Bossier City, Louisiana planting calendar and frost dates
Bossier City is in USDA hardiness zone 8b. The last spring frost typically comes around February 28 and the first fall frost around November 24, giving about 268 frost-free days a year.
- Hardiness zone
- Zone 8b
- Typical last frost
- February 28
- Typical first frost
- November 24
- Frost-free season
- 268 days
Frost dates in Bossier City
Last spring frost
- February 4Risky: frost later than this in 9 years out of 10
- February 28Typical: a later frost in half of years
- March 19Safe: a later frost only 1 year in 10
First fall frost
- November 7Risky: frost earlier than this 1 year in 10
- November 24Typical: an earlier frost in half of years
- December 14Late: frost before this in 9 years out of 10
The growing season between the typical last and first frosts is about 268 days. Frost here means a low of 32°F at the weather station. A hard freeze (28°F), which damages most hardy crops too, typically ends around February 11 and returns around December 10.
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Shreveport Dwtn Airport, 1.3 miles NNE of the city center. Low-lying and rural spots often frost later in spring and earlier in fall than airports and city centers. Bossier City shares this station with Shreveport, so the two cities have the same frost dates and planting calendar.
What to plant each month in Bossier City
January
Start indoors: basil, black-eyed susans, broccoli, cabbages, cauliflower, celery, chives, cilantro, collard greens, eggplants, ginger, leeks, lettuce, marigolds, nasturtiums, oregano, parsley, peppers, petunias, ranunculus, rosemary, sage, snapdragons, spinach, swiss chard, tomatoes
Plant or sow outdoors: beets, black-eyed susans, blackberries, blueberries, broccoli, cauliflower, chives, cilantro, collard greens, figs, garlic, gladioli, grapes, grass seed, hollyhocks, kale, leeks, onions, peas, poppies, radishes, ranunculus, raspberries, rhubarb, roses, spinach, strawberries, swiss chard, turnips, wildflowers
February
Start indoors: basil, cantaloupes, cosmos, cucumbers, okra, pumpkins, ranunculus, tomatoes, watermelons, winter squash, zucchini
Plant or sow outdoors: asparagus, beets, black-eyed susans, blackberries, broccoli, cabbages, carrots, cauliflower, chives, cilantro, collard greens, dahlias, dill, figs, garden mums, gladioli, grapes, green onions, kentucky bluegrass, lavenders, leeks, lettuce, lilies, marigolds, mints, nasturtiums, onions, oregano, parsley, petunias, potatoes, radishes, ranunculus, rosemary, roses, sage, snapdragons, spinach, sunflowers, sweet corn, sweet peas, swiss chard, tall fescue, thyme, turnips
March
Start indoors: cosmos, cucumbers, okra, pumpkins, winter squash, zinnias, zucchini
Plant or sow outdoors: asparagus, basil, cantaloupes, chives, cilantro, cucumbers, dahlias, dill, eggplants, garden mums, ginger, gladioli, grapes, green beans, green onions, kentucky bluegrass, lavenders, lettuce, lilies, marigolds, mints, nasturtiums, oregano, parsley, peppers, petunias, pumpkins, ranunculus, rosemary, sage, spinach, sunflowers, sweet corn, sweet peas, swiss chard, tall fescue, thyme, tomatoes, watermelons, winter squash, zucchini
April
Start indoors: zinnias
Plant or sow outdoors: bermudagrass, cantaloupes, celery, centipedegrass, cosmos, cucumbers, eggplants, green beans, green onions, okra, peanuts, peppers, pumpkins, st. augustinegrass, sweet potatoes, tomatoes, watermelons, winter squash, zinnias, zoysiagrass, zucchini
May
Plant or sow outdoors: bermudagrass, centipedegrass, st. augustinegrass, zinnias, zoysiagrass
August
Plant for fall: brussels sprouts, collard greens, cucumbers, lettuce, peppers, potatoes, sweet corn, swiss chard, tomatoes
September
Plant for fall: azaleas, bearded irises, beets, broccoli, cabbages, carrots, cauliflower, clematis, collard greens, coneflowers, cucumbers, daylilies, green beans, hostas, hydrangeas, kale, lettuce, peas, peppers, radishes, roses, saffron, snapdragons, spinach, sweet corn, swiss chard, turnips, zucchini
October
Plant for fall: azaleas, bearded irises, beets, broccoli, cabbages, cauliflower, clematis, coneflowers, crocuses, daffodils, daylilies, grass seed, hostas, hyacinths, hydrangeas, kale, kentucky bluegrass, lilies, ornamental alliums, peonies, perennial ryegrass, radishes, roses, saffron, spinach, tall fescue, tulips, turnips
November
Start indoors: onions
Plant for fall: crocuses, daffodils, daylilies, garlic, hyacinths, lilies, ornamental alliums, peonies, tulips
December
Start indoors: broccoli, cabbages, cauliflower, collard greens, kale, leeks, onions, oregano, parsley, peppers, petunias, ranunculus, rosemary, snapdragons
Plant for fall: crocuses, garlic, hyacinths, ornamental alliums, tulips
Frost dates and zones by ZIP code in Bossier City
Bossier City's 3 main ZIP codes take their frost dates from 2 different NOAA stations: the typical last frost ranges from February 28 in 71111 to March 6 in 71110. Every one of them is in zone 8b.
| ZIP code | Zone | Weather station | Typical last frost | Typical first frost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 71110 | 8b | Red River Rsch Stn, 5.4 mi S | Mar 6 | Nov 18 |
| 71111 | 8b | Shreveport Dwtn Airport, 1.3 mi NNE | Feb 28 | Nov 24 |
| 71112 | 8b | Shreveport Dwtn Airport, 1.3 mi NNE | Feb 28 | Nov 24 |
Shreveport Dwtn Airport also supplies the frost dates for Shreveport, so their planting calendars match Bossier City's.
Planting dates for popular crops in Bossier City
| Plant | Start indoors | Plant or sow outdoors | Fall planting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomatoes | Jan 21 to Feb 4 | Mar 18 to Apr 1 | Aug 11 to 18 |
| Strawberries | — | Jan 17 to 31 | — |
| Lettuce | Jan 3 to 17 | Feb 21 to Mar 7 | Aug 25 to Sep 29 |
| Cilantro | Jan 17 to 31 | Feb 28 to Mar 7 | — |
| Basil | Jan 28 to Feb 11 | Mar 18 to 25 | — |
| Potatoes | — | Feb 7 to 14 | Aug 4 to 11 |
| Garlic | — | Jan 17 to 31 | Nov 24 to Dec 8 |
| Onions | Nov 8 to Dec 20 | Jan 31 to Feb 14 | — |
| Cucumbers | Feb 18 to Mar 4 | Mar 18 to Apr 1 | Aug 25 to Sep 8 |
| Pumpkins | Feb 18 to Mar 4 | Mar 18 to Apr 1 | — |
| Peppers | Dec 31 to Jan 28 | Mar 18 to Apr 1 | Aug 4 to Sep 1 |
| Carrots | — | Feb 7 to 28 | Sep 1 to 22 |
| Sweet Potatoes | — | Apr 8 to 15 | — |
| Watermelons | Feb 11 to 25 | Mar 18 to Apr 1 | — |
| Sweet Corn | — | Feb 28 to Mar 14 | Aug 18 to Sep 1 |
| Green Beans | — | Mar 18 to Apr 1 | Sep 1 to 8 |
| Zucchini | Feb 18 to Mar 4 | Mar 18 to Apr 1 | Sep 1 to 15 |
| Broccoli | Dec 13 to Jan 3 | Jan 31 to Feb 14 | Sep 8 to Oct 6 |
| Peas | — | Jan 17 to 31 | Sep 1 to 15 |
| Spinach | Jan 17 to 24 | Feb 21 to Mar 7 | Sep 15 to Oct 20 |
| Sunflowers | — | Feb 28 to Mar 21 | — |
| Zinnias | Mar 31 to Apr 7 | Apr 28 to May 12 | — |
| Tulips | — | — | Oct 13 to Dec 8 |
| Daffodils | — | — | Oct 13 to Nov 24 |
| Grass Seed | — | Jan 17 to 31 | Oct 13 to 27 |
Nearby cities
- Shreveport, LA zone 8b, last frost Feb 28
- Longview, TX zone 8b, last frost Mar 16
- Tyler, TX zone 8b, last frost Mar 7
- Lake Charles, LA zone 9a, last frost Feb 14
- Rockwall, TX zone 8b, last frost Mar 2
- Little Rock, AR zone 8a, last frost Mar 21
Planting in LouisianaAbout zone 8bPrintable calendar for Bossier City
Questions
When is the last frost in Bossier City?
Around February 28 in a typical year, based on NOAA's 1991-2020 records for Shreveport Dwtn Airport. There is still a 1 in 10 chance of frost after March 19.
What planting zone is Bossier City in?
USDA hardiness zone 8b (2023 map). The zone tells you which perennials survive the winter; planting dates depend on frost dates instead.
When should I plant tomatoes in Bossier City?
Start seeds indoors January 21 to February 4 and set plants out March 18 to April 1; the safest date to plant out is after March 19.
When is the first frost in Bossier City?
Around November 24 in a typical year, and before November 7 about 1 year in 10.