Frost Dates & Planting Calendar for Slidell, LA

The average first fall frost in Slidell, LA is December 1, and the average last spring frost is February 24, giving a growing season of about 281 days.

Plan your garden around Slidell, 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 24

Safe Mar 19 Typical Feb 24 Risky Jan 29

First Fall Frost

December 1

Safe Nov 9 Typical Dec 1 Risky Jan 3

Growing Season

281 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 SLIDELL, LA US, 1.6 km away.

— days until the typical last spring frost

How Slidell Compares

Slidell's typical last spring frost (Feb 24) comes later than in 56% of the 66 Louisiana cities we track.
Its 281-day growing season is 17 days shorter than the Louisiana median of 298 days.
Compared with New Orleans (45 km away), Slidell's last spring frost comes 23 days later than New Orleans's, and its first fall frost arrives 30 days earlier.
August is the warmest month (average high 90°F) and January the coldest (average low 42°F).

Monthly Temperatures

Avg. high Avg. temp Avg. low

Planting Calendar

Vegetables
Crop	Start indoors	Direct sow	Transplant	Fall planting	Maturity	Notes
Tomato	Dec 30 – Jan 13	—	Mar 3 – Mar 10	—	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 16 – Dec 30	—	Mar 3 – Mar 17	—	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 16 – Dec 30	—	Mar 10 – Mar 17	—	65–85 days	Warm-season crop, similar timing to pepper; needs consistently warm soil (65F+) to transplant.
Cucumber	Jan 27 – Feb 3	Mar 3 – Mar 10	Mar 3 – Mar 10	—	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 3 – Feb 10	Mar 3 – Mar 17	Mar 3 – Mar 10	—	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 27 – Feb 3	Mar 3 – Mar 17	Mar 3 – Mar 10	—	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 3 – Mar 17	—	—	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 27 – Feb 3	—	Mar 10 – Mar 17	—	70–90 days	Needs warm soil (65F+); start indoors 3-4 weeks before last frost, transplant 2-3 weeks after last frost.
Cantaloupe	Jan 27 – Feb 3	—	Mar 10 – Mar 17	—	70–90 days	Same warm-soil requirements as watermelon; avoid disturbing roots when transplanting.
Corn	—	Feb 24 – Mar 10	—	—	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 24 – Mar 10	—	—	50–65 days	Direct sow at last frost to 2 weeks after, once soil has warmed; frost-tender, do not rush.
Pea	—	Jan 13 – Jan 27	—	—	55–70 days	Cold-hardy; direct sow 4-6 weeks before last frost as soon as soil can be worked.
Lettuce	—	Jan 27 – Feb 10	—	Oct 6 – Oct 20	45–60 days	Cold-hardy; direct sow 2-4 weeks before last frost. Also transplantable from indoor starts.
Spinach	—	Jan 13 – Jan 27	—	Oct 6 – Oct 20	40–50 days	Very cold-hardy; direct sow 4-6 weeks before last frost as soon as soil can be worked.
Kale	—	Jan 27 – Feb 10	—	Sep 22 – Oct 6	50–65 days	Cold-hardy; direct sow 2-4 weeks before last frost or start indoors for earlier transplants.
Arugula	—	Jan 27 – Feb 10	—	Oct 20 – Oct 27	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 3 – Feb 17	—	—	50–60 days	Fairly cold-hardy; direct sow 1-3 weeks before last frost. Tolerates light frost in fall too.
Broccoli	Jan 6 – Jan 20	—	Feb 3 – Feb 10	Sep 29 – Oct 6	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 6 – Jan 20	—	Feb 10 – Feb 17	Sep 22 – Sep 29	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 6 – Jan 20	—	Jan 27 – Feb 10	Sep 22 – Oct 6	60–100 days	Cold-hardy; start indoors 5-7 weeks before last frost, transplant 2-4 weeks before last frost.
Brussels Sprouts	Jan 6 – Jan 20	—	Feb 3 – Feb 17	—	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 27 – Feb 10	—	Sep 8 – Sep 22	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 27 – Feb 10	—	Sep 22 – Oct 6	50–65 days	Direct sow 2-4 weeks before last frost; tolerates light frost.
Radish	—	Jan 20 – Feb 3	—	Oct 20 – Nov 3	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 27 – Feb 10	—	Sep 22 – Oct 6	40–60 days	Cold-hardy; direct sow 2-4 weeks before last frost.
Onion	Dec 16 – Dec 30	—	Jan 27 – Feb 10	—	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 3 – Nov 17	240–270 days	Fall-planted crop only; not planted in spring in most climates.
Potato	—	Jan 27 – Feb 10	—	—	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 10 – Mar 24	—	90–120 days	Set out slips 2-4 weeks after last frost once soil is thoroughly warm (65F+); very frost/cold sensitive.
Asparagus	—	—	Jan 27 – Feb 10	—	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 13 – Jan 20	—	Mar 3 – Mar 10	—	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 3 – Feb 17	—	Oct 6 – Oct 20	45–70 days	Cool-season, bolts in heat; direct sow 1-3 weeks before last frost, succession sow through spring.
Parsley	Dec 30 – Jan 13	—	Feb 10 – Feb 17	—	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 3 – Feb 17	—	—	40–60 days	Taprooted, does not transplant well; direct sow 1-3 weeks before last frost, succession sow through summer.
Oregano	Dec 30 – Jan 13	—	Feb 24 – Mar 3	—	80–90 days	Perennial herb; start indoors 6-8 weeks before last frost, transplant around/just after last frost date.
Thyme	Dec 30 – Jan 13	—	Feb 24 – Mar 3	—	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 3 – Mar 17	—	—	70–100 days	Direct sow 1-3 weeks after last frost once soil has warmed; taprooted, resents transplanting.
Zinnia	Jan 27 – Feb 3	Mar 3 – Mar 17	Mar 3 – Mar 10	—	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 13 – Jan 27	—	Mar 3 – Mar 10	—	45–60 days	Frost-tender; start indoors 4-6 weeks before last frost, transplant after all frost danger has passed.
Cosmos	Jan 27 – Feb 3	Mar 3 – Mar 17	Mar 3 – Mar 10	—	60–90 days	Easy from direct seed 1-3 weeks after last frost; can also start indoors 3-4 weeks early.
Nasturtium	—	Mar 3 – Mar 17	—	—	50–65 days	Frost-tender, resents root disturbance; direct sow 1-3 weeks after last frost once soil has warmed.
Dahlia	—	—	Mar 3 – Mar 17	—	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 Slidell, LA?

Based on 1991–2020 NOAA climate normals for the SLIDELL, LA US station, the last spring frost in Slidell typically falls around February 24. A cautious gardener might wait until March 19 (only a 10% chance of a later frost), while January 29 marks an earlier, higher-risk planting date.

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

The first fall frost in Slidell typically arrives around December 1. To stay safe, assume frost could start as early as November 9; in milder years it can hold off until January 3.

How long is the growing season in Slidell, LA?

Slidell's average frost-free growing season is about 281 days, running from the typical last spring frost (February 24) to the typical first fall frost (December 1).

What USDA hardiness zone is Slidell, LA in?

Slidell, 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.