New Orleans, Louisiana planting calendar and frost dates
New Orleans is in USDA hardiness zone 9b. The last spring frost typically comes around January 24 and the first fall frost around January 2, giving about 341 frost-free days a year.
- Hardiness zone
- Zone 9b
- Typical last frost
- January 24
- Typical first frost
- January 2
- Frost-free season
- 341 days
Frost dates in New Orleans
Last spring frost
- December 28Risky: frost later than this in 9 years out of 10
- January 24Typical: a later frost in half of years
- February 23Safe: a later frost only 1 year in 10
First fall frost
- December 5Risky: frost earlier than this 1 year in 10
- January 2Typical: an earlier frost in half of years
- February 1Late: frost before this in 9 years out of 10
The growing season between the typical last and first frosts is about 341 days. Frost here means a low of 32°F at the weather station.
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for New Orleans Audubon, 4.2 miles SW 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 New Orleans
January
Start indoors: basil, cantaloupes, celery, cucumbers, pumpkins, ranunculus, tomatoes, watermelons, winter squash, zucchini
Plant or sow outdoors: asparagus, avocados, beets, black-eyed susans, blackberries, broccoli, cabbages, carrots, cauliflower, chives, cilantro, collard greens, dahlias, dill, figs, garden mums, ginger, gladioli, grapes, green onions, lavenders, leeks, lettuce, lilies, marigolds, mints, nasturtiums, onions, oregano, parsley, petunias, potatoes, radishes, ranunculus, rosemary, roses, sage, snapdragons, spinach, sunflowers, sweet corn, swiss chard, thyme, turnips
Plant for fall: crocuses, daffodils, garlic, hyacinths, lilies, ornamental alliums, peonies, tulips
February
Start indoors: cosmos, cucumbers, okra, pumpkins, winter squash, zucchini
Plant or sow outdoors: avocados, basil, cantaloupes, cucumbers, eggplants, garden mums, ginger, grapes, green beans, green onions, lavenders, lilies, marigolds, mints, nasturtiums, oregano, parsley, peppers, petunias, pumpkins, rosemary, sage, st. augustinegrass, sunflowers, sweet corn, thyme, tomatoes, watermelons, winter squash, zucchini
March
Start indoors: zinnias
Plant or sow outdoors: bermudagrass, cantaloupes, celery, centipedegrass, cosmos, cucumbers, eggplants, green beans, okra, peanuts, peppers, pumpkins, st. augustinegrass, sweet potatoes, tomatoes, watermelons, winter squash, zoysiagrass, zucchini
April
Plant or sow outdoors: bermudagrass, centipedegrass, okra, st. augustinegrass, zinnias, zoysiagrass
September
Plant for fall: brussels sprouts, peppers, potatoes, sweet corn, tomatoes
October
Start indoors: onions
Plant for fall: bearded irises, beets, broccoli, brussels sprouts, cabbages, carrots, cauliflower, collard greens, cucumbers, daylilies, green beans, kale, lettuce, peas, peppers, radishes, snapdragons, spinach, sweet corn, swiss chard, turnips, zucchini
November
Start indoors: black-eyed susans, broccoli, cabbages, cauliflower, chives, collard greens, ginger, kale, leeks, lettuce, marigolds, onions, oregano, parsley, petunias, ranunculus, rosemary, sage, snapdragons
Plant for fall: azaleas, bearded irises, beets, broccoli, cabbages, 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, tall fescue, tulips, turnips
December
Start indoors: basil, black-eyed susans, cabbages, cauliflower, celery, chives, cilantro, collard greens, eggplants, ginger, lettuce, marigolds, nasturtiums, peppers, ranunculus, sage, snapdragons, spinach, swiss chard, tomatoes
Plant or sow outdoors: asparagus, beets, black-eyed susans, blackberries, blueberries, broccoli, cauliflower, chives, cilantro, collard greens, figs, garlic, gladioli, grapes, grass seed, green onions, hollyhocks, kale, kentucky bluegrass, leeks, onions, peas, poppies, radishes, ranunculus, raspberries, rhubarb, roses, spinach, strawberries, sweet peas, swiss chard, tall fescue, turnips, wildflowers
Plant for fall: crocuses, daffodils, daylilies, grass seed, hostas, hyacinths, kale, kentucky bluegrass, lilies, ornamental alliums, peonies, perennial ryegrass, radishes, saffron, tall fescue, tulips
Frost dates and zones by ZIP code in New Orleans
All 7 of New Orleans's main ZIP codes take their frost dates from New Orleans Audubon, so the dates on this page apply across the city. Every one of them is in zone 9b.
| ZIP code | Zone | Weather station | Typical last frost | Typical first frost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 70117 | 9b | New Orleans Audubon, 4.2 mi SW | Jan 24 | Jan 2 |
| 70122 | 9b | New Orleans Audubon, 4.2 mi SW | Jan 24 | Jan 2 |
| 70124 | 9b | New Orleans Audubon, 4.2 mi SW | Jan 24 | Jan 2 |
| 70126 | 9b | New Orleans Audubon, 4.2 mi SW | Jan 24 | Jan 2 |
| 70127 | 9b | New Orleans Audubon, 4.2 mi SW | Jan 24 | Jan 2 |
| 70129 | 9b | New Orleans Audubon, 4.2 mi SW | Jan 24 | Jan 2 |
| 70131 | 9b | New Orleans Audubon, 4.2 mi SW | Jan 24 | Jan 2 |
New Orleans Audubon also supplies the frost dates for Kenner, so their planting calendars match New Orleans's.
Planting dates for popular crops in New Orleans
| Plant | Start indoors | Plant or sow outdoors | Fall planting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomatoes | Dec 24 to Jan 7 | Feb 18 to Mar 4 | Sep 19 to 26 |
| Strawberries | — | Dec 13 to 27 | — |
| Lettuce | Nov 29 to Dec 13 | Jan 17 to 31 | Oct 3 to Nov 7 |
| Cilantro | Dec 13 to 27 | Jan 24 to 31 | — |
| Basil | Dec 31 to Jan 14 | Feb 18 to 25 | — |
| Potatoes | — | Jan 3 to 10 | Sep 12 to 19 |
| Garlic | — | Dec 13 to 27 | Jan 2 to 16 |
| Onions | Oct 4 to Nov 15 | Dec 27 to Jan 10 | — |
| Cucumbers | Jan 21 to Feb 4 | Feb 18 to Mar 4 | Oct 3 to 17 |
| Pumpkins | Jan 21 to Feb 4 | Feb 18 to Mar 4 | — |
| Peppers | Dec 3 to 31 | Feb 18 to Mar 4 | Sep 12 to Oct 10 |
| Carrots | — | Jan 3 to 24 | Oct 10 to 31 |
| Sweet Potatoes | — | Mar 16 to 23 | — |
| Watermelons | Jan 14 to 28 | Feb 18 to Mar 4 | — |
| Sweet Corn | — | Jan 24 to Feb 7 | Sep 26 to Oct 10 |
| Green Beans | — | Feb 18 to Mar 4 | Oct 10 to 17 |
| Zucchini | Jan 21 to Feb 4 | Feb 18 to Mar 4 | Oct 10 to 24 |
| Broccoli | Nov 8 to 29 | Dec 27 to Jan 10 | Oct 17 to Nov 14 |
| Peas | — | Dec 13 to 27 | Oct 10 to 24 |
| Spinach | Dec 13 to 20 | Jan 17 to 31 | Oct 24 to Nov 28 |
| Sunflowers | — | Jan 24 to Feb 14 | — |
| Zinnias | Mar 13 to 20 | Apr 10 to 24 | — |
| Tulips | — | — | Nov 21 to Jan 16 |
| Daffodils | — | — | Nov 21 to Jan 2 |
| Grass Seed | — | Dec 13 to 27 | Nov 21 to Dec 5 |
Nearby cities
- Kenner, LA zone 9b, last frost Jan 24
- Gulfport, MS zone 9a, last frost Feb 23
- Baton Rouge, LA zone 9a, last frost Feb 25
- Mobile, AL zone 9a, last frost Feb 21
- Lafayette, LA zone 9a, last frost Feb 13
- Jackson, MS zone 8b, last frost Mar 14
Planting in LouisianaAbout zone 9bPrintable calendar for New Orleans
Questions
When is the last frost in New Orleans?
Around January 24 in a typical year, based on NOAA's 1991-2020 records for New Orleans Audubon. There is still a 1 in 10 chance of frost after February 23.
What planting zone is New Orleans in?
USDA hardiness zone 9b (2023 map). The zone tells you which perennials survive the winter; planting dates depend on frost dates instead.
When should I plant tomatoes in New Orleans?
Start seeds indoors December 24 to January 7 and set plants out February 18 to March 4; the safest date to plant out is after February 23.
When is the first frost in New Orleans?
Around January 2 in a typical year, and before December 5 about 1 year in 10.