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When to Plant Scallions in Attala County, MS

Attala County, Mississippi Zone 8a May

May in Attala County, Mississippi — your action list

Each item below is timed to Attala County, Mississippi's frost dates and soil temperatures. Skip nothing, stress about nothing.

Avg. last frost March 22
Avg. first frost November 6
Soil temp (4") 72°F
Watering Low
Pest pressure High
Daylight 13.7 hrs
  1. Pick scallions

    If you can't use it all right away, check the food-preservation section of your planner.

Get ahead of June
  • First harvests: scallions

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Scallions (green onions) are mild-flavored alliums harvested for their slender green tops and white bases. They are quick-growing and perfect for succession planting.

Attala County, Mississippi is in USDA Zone 8a. The average last spring frost is March 22 and the first fall frost is November 6, giving you a growing season of approximately 229 days.

At an elevation of 167 feet, Attala County receives approximately 48.2 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly clay loam soil. Summer highs average 94°F, providing good warmth for Scallions during the growing season. Clay soil retains moisture well for Scallions, but amend with compost to improve drainage and prevent root rot.

Attala County, MS (Zone 8a) Long season
229 days
Last Spring Frost March 22
229 growing days
First Fall Frost November 6

Attala County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Clay Loam

Soil pH

5.5-6.5

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (146 days to spare)
Start indoors: Feb 8 Transplant: Mar 15 🍅 Harvest: May 10 – Jun 7
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (145 days to spare)
Start indoors: Feb 15 Transplant: Mar 22 🍅 Harvest: May 17 – Jun 14
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (141 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 11 Transplant: Apr 15 🍅 Harvest: Jun 10 – Jul 8

Percentages indicate frost risk at transplant. The 70% safe window means there is a 30% chance of frost after transplant — suitable for cold-hardy crops or gardeners with frost protection. The 90% safe window is best for tender plants.

Soil Compatibility in Attala County

How your county's soil matches Scallions's growing requirements.

Soil pH

Your soil pH (5.5–6.5) overlaps with Scallions's range (6.0–7.0), though not a perfect match.

Soil Texture

The clay loam soil in Attala County is excellent for Scallions — good drainage, moisture retention, and nutrient holding capacity.

Organic Matter

Organic matter is moderate (2.3%). Annual compost additions will help Scallions.

How to Plant Scallions

0.5"
Planting Depth
6"
Between Plants
12"
Between Rows

Fall planting: Sow 10 weeks before your first frost date for a fall harvest.

Succession Planting Scallions

5
successive plantings in your 229-day season

Sow every 5.7 weeks. Last sowing by Aug 28 to harvest before frost.

For a dedicated fall crop, sow by Aug 28.

Plant Water Budget

Plant needs
1.0″/week
Rainfall provides
0.9″/week
You supply
0.1″/week
Watering frequency Only during dry spells
Season total 236 gal / 100 sq ft

Monthly Watering Guide for Scallions

Scallions needs approximately 1 inches of water per week (4.3" per month). Here's how your county's rainfall compares month by month.

Month Scallions Needs Rainfall You Supplement Action
Jan 4.4" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Feb 3.5" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Mar 4.3" 4.3" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Apr 4.3" 3.5" 0.8" 💧 Light watering
May 4.3" 4" 0.3" 💧 Light watering
Jun 4.3" 4.1" 0.2" 💧 Light watering
Jul 4.3" 4.7" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Aug 4.3" 5.3" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Sep 4.3" 3.4" 0.9" 💧 Light watering
Oct 4.3" 3" 1.3" 💧 Light watering
Nov 4.3" 3.7" 0.6" 💧 Light watering
Dec 4.3" 0" ❄️ Dormant

Water needs are for active growing months only (Mar–Nov in Attala County). Supplement amounts are based on average rainfall — actual needs vary with temperature, soil, and mulching.

Scallions Heat Requirements (GDD)

What are Growing Degree Days (GDD)?

Growing Degree Days measure the total warmth your plants receive during the growing season. Think of it as a "heat bank" — every day above 50°F deposits warmth that helps your plants grow.

Each plant needs a certain amount of accumulated heat to mature. If your county provides more GDD than the plant needs, it's a great fit. If it's close, you may want to choose faster-maturing varieties or start seeds indoors to get a head start.

Scallions needs ~1,230 GDD — county provides 4,694 GDD Excellent fit

Scallions Planting Timeline — Attala County, MS

Scallions Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors February 15 Feb 15 – Mar 1
Transplant Outdoors March 22 Mar 22 – Apr 5
Direct Sow March 8 Mar 8 – Mar 29
Harvest May 17 May 17 – Jun 14
Fall Sowing August 28 Aug 28 – Sep 11

Plant 0.5" deep · 6" apart · Rows 12" apart

Month-by-Month Timeline

MonthActivities
January
February Start Indoors
March Start Indoors Transplant Outdoors Direct Sow
April Transplant Outdoors
May Harvest
June Harvest
July
August Fall Sowing
September Fall Sowing
October
November
December

Growing Conditions

☀️ Sun

Full Sun (6-8+ hours)

💧 Water

1"/week · Only during dry spells

📅 Days to Maturity

50–70 days

🧪 Soil pH

Needs 6–7 · Your soil: acceptable

🗺️ USDA Zone

Zone 8a

📆 Growing Season

229 days in Attala County

Growing Tips for Scallions in Attala County

Direct sow Scallions outdoors after March 22 in Attala County when soil has warmed and frost danger has passed.

With Attala County's clay soil (26% clay), work in 3-4 inches of compost before planting Scallions. Avoid tilling when soil is wet to prevent compaction.

Common pests for Scallions in this region include onion maggots and thrips. Use row covers early in the season and inspect plants weekly.

General growing tips

Direct sow every 3 weeks for continuous harvest. Thin to 1 inch apart or grow in clusters. Harvest when pencil-thick by pulling or cutting at soil level.

Companion Planting

Good Companions

Avoid Planting Near

  • Peas
  • Green Beans

Check more plant combinations with our Companion Planting Checker →

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I plant Scallions in Attala County, MS?

Attala County is in Zone 8a with an average last frost of March 22. Plan your Scallions planting based on this frost date — see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Attala County, MS?

Attala County, Mississippi is in USDA Hardiness Zone 8a. The average last spring frost is March 22 and first fall frost is November 6.

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Your Attala County Garden Planner — Free

A 24-page printable planner built for Attala County (Zone 8a). Planting dates, a month-by-month schedule, harvest log, seed inventory, and succession charts — all dialed in for your exact growing season.

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Data sources: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (2023), NOAA 30-Year Climate Normals. Frost dates are based on 50% probability averages for Attala County, MS. Local conditions may vary. Last updated: May 2026.

Sources & credits

Every number on this page traces back to a primary horticulture or government data source. Click through to verify.