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Frost dates and planting calendar for Baton Rouge, Louisiana

Updated October 30, 2026. Based on USDA, NOAA and Colorado State University Extension data. Published by Humblebee.

USDA hardiness zone
9a[1]
Median last spring frost
Feb 28[2]
Median first fall frost
Nov 26[3]
Growing season, median
272 days[4]

The USDA map puts the center of Baton Rouge in zone 9a[1]. NOAA records show the median last spring frost is February 28, which means a last frost after that date in half of years[2].

Frost dates

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecLast spring frost: 9 in 10 years after Jan 31, half of years Feb 28, 1 in 10 years after Mar 21Last frostmedian Feb 28First fall frost: 9 in 10 years before Dec 22, half of years Nov 26, 1 in 10 years before Nov 6First frostmedian Nov 26Frost riskHardyHardy vegetables: plant Jan 31 to Feb 14Jan 31 to Feb 14Semi-hardySemi-hardy vegetables: plant Feb 14 to Feb 28Feb 14 to Feb 28TenderTender vegetables: plant around Feb 28around Feb 28Very tenderVery tender vegetables: plant from Mar 14from Mar 14
Shaded: the span between the dates frost passes in 9 of 10 years and 1 of 10 years[2][3]. Green: planting windows from the CSU rules applied to the median last frost (GardenFacts calculation)[6]. Exact dates are in the tables below.

These dates are odds from NOAA records for 1991 to 2020, not a forecast[2]. In 1 of 10 years the last spring frost comes after March 21, so a late frost can happen[2]. In half of years the first fall frost comes before November 26, and in 1 of 10 years it comes before November 6[3]. The numbers come from the Lsu Ben-Hur Farm weather station[5].

Frost Likely (9 in 10 years) Even odds (5 in 10) Unlikely (1 in 10)
Last spring frost (32°F)[2] after January 31 after February 28 after March 21
First fall frost (32°F)[3] before November 6 before November 26 before December 22
  • Hard freeze (28°F): median last spring date February 7, median first fall date December 16[7].
  • Frost-free growing season: at least 240 days in 9 of 10 years, 272 days in half of years and 309 days in 1 of 10 years[4].
  • The low reached 32°F or colder in 99.8% of years and 28°F or colder in 95.6% of years[8].
  • Weather station: Lsu Ben-Hur Farm (USC00165620), 5.6 miles from the city center, 21 feet, 28 years of 1991 to 2020 records[5].

When to plant vegetables

Colorado State University Extension wrote its planting guide for Colorado, so these dates are simple arithmetic and not local advice[6]. Hardy vegetables such as broccoli, cabbage, lettuce and spinach can go in as early as 2 to 4 weeks before the median last frost, which works out to January 31 to February 14[6]. Semi-hardy vegetables such as beets, carrots and potatoes can go in as early as 2 weeks before the median last frost, which is February 14[9]. Tender vegetables such as snap beans, sweet corn and cucumbers can be started from seed around February 28, the median last frost[10]. Very tender vegetables such as tomatoes, peppers and eggplant typically wait 2 or more weeks after it, so March 14 is the earliest start[11].

  • Hardy (broccoli, cabbage, kohlrabi, lettuce, onions, peas, radishes, spinach, turnips): as early as 2 to 4 weeks before the median last frost (February 28) is January 31 to February 14[6]
  • Semi-hardy (beets, carrots, cauliflower, parsnips, potatoes, Swiss chard): as early as 2 weeks before the median last frost (February 28) is February 14, up to the median date itself[9]
  • Tender (snap beans, sweet corn, cucumbers, summer squash): from seed around the median last frost date, February 28[10]
  • Very tender (cantaloupe, eggplant, peppers, tomatoes, winter squash, watermelon): the earliest start, two weeks after the median last frost (February 28), is March 14[11]
Vegetable (CSU group) Plant from First harvest around
Broccoli (hardy)[12] Jan 31 Apr 6 (from transplants)
Cabbage (hardy)[12] Jan 31 Apr 26 (from transplants)
Kohlrabi (hardy)[12] Jan 31 Mar 22
Lettuce (hardy)[12] Jan 31 Apr 1
Onions (hardy)[12] Jan 31 May 21
Peas (hardy)[12] Jan 31 Apr 6
Radishes (hardy)[12] Jan 31 Mar 2
Spinach (hardy)[12] Jan 31 Mar 12
Turnips (hardy)[12] Jan 31 Mar 22
Beets (semi-hardy)[12] Feb 14 Apr 15
Carrots (semi-hardy)[12] Feb 14 Apr 25
Cauliflower (semi-hardy)[12] Feb 14 not listed
Parsnips (semi-hardy)[12] Feb 14 Apr 25
Potatoes (semi-hardy)[12] Feb 14 Jun 19
Swiss chard (semi-hardy)[12] Feb 14 Apr 15
Snap beans (tender)[12] Feb 28 Apr 29
Sweet corn (tender)[12] Feb 28 Apr 29
Cucumbers (tender)[12] Feb 28 Apr 24
Summer squash (tender)[12] Feb 28 Apr 19
Cantaloupe (very tender)[12] Mar 14 Jun 7
Eggplant (very tender)[12] Mar 14 May 13 (from transplants)
Peppers (very tender)[12] Mar 14 May 23 (from transplants)
Tomatoes (very tender)[12] Mar 14 May 18 (from transplants)
Winter squash (very tender)[12] Mar 14 Jun 22
Watermelon (very tender)[12] Mar 14 Jun 7
Spacing, depth and soil temperature (CSU Extension)
Vegetable Min. soil temp Depth Spacing Days to harvest
Broccoli[13] 40°F 1/2 in 18 in 65
Cabbage[13] 40°F 1/2 in 18 in 85
Kohlrabi[13] 40°F 1/2 in 7-9 in 50
Lettuce[13] 35°F 1/4 in 7-9 in 60
Onions[13] 35°F 1/4 in (seed), 1-2 in (sets) 4-6 in 110
Peas[13] 40°F 1 in 4-6 in 65
Radishes[13] 40°F 1/2 in 2-3 in 30
Spinach[13] 40°F 1/2 in 4-6 in 40
Turnips[13] 40°F 1/2 in 4-6 in 50
Beets[13] 40°F 3/4-1 in 4-6 in 60
Carrots[13] 40°F 1/4 in 2-3 in 70
Cauliflower[13] 40°F 1/2 in 18 in –
Parsnips[13] 35°F 1/2 in 5-6 in 70
Potatoes[13] 45°F – – 125
Swiss chard[13] 40°F 1 in 7-9 in 60
Snap beans[13] 55°F 1-1 1/2 in 6 in 60
Sweet corn[13] 50°F 1-1 1/2 in 12 x 30 in or 9 x 36 in 60-90
Cucumbers[13] 60°F 1 in 6 in trellised, 24-36 in untrellised 55
Summer squash[13] 60°F 1-1 1/2 in 36-48 in 50
Cantaloupe[13] 60°F 1-1 1/2 in 36-48 in 85
Eggplant[13] 60°F 1/4 in 18-24 in 60
Peppers[13] 60°F 1/4 in 15-18 in 70
Tomatoes[13] 50°F 1/4 in 24 in trellised 65
Winter squash[13] 60°F 1-1 1/2 in 36-48 in 100
Watermelon[13] 60°F 1-1 1/2 in 36-48 in 85

Hardiness zone

Zone 9a means the coldest night of a typical winter falls between 20°F and 25°F, averaged over 1991 to 2020[1]. The zone is based on winter lows, not on summer heat or frost dates[14]. Baton Rouge overlaps 18 ZIP code areas, and 100% of the city's land area lies in ZIP code areas rated zone 9a[15].

Zone 9a: average annual extreme minimum temperature 20°F to 25°F (1991 to 2020)[1]. Modeled value at the city center: 22.6°F[1].

Share of the city's land area by ZIP code zone: zone 9a 100%[15].

All towns in zone 9a and what zone 9a means

Zone by ZIP code
ZIP code Zone Coldest night range
70820[15] 9a 20 to 25°F
70808[15] 9a 20 to 25°F
70815[15] 9a 20 to 25°F
70806[15] 9a 20 to 25°F
70807[15] 9a 20 to 25°F
70805[15] 9a 20 to 25°F
70802[15] 9a 20 to 25°F
70816[15] 9a 20 to 25°F
70814[15] 9a 20 to 25°F
70809[15] 9a 20 to 25°F
70810[15] 9a 20 to 25°F
70819[15] 9a 20 to 25°F
70811[15] 9a 20 to 25°F
70813[15] 9a 20 to 25°F
70812[15] 9a 20 to 25°F
70836[15] 9a 20 to 25°F
70801[15] 9a 20 to 25°F
70825[15] 9a 20 to 25°F

Questions people ask

What growing zone is Baton Rouge?
The 2023 USDA map puts the center of Baton Rouge in zone 9a[1]. All of the city's land area lies in ZIP code areas rated 9a[15].
When is the last frost in Baton Rouge?
The median last spring frost is February 28, so in half of years the last frost comes after that date[2]. In 1 of 10 years it comes after March 21[2].
When is the first frost in Baton Rouge?
The median first fall frost is November 26, so in half of years it comes before that date[3]. In 1 of 10 years it comes before November 6[3].
When to plant tomatoes in Baton Rouge?
Colorado State University Extension says tomatoes typically go in 2 or more weeks after the average last spring frost[11]. Using the median last frost, the earliest start is March 14[11].
How long is the growing season in Baton Rouge?
The growing season is at least 272 days in half of years[4]. It is at least 240 days in 9 of 10 years[4].

Facts and sources

  1. The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map puts the center of Baton Rouge, Louisiana in zone 9a. Zone 9a means an average annual extreme minimum temperature of 20°F to 25°F over 1991 to 2020. The map's modeled value at the city center is 22.6°F. USDA zone map 2023 (PRISM, OSU)
  2. Last spring frost (32°F) at this station: in 9 of 10 years the last frost comes after January 31, in half of years after February 28, and in 1 of 10 years after March 21 (NOAA 1991 to 2020 normals). The median last frost date is February 28. NOAA Climate Normals 1991-2020
  3. First fall frost (32°F) at this station: in 1 of 10 years the first frost comes before November 6, in half of years before November 26, and in 9 of 10 years before December 22 (NOAA 1991 to 2020 normals). The median first frost date is November 26. NOAA Climate Normals 1991-2020
  4. Growing season (days between the last spring and first fall 32°F frost) at this station: at least 240 days in 9 of 10 years, at least 272 days in half of years, and at least 309 days in 1 of 10 years. NOAA Climate Normals 1991-2020
  5. Frost dates on this page come from NOAA climate normals for the Lsu Ben-Hur Farm weather station (USC00165620), 5.6 miles from the center of Baton Rouge at 21 feet, using 28 years of records from 1991 to 2020. NOAA Climate Normals 1991-2020
  6. Colorado State University Extension's vegetable planting guide (written for Colorado) groups broccoli, cabbage, kohlrabi, lettuce, onions, peas, radishes, spinach, turnips as hardy vegetables, with this rule: as early as 2-4 weeks before the average last... CSU Extension GardenNotes #720
  7. Hard freeze (28°F) at this station: the median last spring date is February 7 and the median first fall date is December 16. NOAA Climate Normals 1991-2020
  8. At this station the low reached 32°F or colder in 99.8% of years from 1991 to 2020, and 28°F or colder in 95.6% of years. NOAA Climate Normals 1991-2020
  9. Colorado State University Extension's vegetable planting guide (written for Colorado) groups beets, carrots, cauliflower, parsnips, potatoes, Swiss chard as semi-hardy vegetables, with this rule: as early as 0-2 weeks before the average last spring frost.... CSU Extension GardenNotes #720
  10. Colorado State University Extension's vegetable planting guide (written for Colorado) groups snap beans, sweet corn, cucumbers, summer squash as tender vegetables, with this rule: from seed around the average last spring frost; cucumber and summer squash... CSU Extension GardenNotes #720
  11. Colorado State University Extension's vegetable planting guide (written for Colorado) groups cantaloupe, eggplant, peppers, tomatoes, winter squash, watermelon as very tender vegetables, with this rule: typically 2 or more weeks after the average last... CSU Extension GardenNotes #720
  12. GardenFacts calculation: earliest planting date plus CSU days to harvest (table on this page), from the station's median last frost. NOAA Climate Normals 1991-2020
  13. CSU Extension vegetable table: soil temperature, depth, spacing, days to harvest (table on this page). CSU Extension GardenNotes #720
  14. USDA hardiness zones are based on the average annual extreme minimum winter temperature (the coldest night of each winter, averaged over 1991 to 2020 for the 2023 map), not on summer heat or frost dates. Each zone spans 10°F and each half zone (a or b)... USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map
  15. Baton Rouge, Louisiana overlaps 18 ZIP code areas. By land area, 100% lies in ZIP code areas rated zone 9a. USDA zone map 2023 (PRISM, OSU)

Frost dates are probabilities from 1991 to 2020 weather records at one NOAA station, not a forecast. Any year can be earlier or later. The hardiness zone describes the average coldest winter night, not frost dates or summer heat. Spots inside the city can differ (ZIP table). Planting rules come from Colorado State University Extension's guide, written for Colorado. A local extension office may give dates tuned to the area. Planting and harvest dates marked GardenFacts calculation are simple arithmetic from the facts above, not advice from the source.

Hardiness zone data: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (2023), USDA Agricultural Research Service and PRISM Group, Oregon State University, prism.oregonstate.edu, accessed October 30, 2026. This is not the official USDA map. Frost data: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020. Planting rules: Colorado State University Extension.