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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

  1. 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

  2. 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

  3. 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

  4. April

    Plant or sow outdoors: bermudagrass, celery, centipedegrass, cosmos, okra, peanuts, st. augustinegrass, sweet potatoes, zinnias, zoysiagrass

  5. May

    Plant or sow outdoors: bermudagrass, centipedegrass, zinnias, zoysiagrass

  6. August

    Plant for fall: brussels sprouts, peppers, potatoes, sweet corn, tomatoes

  7. 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

  8. 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

  9. 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

  10. 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 codeZoneWeather stationTypical last frostTypical first frost
705019aLafayette Rgnl Airport, 2.3 mi SEFeb 13Dec 4
705039aLafayette Rgnl Airport, 2.3 mi SEFeb 13Dec 4
705069aLafayette Rgnl Airport, 2.3 mi SEFeb 13Dec 4
705079aLafayette Rgnl Airport, 2.3 mi SEFeb 13Dec 4
705089aLafayette Rgnl Airport, 2.3 mi SEFeb 13Dec 4

Planting dates for popular crops in Lafayette

PlantStart indoorsPlant or sow outdoorsFall planting
TomatoesJan 5 to 19Mar 2 to 16Aug 21 to 28
Strawberries—Jan 2 to 16—
LettuceDec 19 to Jan 2Feb 6 to 20Sep 4 to Oct 9
CilantroJan 2 to 16Feb 13 to 20—
BasilJan 12 to 26Mar 2 to 9—
Potatoes—Jan 23 to 30Aug 14 to 21
Garlic—Jan 2 to 16Dec 4 to 18
OnionsOct 24 to Dec 5Jan 16 to 30—
CucumbersFeb 2 to 16Mar 2 to 16Sep 4 to 18
PumpkinsFeb 2 to 16Mar 2 to 16—
PeppersDec 15 to Jan 12Mar 2 to 16Aug 14 to Sep 11
Carrots—Jan 23 to Feb 13Sep 11 to Oct 2
Sweet Potatoes—Mar 27 to Apr 3—
WatermelonsJan 26 to Feb 9Mar 2 to 16—
Sweet Corn—Feb 13 to 27Aug 28 to Sep 11
Green Beans—Mar 2 to 16Sep 11 to 18
ZucchiniFeb 2 to 16Mar 2 to 16Sep 11 to 25
BroccoliNov 28 to Dec 19Jan 16 to 30Sep 18 to Oct 16
Peas—Jan 2 to 16Sep 11 to 25
SpinachJan 2 to 9Feb 6 to 20Sep 25 to Oct 30
Sunflowers—Feb 13 to Mar 6—
ZinniasMar 23 to 30Apr 20 to May 4—
Tulips——Oct 23 to Dec 18
Daffodils——Oct 23 to Dec 4
Grass Seed—Jan 2 to 16Oct 23 to Nov 6

Nearby cities

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.