here
A season-by-season rundown of the tomato pests that actually appear in Mississippi gardens, how to identify each one, and what stops them.
Tomato Varieties That Ripen in Time in Mississippi
Mississippi’s frost-free window at Jackson runs long enough to grow both fast cherry tomatoes and slow heirlooms, if you match variety to season length.
Tomato Planting Dates in Mississippi: Counting Back From Your Frost Window
Explains how to work out a tomato transplant date anywhere in Mississippi by counting back from NOAA’s Jackson frost window and each variety’s days to maturity.
Growing Tomatoes in Mississippi: Planting Dates, Varieties and Local Pests
Mississippi’s tomato planting window runs from early to late March at Jackson, per NOAA, with variety and pest guidance for the state’s long growing season.