Frost Dates & Planting Calendar for Chalmette, LA

The average first fall frost in Chalmette, LA is December 17, and the average last spring frost is February 10, giving a growing season of about 309 days.

Plan your garden around Chalmette, 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 10

Safe Mar 8 Typical Feb 10 Risky Jan 12

First Fall Frost

December 17

Safe Nov 21 Typical Dec 17 Risky Jan 14

Growing Season

309 days

Typical last frost to typical first frost.

USDA Hardiness Zone

Zone 9b

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

Data: NOAA station CHALMETTE, LA US, 2 km away.

— days until the typical last spring frost

How Chalmette Compares

Chalmette's typical last spring frost (Feb 10) comes earlier than in 56% of the 66 Louisiana cities we track.
Its 309-day growing season is 14 days longer than the Louisiana median of 295 days.
Compared with Terrytown (7 km away), Chalmette's last spring frost comes 9 days later than Terrytown's, and its first fall frost arrives 14 days earlier.
August is the warmest month (average high 92°F) and January the coldest (average low 44°F).

Monthly Temperatures

Avg. high Avg. temp Avg. low

Planting Calendar

Vegetables
Crop	Start indoors	Direct sow	Transplant	Fall planting	Maturity	Notes
Tomato	Dec 16 – Dec 30	—	Feb 17 – Feb 24	—	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 2 – Dec 16	—	Feb 17 – Mar 3	—	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 2 – Dec 16	—	Feb 24 – Mar 3	—	65–85 days	Warm-season crop, similar timing to pepper; needs consistently warm soil (65F+) to transplant.
Cucumber	Jan 13 – Jan 20	Feb 17 – Feb 24	Feb 17 – Feb 24	—	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	Jan 20 – Jan 27	Feb 17 – Mar 3	Feb 17 – Feb 24	—	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 13 – Jan 20	Feb 17 – Mar 3	Feb 17 – Feb 24	—	80–110 days	Long season; direct sow after soil warms, or start indoors 3-4 weeks before last frost in short-season climates.
Pumpkin	—	Feb 17 – Mar 3	—	—	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 13 – Jan 20	—	Feb 24 – Mar 3	—	70–90 days	Needs warm soil (65F+); start indoors 3-4 weeks before last frost, transplant 2-3 weeks after last frost.
Cantaloupe	Jan 13 – Jan 20	—	Feb 24 – Mar 3	—	70–90 days	Same warm-soil requirements as watermelon; avoid disturbing roots when transplanting.
Corn	—	Feb 10 – Feb 24	—	—	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 10 – Feb 24	—	—	50–65 days	Direct sow at last frost to 2 weeks after, once soil has warmed; frost-tender, do not rush.
Pea	—	Dec 30 – Jan 13	—	—	55–70 days	Cold-hardy; direct sow 4-6 weeks before last frost as soon as soil can be worked.
Lettuce	—	Jan 13 – Jan 27	—	Oct 22 – Nov 5	45–60 days	Cold-hardy; direct sow 2-4 weeks before last frost. Also transplantable from indoor starts.
Spinach	—	Dec 30 – Jan 13	—	Oct 22 – Nov 5	40–50 days	Very cold-hardy; direct sow 4-6 weeks before last frost as soon as soil can be worked.
Kale	—	Jan 13 – Jan 27	—	Oct 8 – Oct 22	50–65 days	Cold-hardy; direct sow 2-4 weeks before last frost or start indoors for earlier transplants.
Arugula	—	Jan 13 – Jan 27	—	Nov 5 – Nov 12	30–40 days	Fast-growing, cold-tolerant green; direct sow 2-4 weeks before last frost, succession sow every 2-3 weeks.
Swiss Chard	—	Jan 20 – Feb 3	—	—	50–60 days	Fairly cold-hardy; direct sow 1-3 weeks before last frost. Tolerates light frost in fall too.
Broccoli	Dec 23 – Jan 6	—	Jan 20 – Jan 27	Oct 15 – Oct 22	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	Dec 23 – Jan 6	—	Jan 27 – Feb 3	Oct 8 – Oct 15	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	Dec 23 – Jan 6	—	Jan 13 – Jan 27	Oct 8 – Oct 22	60–100 days	Cold-hardy; start indoors 5-7 weeks before last frost, transplant 2-4 weeks before last frost.
Brussels Sprouts	Dec 23 – Jan 6	—	Jan 20 – Feb 3	—	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 13 – Jan 27	—	Sep 24 – Oct 8	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 13 – Jan 27	—	Oct 8 – Oct 22	50–65 days	Direct sow 2-4 weeks before last frost; tolerates light frost.
Radish	—	Jan 6 – Jan 20	—	Nov 5 – Nov 19	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 13 – Jan 27	—	Oct 8 – Oct 22	40–60 days	Cold-hardy; direct sow 2-4 weeks before last frost.
Onion	Dec 2 – Dec 16	—	Jan 13 – Jan 27	—	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	—	—	—	Nov 19 – Dec 3	240–270 days	Fall-planted crop only; not planted in spring in most climates.
Potato	—	Jan 13 – Jan 27	—	—	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	—	—	Feb 24 – Mar 10	—	90–120 days	Set out slips 2-4 weeks after last frost once soil is thoroughly warm (65F+); very frost/cold sensitive.
Asparagus	—	—	Jan 13 – Jan 27	—	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	Dec 30 – Jan 6	—	Feb 17 – Feb 24	—	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	—	Jan 20 – Feb 3	—	Oct 22 – Nov 5	45–70 days	Cool-season, bolts in heat; direct sow 1-3 weeks before last frost, succession sow through spring.
Parsley	Dec 16 – Dec 30	—	Jan 27 – Feb 3	—	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	—	Jan 20 – Feb 3	—	—	40–60 days	Taprooted, does not transplant well; direct sow 1-3 weeks before last frost, succession sow through summer.
Oregano	Dec 16 – Dec 30	—	Feb 10 – Feb 17	—	80–90 days	Perennial herb; start indoors 6-8 weeks before last frost, transplant around/just after last frost date.
Thyme	Dec 16 – Dec 30	—	Feb 10 – Feb 17	—	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	—	Feb 17 – Mar 3	—	—	70–100 days	Direct sow 1-3 weeks after last frost once soil has warmed; taprooted, resents transplanting.
Zinnia	Jan 13 – Jan 20	Feb 17 – Mar 3	Feb 17 – Feb 24	—	60–70 days	Frost-tender; direct sow 1-3 weeks after last frost, or start indoors 3-4 weeks early for earlier blooms.
Marigold	Dec 30 – Jan 13	—	Feb 17 – Feb 24	—	45–60 days	Frost-tender; start indoors 4-6 weeks before last frost, transplant after all frost danger has passed.
Cosmos	Jan 13 – Jan 20	Feb 17 – Mar 3	Feb 17 – Feb 24	—	60–90 days	Easy from direct seed 1-3 weeks after last frost; can also start indoors 3-4 weeks early.
Nasturtium	—	Feb 17 – Mar 3	—	—	50–65 days	Frost-tender, resents root disturbance; direct sow 1-3 weeks after last frost once soil has warmed.
Dahlia	—	—	Feb 17 – Mar 3	—	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 Chalmette, LA?

Based on 1991–2020 NOAA climate normals for the CHALMETTE, LA US station, the last spring frost in Chalmette typically falls around February 10. A cautious gardener might wait until March 8 (only a 10% chance of a later frost), while January 12 marks an earlier, higher-risk planting date.

When is the first frost in Chalmette, LA in fall?

The first fall frost in Chalmette typically arrives around December 17. To stay safe, assume frost could start as early as November 21; in milder years it can hold off until January 14.

How long is the growing season in Chalmette, LA?

Chalmette's average frost-free growing season is about 309 days, running from the typical last spring frost (February 10) to the typical first fall frost (December 17).

What USDA hardiness zone is Chalmette, LA in?

Chalmette, LA is in USDA plant hardiness zone 9b, 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.