Lafayette, Louisiana planting calendar and frost dates
Lafayette is in USDA hardiness zone 9a. The last spring frost typically comes around February 13 and the first fall frost around December 4, giving about 299 frost-free days a year.
- Hardiness zone
- Zone 9a
- Typical last frost
- February 13
- Typical first frost
- December 4
- Frost-free season
- 299 days
Frost dates in Lafayette
Last spring frost
- January 13Risky: frost later than this in 9 years out of 10
- February 13Typical: a later frost in half of years
- March 10Safe: a later frost only 1 year in 10
First fall frost
- November 13Risky: frost earlier than this 1 year in 10
- December 4Typical: an earlier frost in half of years
- New yearLate: in about 1 year in 10, the first frost waits until after December 31
The growing season between the typical last and first frosts is about 299 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 January 27 and returns around December 30.
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Lafayette Rgnl Airport, 2.3 miles SE of the city center. Low-lying and rural spots often frost later in spring and earlier in fall than airports and city centers.
What to plant each month in Lafayette
January
Start indoors: basil, black-eyed susans, cabbages, cantaloupes, celery, chives, cilantro, collard greens, eggplants, ginger, lettuce, marigolds, nasturtiums, peppers, ranunculus, sage, snapdragons, spinach, swiss chard, tomatoes, watermelons
Plant or sow outdoors: asparagus, beets, black-eyed susans, blackberries, blueberries, broccoli, cabbages, carrots, cauliflower, chives, cilantro, collard greens, dahlias, dill, figs, garlic, gladioli, grapes, grass seed, green onions, hollyhocks, kale, leeks, lettuce, onions, parsley, peas, poppies, potatoes, radishes, ranunculus, raspberries, rhubarb, roses, snapdragons, spinach, strawberries, swiss chard, turnips, wildflowers
February
Start indoors: cantaloupes, cosmos, cucumbers, okra, pumpkins, watermelons, winter squash, zucchini
Plant or sow outdoors: asparagus, beets, carrots, cauliflower, chives, cilantro, dahlias, dill, figs, garden mums, ginger, gladioli, grapes, green onions, kentucky bluegrass, lavenders, leeks, lettuce, lilies, marigolds, mints, nasturtiums, oregano, parsley, petunias, ranunculus, rosemary, roses, sage, snapdragons, spinach, sunflowers, sweet corn, sweet peas, swiss chard, tall fescue, thyme
March
Start indoors: zinnias
Plant or sow outdoors: basil, bermudagrass, cantaloupes, celery, centipedegrass, cosmos, cucumbers, eggplants, garden mums, ginger, green beans, green onions, okra, peanuts, peppers, pumpkins, st. augustinegrass, sunflowers, sweet potatoes, tomatoes, watermelons, winter squash, zoysiagrass, zucchini
April
Plant or sow outdoors: bermudagrass, celery, centipedegrass, cosmos, okra, peanuts, st. augustinegrass, sweet potatoes, zinnias, zoysiagrass
May
Plant or sow outdoors: bermudagrass, centipedegrass, zinnias, zoysiagrass
August
Plant for fall: brussels sprouts, peppers, potatoes, sweet corn, tomatoes
September
Plant for fall: bearded irises, beets, broccoli, brussels sprouts, cabbages, carrots, cauliflower, collard greens, cucumbers, green beans, lettuce, peas, peppers, radishes, snapdragons, spinach, sweet corn, swiss chard, turnips, zucchini
October
Start indoors: onions
Plant for fall: azaleas, bearded irises, beets, broccoli, cabbages, carrots, cauliflower, clematis, coneflowers, crocuses, daffodils, daylilies, grass seed, hostas, hydrangeas, kale, kentucky bluegrass, lettuce, lilies, ornamental alliums, peonies, perennial ryegrass, radishes, roses, saffron, snapdragons, spinach, swiss chard, tall fescue, tulips, turnips
November
Start indoors: broccoli, cauliflower, collard greens, kale, leeks, onions, petunias, ranunculus
Plant for fall: crocuses, daffodils, daylilies, grass seed, hostas, hyacinths, kale, kentucky bluegrass, lilies, ornamental alliums, peonies, perennial ryegrass, radishes, saffron, tall fescue, tulips
December
Start indoors: black-eyed susans, broccoli, cabbages, cauliflower, chives, collard greens, eggplants, ginger, kale, leeks, lettuce, marigolds, onions, oregano, parsley, peppers, petunias, ranunculus, rosemary, sage, snapdragons
Plant for fall: crocuses, daffodils, garlic, hyacinths, lilies, ornamental alliums, peonies, tulips
Frost dates and zones by ZIP code in Lafayette
All 5 of Lafayette's main ZIP codes take their frost dates from Lafayette Rgnl Airport, so the dates on this page apply across the city. Every one of them is in zone 9a.
| ZIP code | Zone | Weather station | Typical last frost | Typical first frost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 70501 | 9a | Lafayette Rgnl Airport, 2.3 mi SE | Feb 13 | Dec 4 |
| 70503 | 9a | Lafayette Rgnl Airport, 2.3 mi SE | Feb 13 | Dec 4 |
| 70506 | 9a | Lafayette Rgnl Airport, 2.3 mi SE | Feb 13 | Dec 4 |
| 70507 | 9a | Lafayette Rgnl Airport, 2.3 mi SE | Feb 13 | Dec 4 |
| 70508 | 9a | Lafayette Rgnl Airport, 2.3 mi SE | Feb 13 | Dec 4 |
Planting dates for popular crops in Lafayette
| Plant | Start indoors | Plant or sow outdoors | Fall planting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomatoes | Jan 5 to 19 | Mar 2 to 16 | Aug 21 to 28 |
| Strawberries | — | Jan 2 to 16 | — |
| Lettuce | Dec 19 to Jan 2 | Feb 6 to 20 | Sep 4 to Oct 9 |
| Cilantro | Jan 2 to 16 | Feb 13 to 20 | — |
| Basil | Jan 12 to 26 | Mar 2 to 9 | — |
| Potatoes | — | Jan 23 to 30 | Aug 14 to 21 |
| Garlic | — | Jan 2 to 16 | Dec 4 to 18 |
| Onions | Oct 24 to Dec 5 | Jan 16 to 30 | — |
| Cucumbers | Feb 2 to 16 | Mar 2 to 16 | Sep 4 to 18 |
| Pumpkins | Feb 2 to 16 | Mar 2 to 16 | — |
| Peppers | Dec 15 to Jan 12 | Mar 2 to 16 | Aug 14 to Sep 11 |
| Carrots | — | Jan 23 to Feb 13 | Sep 11 to Oct 2 |
| Sweet Potatoes | — | Mar 27 to Apr 3 | — |
| Watermelons | Jan 26 to Feb 9 | Mar 2 to 16 | — |
| Sweet Corn | — | Feb 13 to 27 | Aug 28 to Sep 11 |
| Green Beans | — | Mar 2 to 16 | Sep 11 to 18 |
| Zucchini | Feb 2 to 16 | Mar 2 to 16 | Sep 11 to 25 |
| Broccoli | Nov 28 to Dec 19 | Jan 16 to 30 | Sep 18 to Oct 16 |
| Peas | — | Jan 2 to 16 | Sep 11 to 25 |
| Spinach | Jan 2 to 9 | Feb 6 to 20 | Sep 25 to Oct 30 |
| Sunflowers | — | Feb 13 to Mar 6 | — |
| Zinnias | Mar 23 to 30 | Apr 20 to May 4 | — |
| Tulips | — | — | Oct 23 to Dec 18 |
| Daffodils | — | — | Oct 23 to Dec 4 |
| Grass Seed | — | Jan 2 to 16 | Oct 23 to Nov 6 |
Nearby cities
- Baton Rouge, LA zone 9a, last frost Feb 25
- Lake Charles, LA zone 9a, last frost Feb 14
- Kenner, LA zone 9b, last frost Jan 24
- Port Arthur, TX zone 9b, last frost Feb 14
- New Orleans, LA zone 9b, last frost Jan 24
- Beaumont, TX zone 9b, last frost Feb 14
Planting in LouisianaAbout zone 9aPrintable calendar for Lafayette
Questions
When is the last frost in Lafayette?
Around February 13 in a typical year, based on NOAA's 1991-2020 records for Lafayette Rgnl Airport. There is still a 1 in 10 chance of frost after March 10.
What planting zone is Lafayette in?
USDA hardiness zone 9a (2023 map). The zone tells you which perennials survive the winter; planting dates depend on frost dates instead.
When should I plant tomatoes in Lafayette?
Start seeds indoors January 5 to 19 and set plants out March 2 to 16; the safest date to plant out is after March 10.
When is the first frost in Lafayette?
Around December 4 in a typical year, and before November 13 about 1 year in 10.