Frost Dates & Planting Calendar for Lake Charles, LA
Plan your garden around Lake Charles, 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 14
Safe Mar 11
Typical Feb 14
Risky Jan 16
First Fall Frost
December 7
Safe Nov 14
Typical Dec 7
Risky Jan 7
Growing Season
299 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 LAKE CHARLES, LA US, 9.9 km away.
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days until the typical last spring frost
Monthly Temperatures
Avg. high
Avg. temp
Avg. low
Planting Calendar
| Crop | Start indoors | Direct sow | Transplant | Fall planting | Maturity | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tomato | Dec 20 – Jan 3 | — | Feb 21 – Feb 28 | — | 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 6 – Dec 20 | — | Feb 21 – Mar 7 | — | 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 6 – Dec 20 | — | Feb 28 – Mar 7 | — | 65–85 days | Warm-season crop, similar timing to pepper; needs consistently warm soil (65F+) to transplant. |
| Cucumber | Jan 17 – Jan 24 | Feb 21 – Feb 28 | Feb 21 – Feb 28 | — | 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 24 – Jan 31 | Feb 21 – Mar 7 | Feb 21 – Feb 28 | — | 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 17 – Jan 24 | Feb 21 – Mar 7 | Feb 21 – Feb 28 | — | 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 21 – Mar 7 | — | — | 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 17 – Jan 24 | — | Feb 28 – Mar 7 | — | 70–90 days | Needs warm soil (65F+); start indoors 3-4 weeks before last frost, transplant 2-3 weeks after last frost. |
| Cantaloupe | Jan 17 – Jan 24 | — | Feb 28 – Mar 7 | — | 70–90 days | Same warm-soil requirements as watermelon; avoid disturbing roots when transplanting. |
| Corn | — | Feb 14 – Feb 28 | — | — | 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 14 – Feb 28 | — | — | 50–65 days | Direct sow at last frost to 2 weeks after, once soil has warmed; frost-tender, do not rush. |
| Pea | — | Jan 3 – Jan 17 | — | — | 55–70 days | Cold-hardy; direct sow 4-6 weeks before last frost as soon as soil can be worked. |
| Lettuce | — | Jan 17 – Jan 31 | — | Oct 12 – Oct 26 | 45–60 days | Cold-hardy; direct sow 2-4 weeks before last frost. Also transplantable from indoor starts. |
| Spinach | — | Jan 3 – Jan 17 | — | Oct 12 – Oct 26 | 40–50 days | Very cold-hardy; direct sow 4-6 weeks before last frost as soon as soil can be worked. |
| Kale | — | Jan 17 – Jan 31 | — | Sep 28 – Oct 12 | 50–65 days | Cold-hardy; direct sow 2-4 weeks before last frost or start indoors for earlier transplants. |
| Arugula | — | Jan 17 – Jan 31 | — | Oct 26 – Nov 2 | 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 24 – Feb 7 | — | — | 50–60 days | Fairly cold-hardy; direct sow 1-3 weeks before last frost. Tolerates light frost in fall too. |
| Broccoli | Dec 27 – Jan 10 | — | Jan 24 – Jan 31 | Oct 5 – Oct 12 | 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 27 – Jan 10 | — | Jan 31 – Feb 7 | Sep 28 – Oct 5 | 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 27 – Jan 10 | — | Jan 17 – Jan 31 | Sep 28 – Oct 12 | 60–100 days | Cold-hardy; start indoors 5-7 weeks before last frost, transplant 2-4 weeks before last frost. |
| Brussels Sprouts | Dec 27 – Jan 10 | — | Jan 24 – Feb 7 | — | 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 17 – Jan 31 | — | Sep 14 – Sep 28 | 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 17 – Jan 31 | — | Sep 28 – Oct 12 | 50–65 days | Direct sow 2-4 weeks before last frost; tolerates light frost. |
| Radish | — | Jan 10 – Jan 24 | — | Oct 26 – Nov 9 | 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 17 – Jan 31 | — | Sep 28 – Oct 12 | 40–60 days | Cold-hardy; direct sow 2-4 weeks before last frost. |
| Onion | Dec 6 – Dec 20 | — | Jan 17 – Jan 31 | — | 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 9 – Nov 23 | 240–270 days | Fall-planted crop only; not planted in spring in most climates. |
| Potato | — | Jan 17 – Jan 31 | — | — | 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 28 – Mar 14 | — | 90–120 days | Set out slips 2-4 weeks after last frost once soil is thoroughly warm (65F+); very frost/cold sensitive. |
| Asparagus | — | — | Jan 17 – Jan 31 | — | 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. |
| Crop | Start indoors | Direct sow | Transplant | Fall planting | Maturity | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Basil | Jan 3 – Jan 10 | — | Feb 21 – Feb 28 | — | 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 24 – Feb 7 | — | Oct 12 – Oct 26 | 45–70 days | Cool-season, bolts in heat; direct sow 1-3 weeks before last frost, succession sow through spring. |
| Parsley | Dec 20 – Jan 3 | — | Jan 31 – Feb 7 | — | 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 24 – Feb 7 | — | — | 40–60 days | Taprooted, does not transplant well; direct sow 1-3 weeks before last frost, succession sow through summer. |
| Oregano | Dec 20 – Jan 3 | — | Feb 14 – Feb 21 | — | 80–90 days | Perennial herb; start indoors 6-8 weeks before last frost, transplant around/just after last frost date. |
| Thyme | Dec 20 – Jan 3 | — | Feb 14 – Feb 21 | — | 85–95 days | Perennial herb, slow from seed; start indoors 6-8 weeks before last frost, transplant around/after last frost. |
| Crop | Start indoors | Direct sow | Transplant | Fall planting | Maturity | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sunflower | — | Feb 21 – Mar 7 | — | — | 70–100 days | Direct sow 1-3 weeks after last frost once soil has warmed; taprooted, resents transplanting. |
| Zinnia | Jan 17 – Jan 24 | Feb 21 – Mar 7 | Feb 21 – Feb 28 | — | 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 3 – Jan 17 | — | Feb 21 – Feb 28 | — | 45–60 days | Frost-tender; start indoors 4-6 weeks before last frost, transplant after all frost danger has passed. |
| Cosmos | Jan 17 – Jan 24 | Feb 21 – Mar 7 | Feb 21 – Feb 28 | — | 60–90 days | Easy from direct seed 1-3 weeks after last frost; can also start indoors 3-4 weeks early. |
| Nasturtium | — | Feb 21 – Mar 7 | — | — | 50–65 days | Frost-tender, resents root disturbance; direct sow 1-3 weeks after last frost once soil has warmed. |
| Dahlia | — | — | Feb 21 – Mar 7 | — | 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 Lake Charles, LA?
Based on 1991–2020 NOAA climate normals for the LAKE CHARLES, LA US station, the last spring frost in Lake Charles typically falls around February 14. A cautious gardener might wait until March 11 (only a 10% chance of a later frost), while January 16 marks an earlier, higher-risk planting date.
When is the first frost in Lake Charles, LA in fall?
The first fall frost in Lake Charles typically arrives around December 7. To stay safe, assume frost could start as early as November 14; in milder years it can hold off until January 7.
How long is the growing season in Lake Charles, LA?
Lake Charles's average frost-free growing season is about 299 days, running from the typical last spring frost (February 14) to the typical first fall frost (December 7).
What USDA hardiness zone is Lake Charles, LA in?
Lake Charles, 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.