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When to Plant Jicama in Jackson County, OK

Jicama is a tropical legume grown for its crisp, sweet, starchy root. It requires a very long, warm growing season but produces a refreshing, water chestnut-like tuber.

Jackson County, Oklahoma is in USDA Zone 7b. The average last spring frost is April 5 and the first fall frost is November 4, giving you a growing season of approximately 213 days.

At an elevation of 695 feet, Jackson County receives approximately 28.7 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly loam soil. Summer highs average 92ยฐF, providing good warmth for Jicama during the growing season.

Jackson County, OK (Zone 7b) Long season
213 days
Last Spring Frost April 5
213 growing days
First Fall Frost November 4

Jackson County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Loam

Soil pH

6.7-7.7

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (2 days to spare)
Start indoors: Feb 7 Transplant: Apr 11 🍅 Harvest: Aug 15 – Oct 24
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (3 days to spare)
Start indoors: Feb 15 Transplant: Apr 19 🍅 Harvest: Aug 23 – Nov 1
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (8 days to spare)
Start indoors: Feb 25 Transplant: Apr 29 🍅 Harvest: Sep 2 – Nov 11

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 Jackson County

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

Soil pH

Your soil pH (6.7โ€“7.7) overlaps with Jicama's range (6.0โ€“7.5), though not a perfect match.

Soil Texture

The loam soil in Jackson County is excellent for Jicama โ€” good drainage, moisture retention, and nutrient holding capacity.

Organic Matter

Organic matter is excellent (4.2%) โ€” Jicama will thrive.

How to Plant Jicama

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

Plant Water Budget

Plant needs
1.0″/week
Rainfall provides
0.6″/week
You supply
0.5″/week
Watering frequency 1-2 times/week
Season total 987 gal / 100 sq ft
Drought risk

Water stress score is 8/10 โ€” consider drought-tolerant varieties and mulching

Monthly Watering Guide for Jicama

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

Month Jicama Needs Rainfall You Supplement Action
Jan โ€” 0.8" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Feb โ€” 0.9" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Mar โ€” 1.8" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Apr 4.3" 2.9" 1.4" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
May 4.3" 4.2" 0.1" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
Jun 4.3" 4.8" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Jul 4.3" 4.2" 0.1" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
Aug 4.3" 3.1" 1.2" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
Sep 4.3" 2.5" 1.8" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
Oct 4.3" 1.7" 2.6" ๐Ÿšฟ Regular watering
Nov 4.3" 1.1" 3.2" ๐Ÿšฟ Regular watering
Dec โ€” 0.6" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant

Water needs are for active growing months only (Aprโ€“Nov in Jackson County). Supplement amounts are based on average rainfall โ€” actual needs vary with temperature, soil, and mulching.

Jicama 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" โ€” every day above 50ยฐF 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.

Jicama needs ~2,850 GDD — county provides 4,047 GDD Excellent fit

Jicama Planting Timeline โ€” Jackson County, OK

Jicama Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors February 15 Feb 15 โ€“ Mar 1
Transplant Outdoors April 19 Apr 19 โ€“ May 3
Direct Sow April 12 Apr 12 โ€“ May 3
Harvest August 23 Aug 23 โ€“ Nov 1

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

Month-by-Month Timeline

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

Growing Conditions

โ˜€๏ธ Sun

Full Sun (6-8+ hours)

๐Ÿ’ง Water

1"/week ยท 1-2 times/week

๐Ÿ“… Days to Maturity

120โ€“180 days

๐Ÿงช Soil pH

Needs 6โ€“7.5 ยท Your soil: acceptable

๐Ÿ—บ๏ธ USDA Zone

Zone 7b

๐Ÿ“† Growing Season

213 days in Jackson County

Growing Tips for Jicama in Jackson County

Direct sow Jicama outdoors after April 05 in Jackson County when soil has warmed and frost danger has passed.

Common pests for Jicama in this region include bean beetles and aphids. Use row covers early in the season and inspect plants weekly.

General growing tips

Start seeds indoors 8-10 weeks before last frost. Pinch off flowers to direct energy to root development. Harvest before first frost when roots are 3-6 inches across.

Companion Planting

Good Companions

Avoid Planting Near

  • Fennel

Check more plant combinations with our Companion Planting Checker →

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I plant Jicama in Jackson County, OK?

Jackson County is in Zone 7b with an average last frost of April 5. Plan your Jicama planting based on this frost date โ€” see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Jackson County, OK?

Jackson County, Oklahoma is in USDA Hardiness Zone 7b. The average last spring frost is April 5 and first fall frost is November 4.

๐ŸŒฑ

Plan Your Garden with Confidence

Get our free Garden Planner โ€” designed to help Jackson County gardeners in Zone 7b organize planting dates, track what's growing, and never miss a planting window.

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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 Jackson County, OK. Local conditions may vary. Last updated: April 2026.