When Is the Last Frost in Louisiana?
The average last spring frost in Louisiana falls between February 4 and March 16 for most ZIP codes, with a statewide median of February 28. At the average date a later frost is still a coin flip, so tender plants wait for the safer 90% date.
| City | Last frost | 90% safe after | First frost | Growing season |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Orleans | Jan 22 | Feb 23 | Jan 5 | 348 days |
| Baton Rouge | Feb 25 | Mar 19 | Nov 26 | 276 days |
| Shreveport | Mar 6 | Mar 29 | Nov 19 | 257 days |
| Lafayette | Feb 26 | Mar 20 | Nov 28 | 279 days |
| Lake Charles | Feb 14 | Mar 11 | Dec 7 | 299 days |
| Kenner | Jan 30 | Feb 27 | Dec 31 | 333 days |
| Bossier City | Mar 6 | Mar 26 | Nov 18 | 256 days |
| Monroe | Mar 8 | Mar 25 | Nov 15 | 253 days |
| Alexandria | Mar 3 | Mar 24 | Nov 22 | 263 days |
| Houma | Feb 5 | Mar 7 | Dec 17 | 312 days |
| Slidell | Feb 24 | Mar 19 | Dec 1 | 281 days |
| New Iberia | Feb 10 | Mar 9 | Dec 11 | 305 days |
| Hammond | Mar 8 | Mar 31 | Nov 19 | 257 days |
| Ruston | Mar 11 | Mar 31 | Nov 16 | 248 days |
| Zachary | Feb 25 | Mar 19 | Nov 26 | 276 days |
| Natchitoches | Feb 28 | Mar 17 | Dec 1 | 275 days |
| Thibodaux | Feb 5 | Mar 7 | Dec 14 | 311 days |
| Opelousas | Feb 28 | Mar 25 | Nov 23 | 267 days |
Last and first frost: 50% (median) dates of the last spring and first fall 32 °F night. 90% safe after: only a 10% chance of a later spring frost. First frost dates in January fall in the following winter. Each city uses the NOAA station nearest the ZIP code closest to its center.
Across all 98 Louisiana weather stations with frost records, median last frost dates run from January 22 at New Orleans Lakefront AP, LA to March 30 at Homer 1 N, LA. Elevation, valleys that collect cold air and distance from large water bodies explain most of the spread, so a garden a few miles from a listed city can differ by a week or more. The ZIP code lookup above uses the same NOAA data as the frost date calculator for every US ZIP code.
When Is the First Frost in Louisiana?
The average first fall frost in Louisiana arrives between November 10 and December 19 for most ZIP codes, with a median of November 24. Tomatoes, peppers, basil and squash are damaged at 32 °F, so harvest or cover them before then.
Fall frost can come early: New Orleans has a 10% chance of frost before December 13, Baton Rouge has a 10% chance of frost before November 7 and Shreveport has a 10% chance of frost before November 2. Hardy crops such as kale, spinach and cabbage tolerate light frosts and keep producing after the first frost date.
When to Plant Tomatoes in Louisiana?
Transplant tomatoes in Louisiana 1 to 2 weeks after the local average last frost, once nights stay above about 50 °F: Jan 29 – Feb 5 in New Orleans, Mar 4 – Mar 11 in Baton Rouge and Mar 13 – Mar 20 in Shreveport. Start seeds indoors 6 to 8 weeks before the last frost.
| City | Start seeds indoors | Transplant outdoors | Lowest-risk transplant |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Orleans | Nov 27 – Dec 11 | Jan 29 – Feb 5 | after Feb 23 |
| Baton Rouge | Dec 31 – Jan 14 | Mar 4 – Mar 11 | after Mar 19 |
| Shreveport | Jan 9 – Jan 23 | Mar 13 – Mar 20 | after Mar 29 |
| Lafayette | Jan 1 – Jan 15 | Mar 5 – Mar 12 | after Mar 20 |
| Lake Charles | Dec 20 – Jan 3 | Feb 21 – Feb 28 | after Mar 11 |
| Kenner | Dec 5 – Dec 19 | Feb 6 – Feb 13 | after Feb 27 |
| Bossier City | Jan 9 – Jan 23 | Mar 13 – Mar 20 | after Mar 26 |
| Monroe | Jan 11 – Jan 25 | Mar 15 – Mar 22 | after Mar 25 |
| Alexandria | Jan 6 – Jan 20 | Mar 10 – Mar 17 | after Mar 24 |
| Houma | Dec 11 – Dec 25 | Feb 12 – Feb 19 | after Mar 7 |
| Slidell | Dec 30 – Jan 13 | Mar 3 – Mar 10 | after Mar 19 |
| New Iberia | Dec 16 – Dec 30 | Feb 17 – Feb 24 | after Mar 9 |
| Hammond | Jan 11 – Jan 25 | Mar 15 – Mar 22 | after Mar 31 |
| Ruston | Jan 14 – Jan 28 | Mar 18 – Mar 25 | after Mar 31 |
| Zachary | Dec 31 – Jan 14 | Mar 4 – Mar 11 | after Mar 19 |
| Natchitoches | Jan 3 – Jan 17 | Mar 7 – Mar 14 | after Mar 17 |
| Thibodaux | Dec 11 – Dec 25 | Feb 12 – Feb 19 | after Mar 7 |
| Opelousas | Jan 3 – Jan 17 | Mar 7 – Mar 14 | after Mar 25 |
Indoors: 6–8 weeks before the average last frost. Outdoors: 1–2 weeks after it. Lowest-risk: after the date with only a 10% chance of a later frost. Rules of thumb; check the 10-day forecast and wait for soil near 60 °F.
Tomatoes stall below about 50 °F at night and are killed by frost, so a week or two of waiting after the average date costs little. The tomato plant care guide covers light, watering and feeding once plants are in the ground. With a median growing season of 269 days, Louisiana gardeners often also set out a second tomato crop in mid-summer for fall harvest.
What Can You Plant in New Orleans and When?
New Orleans's average last frost of January 22 anchors its spring planting calendar: peas and spinach go in from December 11, broccoli and lettuce transplants from December 25, and tomatoes, peppers and squash after January 29.
| Crop | Start seeds indoors | Plant outdoors | Frost tolerance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Peas | — | Dec 11 – Dec 25direct sow, 4–6 weeks before last frost | hardy |
| Spinach | — | Dec 11 – Jan 1direct sow, 3–6 weeks before last frost | hardy |
| Radishes | — | Dec 18 – Jan 1direct sow, 3–5 weeks before last frost | hardy |
| Onions (sets) | — | Dec 25 – Jan 8plant, 2–4 weeks before last frost | hardy |
| Potatoes | — | Dec 25 – Jan 8plant, 2–4 weeks before last frost | half-hardy |
| Broccoli & cabbage | Nov 27 – Dec 11 | Dec 25 – Jan 8transplant, 2–4 weeks before last frost | hardy |
| Lettuce | Dec 11 – Dec 25 | Dec 25 – Jan 8transplant, 2–4 weeks before last frost | hardy |
| Beets | — | Dec 25 – Jan 8direct sow, 2–4 weeks before last frost | half-hardy |
| Carrots | — | Jan 1 – Jan 8direct sow, 2–3 weeks before last frost | half-hardy |
| Tomatoes | Nov 27 – Dec 11 | Jan 29 – Feb 5transplant, 1–2 weeks after last frost | tender |
| Basil | Nov 27 – Dec 11 | Jan 29 – Feb 12transplant, 1–3 weeks after last frost | tender |
| Peppers | Nov 13 – Nov 27 | Feb 5 – Feb 12transplant, 2–3 weeks after last frost | tender |
| Eggplant | Nov 13 – Nov 27 | Feb 5 – Feb 12transplant, 2–3 weeks after last frost | tender |
| Green beans | — | Jan 29 – Feb 12direct sow, 1–3 weeks after last frost | tender |
| Sweet corn | — | Jan 29 – Feb 12direct sow, 1–3 weeks after last frost | tender |
| Cucumbers | Dec 25 – Jan 1 | Jan 29 – Feb 12transplant, 1–3 weeks after last frost | tender |
| Squash & zucchini | Dec 25 – Jan 1 | Jan 29 – Feb 12transplant, 1–3 weeks after last frost | tender |
| Watermelon | Dec 25 – Jan 1 | Feb 5 – Feb 12transplant, 2–3 weeks after last frost | tender |
Dates for New Orleans (last frost Jan 22, NOAA station New Orleans Lakefront AP, LA, 4 miles from ZIP 70128). General rules of thumb; wait for soil near 50 °F for most seeds and 60 °F for beans, corn and squash.
How Long Is the Growing Season in Louisiana?
The frost-free growing season in Louisiana lasts about 241 to 312 days for most ZIP codes, with a median of 269 days. Among the listed cities, Ruston has the shortest season at 248 days and New Orleans the longest at 348.
Season length decides which varieties ripen: compare it with the “days to maturity” on seed packets, counted from transplanting for tomatoes and peppers. NOAA stations in Louisiana range from 221 days at Homer 1 N, LA to 357 days at Boothville Asos, LA. Planning beds before the season starts helps in short seasons — a plant spacing calculator for vegetable beds shows how many transplants fit.
What Hardiness Zones Are in Louisiana?
Louisiana spans USDA hardiness zones 8b to 10a, with zone 9a the most common. Zones describe winter cold and decide which perennials survive, while frost dates set when to plant annual vegetables and flowers.
The Louisiana planting zone map with the zone of each city shows how the zones are spread across the state and which plants are hardy in all of them.
Frequently Asked Questions
- When is the last frost in Louisiana?
- The average last spring frost in Louisiana falls between February 4 and March 16 for most ZIP codes, with a statewide median of February 28. Among major cities it ranges from January 22 in New Orleans to March 11 in Ruston.
- When is the last frost in New Orleans, Louisiana?
- New Orleans's average last spring frost is January 22, and by February 23 the chance of a later frost drops to 10%. Its first fall frost averages January 5, giving a 348-day growing season (NOAA station New Orleans Lakefront AP, LA).
- When should you plant tomatoes in Louisiana?
- Transplant tomatoes in Louisiana 1 to 2 weeks after the local average last frost, once nights stay above about 50 °F: Jan 29 – Feb 5 in New Orleans, Mar 4 – Mar 11 in Baton Rouge and Mar 13 – Mar 20 in Shreveport. Start seeds indoors 6 to 8 weeks before the last frost.
- When is the first frost in Louisiana?
- The average first fall frost in Louisiana arrives between November 10 and December 19 for most ZIP codes, with a median of November 24. Harvest tender crops such as tomatoes, peppers and basil before then or cover them on cold nights.
- How long is the growing season in Louisiana?
- The frost-free growing season in Louisiana lasts about 241 to 312 days for most ZIP codes, with a median of 269 days, from 248 days in Ruston to 348 days in New Orleans.
Frost data: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, 1991–2020 U.S. Climate Normals (32 °F freeze dates by probability). ZIP code and city locations and populations: U.S. Census Bureau Gazetteer files and Vintage 2024 population estimates. Planting windows are general rules of thumb. PlantoScan is not affiliated with or endorsed by these agencies.