Plant Starts & Preorders

It might feel early, but when it comes to growing your own food, now is actually the perfect time to start planning your spring and summer garden — and we’re here to help.

Many flowers, vegetables and herbs need weeks (sometimes months) of careful indoor growing before they’re ready for the garden. Timing matters. At Dixon Acres,  we grow high-quality food, flower, herb, and pollinator-friendly plant starts, we start each crop at the right time, grow it under ideal conditions, and care for it until it’s the perfect moment for you to take over in our Zone which is 8a.

You don’t have to guess — we handle the timing, the care, and the details.

We offer a thoughtfully selected mix of vegetable, herb, flower, and pollinator-focused plant starts, all chosen for early indoor starting and success in Zone 8a. 

Whether you’re a seasoned gardener or just starting out, we’re here to guide you every step of the way. You can buy vegetables at the store. But growing your own food offers something different.

When you grow it yourself:

• You know exactly how your food was grown
   
• You harvest at peak freshness and flavor
   
• Kids get to experience food from seed → plant → plate
   
• Even beginners can succeed with the right start
   

You also don’t need a big yard. If you have a few feet of space, a raised bed, containers, or a salad table, we can help you understand what to plant and how much you can realistically grow. It takes very little space to grow meaningful food.  Whether your goal is fresh food, beautiful blooms, or creating habitat for pollinators, growing plants yourself builds confidence, connection, and appreciation for the process from seed to success. 

At Dixon Acres, education and community matter to us. We’re passionate about helping people of all skill levels learn what’s possible — and we’ll be here every step of the way to answer questions, provide feedback, celebrate your wins, and help you learn from the inevitable gardening hiccups along the way.

We don’t just grow plants — we grow them intentionally.

Our plant starts are grown using premium seed from trusted suppliers, professional grow lights and temperature control, intentional fertilization and spacing, and pesticide-free practices. All plants are grown locally — never shipped.  These growing practices apply to all of our plant starts — vegetables, herbs, flowers, and pollinator plants alike. 

Hardening off helps plants transition successfully to the outdoors — whether they’re headed for a vegetable garden, flower bed, raised bed, or pollinator space. All of our plant starts are gradually hardened off before pickup, meaning they are slowly acclimated to outdoor sun, wind, and temperature changes. This reduces transplant shock and helps plants establish faster once planted — so you don’t have to worry about doing this step yourself.

Dixon Acres is a licensed nursery through the Mississippi Department of Agriculture and is inspected twice a year. Plants are grown to a healthy, transplant-ready size — not tiny seedlings you have to babysit, and not overgrown plants that struggle after planting.

We also have a Mississippi Master Gardener Intern on staff, bringing formal training and hands-on experience into every tray we grow.

👉 Every edible and herb variety includes planting and growing instructions.
👉 Plants are healthy, well-rooted transplants sized appropriately for successful planting — not overgrown or rootbound.

If you really want to level up your butterfly and hummingbird activity, these plants make a noticeable difference. In addition to being beautiful, they provide critical nectar and pollen that support bees, butterflies, hummingbirds, and other beneficial pollinators throughout the growing season — and many return year after year when left planted.

Below are some of our favorite plants that most reliably attract pollinators when planted. All of these benefit from early indoor seed starting and careful transplanting in early spring, which is exactly where our setup shines.

Pollinator-Focused Plant Starts & Why They Matter:

• Purple Coneflower (Echinacea) – A powerhouse pollinator plant that attracts butterflies and bees all summer long; also produces seed heads birds love later in the season.
   
• Blazing Star / Liatris (Button, Meadow, Northern) – One of the top butterfly magnets you can plant; tall blooms are especially loved by monarchs and swallowtails.
   
• Bee Balm (Monarda) – A hummingbird favorite with long-lasting blooms; also highly attractive to native bees.
   
• New England Aster – A late-season nectar source that supports pollinators when many other flowers are finished blooming.
   
• Aromatic Aster – Provides fall color and critical late nectar for bees and butterflies preparing for winter.
   
• Joe Pye Weed – Tall, dramatic blooms that butterflies cannot resist; excellent for back-of-bed or naturalized spaces.
   
• Goldenrod – One of the most misunderstood but most valuable pollinator plants; supports dozens of native insects in late summer and fall.
   
• Anise Hyssop – Long-blooming and extremely attractive to bees and hummingbirds; fragrant foliage is a bonus.
   
• Milkweed (select varieties) – Essential host plant for monarch caterpillars and a key piece of any butterfly-focused garden.
   
• Zinnias – Bright, long-blooming flowers that are incredibly attractive to butterflies; easy to grow and perfect for cutting while still supporting pollinators.
   

Like our other plant starts, these are grown locally, pesticide-free, properly hardened off, and timed specifically for success in Zone 8a.

If you’re dreaming of more butterflies, hummingbirds, and life in your garden, these plants are where the magic starts.

Vegetables: Lettuce (butterhead, romaine, loose-leaf mixes), spinach, kale, broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, Brussels sprouts, celery

Warm-season crops: tomatoes (slicer & cherry), peppers (sweet, mild, hot), eggplant, squash (summer & winter types), okra, melons (cantaloupe & watermelon)

Culinary & Medicinal Herbs: Basil, dill, cilantro, parsley, thyme, oregano, sage, rosemary, chives, chamomile, lavender, echinacea, lemon balm, calendula, patchouli.

(Plants are provided for growing purposes; any culinary or medicinal use is at the discretion of the grower.)

A medicinal garden is one of the most practical and meaningful gardens you can grow.

These plants aren’t just beautiful — they support pollinators, invite you outside, and have been traditionally grown for teas, salves, oils, and everyday wellness practices.

At Dixon Acres, we grow a curated selection of medicinal and herbal plants that thrive in our region and are well-suited for home gardeners.

We love medicinal gardens because they connect beauty, usefulness, and intention.

These plants invite slower living — harvesting flowers for tea, drying herbs for winter, and growing things that have purpose beyond decoration.

Many of these plants have been traditionally grown for generations and are still favorites today for home gardeners who want more from their space.

🌼 Medicinal & Herbal Plant Examples

(Plants are provided for growing purposes; any culinary or medicinal use is at the discretion of the grower.)

• Calendula — A gentle, bright flower traditionally infused into salves and oils for skin-soothing uses. Easy to grow and a cheerful addition to any garden.
• Chamomile — Delicate, daisy-like blooms commonly grown for calming teas and relaxation. A favorite for beginner gardeners.
• Lemon Balm — A lemon-scented, uplifting herb traditionally used for stress support and calming the nervous system. Grows vigorously.
• Echinacea — A hardy perennial valued for immune-support traditions and as a powerhouse pollinator plant.
• Holy Basil (Tulsi) — An aromatic herb traditionally associated with balance, resilience, and overall wellness.
• Yarrow — A tough, drought-tolerant plant historically used in herbal traditions for circulation and wound care.
• Mullein — A tall, soft-leafed plant traditionally used in teas for respiratory support. Striking and architectural in the garden.
• Horehound — A bitter, hardy herb long valued in traditional cough syrups and digestive blends.
• Wild Bergamot (Bee Balm) — A fragrant, pollinator-loved plant historically used for teas and known for attracting bees and butterflies.
• Borage — A fast-growing, bee-favorite herb with edible blue flowers and soft, fuzzy leaves.
• Fennel — A licorice-scented herb traditionally used as a digestive aid and excellent for pollinators.
• Toothache Plant — A unique flowering plant traditionally used for oral discomfort, known for its tingling sensation when chewed.
• Moringa — A nutrient-dense plant often called the “tree of life,” traditionally grown for general wellness (leaves used; roots not consumed).
• Rosemary — A fragrant, woody herb traditionally valued for focus, memory, and culinary uses.
• Sage — A classic herb long grown for general wellness, throat support, and cooking.
• Lavender — A beloved aromatic perennial traditionally used for relaxation and calming blends.
• Peppermint — A fast-growing, cooling herb commonly used for digestion and teas (best grown contained).
• Eucalyptus — An aromatic plant traditionally associated with respiratory comfort and beautiful for fresh or dried arrangements.

🌱 Ready to Start Your Medicinal Garden?

We offer individual plant starts, curated selections, and custom recommendations based on your space and goals.

👉 Reserve your plant starts today with the button below

👉 Or email us at dusty@dixonacres.com to talk through a customized plan.

Always research and use herbs responsibly.

Plant starts are sold in 6-packs and grown specifically based on preorder demand to ensure healthy plants and proper timing.

$10 per 6-pack: These thoughtfully designed packs are created by Dixon Acres to take the guesswork out of planning. Each pack is intentionally selected so the plants grow well together, are ready at the same time, and make sense biologically. 

They’re a great choice for beginners, small spaces, or anyone who wants an easy, successful start. Many customers choose more than one curated pack to cover different areas of their yard or to mix food, flowers, and pollinator spaces without having to overthink it.

Current Curated Packs May Include:

 🌱 Beginner Veggie Garden Pack (6 plants)
2 lettuce, 2 tomatoes, 2 peppers

🦋 Pollinator Starter Pack (6 plants)
2 coneflower, 2 bee balm, 2 blazing star

🦋 Butterfly & Hummingbird Habitat Pack (6 plants)
2 bee balm, 2 anise hyssop, 2 milkweed

🌸 Easy Cut Flowers & Pollinator Pack (6 plants)
2 zinnias, 2 coneflower, 2 blazing star

You choose the pack — we handle the details.

$9 per 6-pack: All six plants are the same variety. This option is best for gardeners who already know exactly what they want or need multiple plants of a single type.

✔ Locally grown plant starts, seeded and timed intentionally
✔ Properly hardened-off plants ready for early spring planting
✔ Clear planting and growing instructions included
✔ Support from Dixon Acres before and after pickup

We keep ordering simple and personal.

Step 1: Fill out our reservation form (it takes 1–2 minutes).
Step 2: We’ll send you a confirmation, your total, and instructions to pay using your selected payment method.
Step 3: Once payment is received, your plant packs are officially reserved.
Step 4: Pickup timing will align with the correct outdoor planting window for each crop in Zone 8a.
 

📍 Pickup at the Dixon Acres Farmstand - Pickup timing will align with the correct outdoor planting window for each crop.

👉 If there’s a plant that you’re interested in that isn’t listed, reach out and let’s talk. We couldn’t list everything, and we’re happy to discuss additional options when possible.

It’s not too early to plan your spring and summer garden — it’s exactly the right time, and we’re here to help 🌱