Frost Dates & Planting Calendar for Baton Rouge, LA

The average first fall frost in Baton Rouge, LA is November 26, and the average last spring frost is February 28, giving a growing season of about 272 days.

Plan your garden around Baton Rouge, LA's typical frost-free growing season, using NOAA climate normals and a 42-crop planting calendar built for this location.

Last Spring Frost

February 28

Safe Mar 21 Typical Feb 28 Risky Jan 31

First Fall Frost

November 26

Safe Nov 6 Typical Nov 26 Risky Dec 22

Growing Season

272 days

Typical last frost to typical first frost.

USDA Hardiness Zone

Zone 9a

Subtropical to frost-free — heat, not cold, is the main limit on what you can grow.

Data: NOAA station LSU BEN-HUR FARM, LA US, 9 km away.

— days until the typical last spring frost

How Baton Rouge Compares

Baton Rouge's typical last spring frost (Feb 28) comes later than in 70% of the 66 Louisiana cities we track.
Its 272-day growing season is 26 days shorter than the Louisiana median of 298 days.
August is the warmest month (average high 91°F) and January the coldest (average low 40°F).

Monthly Temperatures

Avg. high Avg. temp Avg. low

Planting Calendar

Vegetables
Crop	Start indoors	Direct sow	Transplant	Fall planting	Maturity	Notes
Tomato	Jan 3 – Jan 17	—	Mar 7 – Mar 14	—	60–85 days	Start indoors 6-8 weeks before last frost; transplant out 1-2 weeks after last frost once soil has warmed.
Pepper	Dec 20 – Jan 3	—	Mar 7 – Mar 21	—	60–90 days	Slow to germinate; start indoors 8-10 weeks before last frost. Transplant only once nights stay above 55F, 1-3 weeks after last frost.
Eggplant	Dec 20 – Jan 3	—	Mar 14 – Mar 21	—	65–85 days	Warm-season crop, similar timing to pepper; needs consistently warm soil (65F+) to transplant.
Cucumber	Jan 31 – Feb 7	Mar 7 – Mar 14	Mar 7 – Mar 14	—	50–65 days	Can be started indoors 3-4 weeks before transplanting, or direct-sown 1-2 weeks after last frost once soil is warm.
Zucchini	Feb 7 – Feb 14	Mar 7 – Mar 21	Mar 7 – Mar 14	—	45–55 days	Fast-growing squash; direct sow 1-3 weeks after last frost, or start indoors 2-3 weeks early for a head start.
Winter Squash	Jan 31 – Feb 7	Mar 7 – Mar 21	Mar 7 – Mar 14	—	80–110 days	Long season; direct sow after soil warms, or start indoors 3-4 weeks before last frost in short-season climates.
Pumpkin	—	Mar 7 – Mar 21	—	—	90–120 days	Direct sow 1-3 weeks after last frost; back-time from your first fall frost so the 90-120 day maturity window lands before it.
Watermelon	Jan 31 – Feb 7	—	Mar 14 – Mar 21	—	70–90 days	Needs warm soil (65F+); start indoors 3-4 weeks before last frost, transplant 2-3 weeks after last frost.
Cantaloupe	Jan 31 – Feb 7	—	Mar 14 – Mar 21	—	70–90 days	Same warm-soil requirements as watermelon; avoid disturbing roots when transplanting.
Corn	—	Feb 28 – Mar 14	—	—	60–100 days	Direct sow at last frost to 2 weeks after, once soil reaches 60F; does not transplant well. Succession sow every 2 weeks.
Green Bean	—	Feb 28 – Mar 14	—	—	50–65 days	Direct sow at last frost to 2 weeks after, once soil has warmed; frost-tender, do not rush.
Pea	—	Jan 17 – Jan 31	—	—	55–70 days	Cold-hardy; direct sow 4-6 weeks before last frost as soon as soil can be worked.
Lettuce	—	Jan 31 – Feb 14	—	Oct 1 – Oct 15	45–60 days	Cold-hardy; direct sow 2-4 weeks before last frost. Also transplantable from indoor starts.
Spinach	—	Jan 17 – Jan 31	—	Oct 1 – Oct 15	40–50 days	Very cold-hardy; direct sow 4-6 weeks before last frost as soon as soil can be worked.
Kale	—	Jan 31 – Feb 14	—	Sep 17 – Oct 1	50–65 days	Cold-hardy; direct sow 2-4 weeks before last frost or start indoors for earlier transplants.
Arugula	—	Jan 31 – Feb 14	—	Oct 15 – Oct 22	30–40 days	Fast-growing, cold-tolerant green; direct sow 2-4 weeks before last frost, succession sow every 2-3 weeks.
Swiss Chard	—	Feb 7 – Feb 21	—	—	50–60 days	Fairly cold-hardy; direct sow 1-3 weeks before last frost. Tolerates light frost in fall too.
Broccoli	Jan 10 – Jan 24	—	Feb 7 – Feb 14	Sep 24 – Oct 1	55–80 days	Start indoors 5-7 weeks before last frost; transplant out 2-3 weeks before last frost (hardens off to light frost).
Cauliflower	Jan 10 – Jan 24	—	Feb 14 – Feb 21	Sep 17 – Sep 24	55–85 days	Fussier than broccoli about temperature swings; start indoors 5-7 weeks before last frost, transplant 1-2 weeks before last frost.
Cabbage	Jan 10 – Jan 24	—	Jan 31 – Feb 14	Sep 17 – Oct 1	60–100 days	Cold-hardy; start indoors 5-7 weeks before last frost, transplant 2-4 weeks before last frost.
Brussels Sprouts	Jan 10 – Jan 24	—	Feb 7 – Feb 21	—	90–110 days	Long-season crop best timed to mature after a light fall frost for sweetest flavor; start indoors 5-7 weeks before last frost.
Carrot	—	Jan 31 – Feb 14	—	Sep 3 – Sep 17	60–80 days	Direct sow only (does not transplant); sow 2-4 weeks before last frost, as soon as soil can be worked.
Beet	—	Jan 31 – Feb 14	—	Sep 17 – Oct 1	50–65 days	Direct sow 2-4 weeks before last frost; tolerates light frost.
Radish	—	Jan 24 – Feb 7	—	Oct 15 – Oct 29	22–30 days	Very fast and cold-hardy; direct sow 3-5 weeks before last frost, as soon as soil can be worked.
Turnip	—	Jan 31 – Feb 14	—	Sep 17 – Oct 1	40–60 days	Cold-hardy; direct sow 2-4 weeks before last frost.
Onion	Dec 20 – Jan 3	—	Jan 31 – Feb 14	—	90–120 days	Start seeds indoors 8-10 weeks before last frost (or use sets/transplants); set out 2-4 weeks before last frost, very cold-tolerant as seedlings.
Garlic	—	—	—	Oct 29 – Nov 12	240–270 days	Fall-planted crop only; not planted in spring in most climates.
Potato	—	Jan 31 – Feb 14	—	—	70–120 days	Plant seed potatoes 2-4 weeks before last frost, as soon as soil can be worked and is above 45F; light frost on emerging foliage is usually tolerated.
Sweet Potato	—	—	Mar 14 – Mar 28	—	90–120 days	Set out slips 2-4 weeks after last frost once soil is thoroughly warm (65F+); very frost/cold sensitive.
Asparagus	—	—	Jan 31 – Feb 14	—	730–1095 days	Perennial; plant crowns 2-4 weeks before last frost as soon as soil can be worked. Takes 2-3 years to full production.

Herbs
Crop	Start indoors	Direct sow	Transplant	Fall planting	Maturity	Notes
Basil	Jan 17 – Jan 24	—	Mar 7 – Mar 14	—	50–70 days	Very frost/cold sensitive; start indoors 5-6 weeks before last frost, transplant only after all danger of frost (1-2 weeks after) and nights stay warm.
Cilantro	—	Feb 7 – Feb 21	—	Oct 1 – Oct 15	45–70 days	Cool-season, bolts in heat; direct sow 1-3 weeks before last frost, succession sow through spring.
Parsley	Jan 3 – Jan 17	—	Feb 14 – Feb 21	—	70–90 days	Slow to germinate; start indoors 6-8 weeks before last frost, transplant 1-2 weeks before last frost (biennial, cold-tolerant).
Dill	—	Feb 7 – Feb 21	—	—	40–60 days	Taprooted, does not transplant well; direct sow 1-3 weeks before last frost, succession sow through summer.
Oregano	Jan 3 – Jan 17	—	Feb 28 – Mar 7	—	80–90 days	Perennial herb; start indoors 6-8 weeks before last frost, transplant around/just after last frost date.
Thyme	Jan 3 – Jan 17	—	Feb 28 – Mar 7	—	85–95 days	Perennial herb, slow from seed; start indoors 6-8 weeks before last frost, transplant around/after last frost.

Flowers
Crop	Start indoors	Direct sow	Transplant	Fall planting	Maturity	Notes
Sunflower	—	Mar 7 – Mar 21	—	—	70–100 days	Direct sow 1-3 weeks after last frost once soil has warmed; taprooted, resents transplanting.
Zinnia	Jan 31 – Feb 7	Mar 7 – Mar 21	Mar 7 – Mar 14	—	60–70 days	Frost-tender; direct sow 1-3 weeks after last frost, or start indoors 3-4 weeks early for earlier blooms.
Marigold	Jan 17 – Jan 31	—	Mar 7 – Mar 14	—	45–60 days	Frost-tender; start indoors 4-6 weeks before last frost, transplant after all frost danger has passed.
Cosmos	Jan 31 – Feb 7	Mar 7 – Mar 21	Mar 7 – Mar 14	—	60–90 days	Easy from direct seed 1-3 weeks after last frost; can also start indoors 3-4 weeks early.
Nasturtium	—	Mar 7 – Mar 21	—	—	50–65 days	Frost-tender, resents root disturbance; direct sow 1-3 weeks after last frost once soil has warmed.
Dahlia	—	—	Mar 7 – Mar 21	—	90–120 days	Plant tubers 1-3 weeks after last frost once soil is warm (60F+); very frost-sensitive.

Date ranges are estimates based on university extension guidelines and this city's NOAA frost normals — not a guarantee. Scroll to see all columns on narrow screens.

Frequently Asked Questions

When is the last frost in Baton Rouge, LA?

Based on 1991–2020 NOAA climate normals for the LSU BEN-HUR FARM, LA US station, the last spring frost in Baton Rouge typically falls around February 28. A cautious gardener might wait until March 21 (only a 10% chance of a later frost), while January 31 marks an earlier, higher-risk planting date.

When is the first frost in Baton Rouge, LA in fall?

The first fall frost in Baton Rouge typically arrives around November 26. To stay safe, assume frost could start as early as November 6; in milder years it can hold off until December 22.

How long is the growing season in Baton Rouge, LA?

Baton Rouge's average frost-free growing season is about 272 days, running from the typical last spring frost (February 28) to the typical first fall frost (November 26).

What USDA hardiness zone is Baton Rouge, LA in?

Baton Rouge, LA is in USDA plant hardiness zone 9a, per the USDA's 2023 Plant Hardiness Zone Map. Subtropical to frost-free — heat, not cold, is the main limit on what you can grow.