Louisiana vegetable planting calendar 2027: frost dates and when to plant
In Louisiana, the average last spring frost is February 28 in Baton Rouge and February 1 in New Orleans (NOAA 1991-2020 normals). Below are planting dates for Baton Rouge and New Orleans for 27 common vegetables and herbs, worked out the way the Rowtime app does it: NOAA's average frost dates for the nearest weather station, with the planting rules of state extension guides. Dates are for the 2027 season.
Rowtime: Garden Planner works these dates out for your own ZIP code in Louisiana, shows where each one comes from, and recalculates when a planting slips. Get Rowtime on the App Store.
Dates are estimates. Check your local extension office before you plant, and use your own frost records if you have them. Dates shift by a week or more within a state, so pick the city closest to your conditions.
Baton Rouge
When to plant tomatoes in Baton Rouge?
In Baton Rouge, Louisiana, the average last spring frost is February 28 and the average first fall frost is November 26 (NOAA 1991-2020 normals, LSU BEN-HUR FARM station, 9.1 km from ZIP 70802). For tomatoes, start seeds indoors February 2 to April 10, plant out seedlings March 15 to May 15 and plant out seedlings for fall July 1 to August 15, following University of Maryland Extension (Home & Garden Information Center) and LSU AgCenter. Dates are for the 2027 season; sources last checked October 24, 2026.
Frost dates for Baton Rouge (70802)
- Last spring frost: Feb 28 on average, Mar 21 for a 10% risk of a later frost.
- First fall frost: Nov 26 on average, Nov 6 for a 10% risk of an earlier frost.
- USDA hardiness zone 9a (PRISM 2023 listing).
| Crop | When |
|---|---|
| Beet | Sow outdoors: Jan 15 to Mar 15 Sow outdoors for fall: Aug 15 to Nov 15 |
| Broccoli | Start seeds indoors: Jan 12 to Feb 18 Plant out seedlings: Jan 15 to Mar 15 Plant out seedlings for fall: Aug 1 to Oct 31 |
| Cabbage | Start seeds indoors: Jan 5 to Feb 1 Plant out seedlings: Jan 15 to Mar 15 Plant out seedlings for fall: Aug 15 to Nov 30 |
| Carrot | Sow outdoors: Jan 15 to Mar 15 Sow outdoors for fall: Aug 15 to Nov 15 |
| Cauliflower | Plant out seedlings: Jan 15 to Feb 15 Start seeds indoors: Jan 19 to Feb 18 Plant out seedlings for fall: Jul 1 to Oct 15 |
| Cucumber | Sow outdoors: Mar 1 to May 15 Sow outdoors for fall: Aug 1 to Sep 15 |
| Eggplant | Start seeds indoors: Feb 19 to Mar 20 Plant out seedlings: Mar 15 to May 15 Plant out seedlings for fall: Jun 15 to Aug 30 |
| Green onion | Plant out seedlings: Dec 11 to Feb 22 Plant out seedlings for fall: Sep 17 to Jan 16 |
| Kale | Sow outdoors: Feb 1 to Mar 15 Sow outdoors for fall: Jul 15 to Nov 15 |
| Lettuce | Sow outdoors: Jan 15 to Mar 15 Sow outdoors for fall: Sep 15 to Nov 15 |
| Melon and watermelon | Sow outdoors: Mar 15 to Jun 30 Sow outdoors for fall: Jul 1 to Aug 15 |
| Okra | Sow outdoors: Mar 15 to Jun 30 Sow outdoors for fall: Jul 1 to Sep 1 |
| Onion | Plant onion sets: Dec 15 to Jan 31 |
| Pea | Sow outdoors: Nov 15 to Feb 1 Sow outdoors for fall: Sep 1 to Sep 15 |
| Pepper | Start seeds indoors: Feb 2 to Mar 4 Plant out seedlings: Mar 15 to May 15 Plant out seedlings for fall: Jun 15 to Aug 15 |
| Potato | Plant seed potatoes: Jan 20 to Mar 10 Plant seed potatoes for fall: Jul 1 to Sep 15 |
| Snap bean | Sow outdoors: Feb 15 to May 15 Sow outdoors for fall: Sep 1 to Oct 1 |
| Spinach | Sow outdoors: Feb 1 to Mar 15 Sow outdoors for fall: Sep 15 to Nov 15 |
| Summer squash | Sow outdoors: Mar 15 to Jun 30 Sow outdoors for fall: Jul 1 to Sep 15 |
| Sweet corn | Sow outdoors: Feb 15 to May 1 |
| Sweet potato | Sprout slips indoors: Mar 5 to Apr 3 Plant out slips: Apr 15 to Jun 30 |
| Tomato | Start seeds indoors: Feb 2 to Apr 10 Plant out seedlings: Mar 15 to May 15 Plant out seedlings for fall: Jul 1 to Aug 15 |
| Winter squash and pumpkin | Sow outdoors: Mar 15 to Sep 15 |
| Basil | Plant outdoors: Apr 3 to Jul 3 |
| Cilantro | Sow outdoors: Jan 4 to Mar 3 Sow outdoors for fall: Oct 4 to Oct 18 |
| Dill | Sow outdoors: Feb 16 to Mar 3 Sow outdoors for fall: Aug 19 to Oct 3 |
| Parsley | Sow outdoors: Jan 17 to Feb 21 Sow outdoors for fall: Aug 6 to Oct 15 |
New Orleans
When to plant tomatoes in New Orleans?
In New Orleans, Louisiana, the average last spring frost is February 1 and the average first fall frost is December 31 (NOAA 1991-2020 normals, TERRYTOWN 3S station, 6.6 km from ZIP 70112). For tomatoes, start seeds indoors January 6 to March 14, plant out seedlings February 16 to April 18 and plant out seedlings for fall August 5 to September 19, following University of Maryland Extension (Home & Garden Information Center) and LSU AgCenter. Dates are for the 2027 season; sources last checked October 24, 2026.
Frost dates for New Orleans (70112)
- Last spring frost: Feb 1 on average, Mar 6 for a 10% risk of a later frost.
- First fall frost: Dec 31 on average, Dec 1 for a 10% risk of an earlier frost.
- USDA hardiness zone 9b (PRISM 2023 listing).
| Crop | When |
|---|---|
| Beet | Sow outdoors: Dec 19 to Feb 16 Sow outdoors for fall: Sep 19 to Dec 20 |
| Broccoli | Start seeds indoors: Dec 16 to Jan 22 Plant out seedlings: Dec 19 to Feb 16 Plant out seedlings for fall: Sep 5 to Dec 5 |
| Cabbage | Start seeds indoors: Dec 9 to Jan 5 Plant out seedlings: Dec 19 to Feb 16 Plant out seedlings for fall: Sep 19 to Jan 4 |
| Carrot | Sow outdoors: Dec 19 to Feb 16 Sow outdoors for fall: Sep 19 to Dec 20 |
| Cauliflower | Plant out seedlings: Dec 19 to Jan 19 Start seeds indoors: Dec 23 to Jan 22 Plant out seedlings for fall: Aug 5 to Nov 19 |
| Cucumber | Sow outdoors: Feb 2 to Apr 18 Sow outdoors for fall: Sep 5 to Oct 20 |
| Eggplant | Start seeds indoors: Jan 23 to Feb 21 Plant out seedlings: Feb 16 to Apr 18 Plant out seedlings for fall: Jul 20 to Oct 4 |
| Green onion | Plant out seedlings: Nov 14 to Jan 26 Plant out seedlings for fall: Oct 22 to Feb 20 |
| Kale | Sow outdoors: Jan 5 to Feb 16 Sow outdoors for fall: Aug 19 to Dec 20 |
| Lettuce | Sow outdoors: Dec 19 to Feb 16 Sow outdoors for fall: Oct 20 to Dec 20 |
| Melon and watermelon | Sow outdoors: Feb 16 to Jun 3 Sow outdoors for fall: Aug 5 to Sep 19 |
| Okra | Sow outdoors: Feb 16 to Jun 3 Sow outdoors for fall: Aug 5 to Oct 6 |
| Onion | Plant onion sets: Nov 18 to Jan 4 |
| Pea | Sow outdoors: Oct 19 to Jan 5 Sow outdoors for fall: Oct 6 to Oct 20 |
| Pepper | Start seeds indoors: Jan 6 to Feb 5 Plant out seedlings: Feb 16 to Apr 18 Plant out seedlings for fall: Jul 20 to Sep 19 |
| Potato | Plant seed potatoes: Dec 24 to Feb 11 Plant seed potatoes for fall: Aug 5 to Oct 20 |
| Snap bean | Sow outdoors: Jan 19 to Apr 18 Sow outdoors for fall: Oct 6 to Nov 5 |
| Spinach | Sow outdoors: Jan 5 to Feb 16 Sow outdoors for fall: Oct 20 to Dec 20 |
| Summer squash | Sow outdoors: Feb 16 to Jun 3 Sow outdoors for fall: Aug 5 to Oct 20 |
| Sweet corn | Sow outdoors: Jan 19 to Apr 4 |
| Sweet potato | Sprout slips indoors: Feb 6 to Mar 7 Plant out slips: Mar 19 to Jun 3 |
| Tomato | Start seeds indoors: Jan 6 to Mar 14 Plant out seedlings: Feb 16 to Apr 18 Plant out seedlings for fall: Aug 5 to Sep 19 |
| Winter squash and pumpkin | Sow outdoors: Feb 16 to Aug 19 |
| Basil | Plant outdoors: Mar 7 to Jun 6 |
| Cilantro | Sow outdoors: Dec 8 to Feb 4 Sow outdoors for fall: Nov 8 to Nov 22 |
| Dill | Sow outdoors: Jan 20 to Feb 4 Sow outdoors for fall: Sep 23 to Nov 7 |
| Parsley | Sow outdoors: Dec 21 to Jan 25 Sow outdoors for fall: Sep 10 to Nov 19 |
Sources
Planting rules, in the order Rowtime tries them here:
- LSU AgCenter, Louisiana Vegetable Planting Guide (south Louisiana columns) (Pub. 1980). Checked October 21, 2026.
- University of Georgia Extension, Vegetable Gardening in Georgia (Vegetable Planting Chart) (Circular 963). Checked October 21, 2026.
- Texas A&M AgriLife Extension, Texas Home Vegetable Gardening Guide (Table 8) (E-502). Checked October 20, 2026.
- University of Maryland Extension (Home & Garden Information Center), Vegetable Planting Calendar for Central Maryland. Checked October 24, 2026.
- NC State Extension, Central North Carolina Planting Calendar for Annual Vegetables, Fruits, and Herbs (AG-756-01). Checked October 21, 2026.
Frost dates, locations and zones:
- NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 annual/seasonal (freeze probabilities).
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2025 Gazetteer Files: ZIP Code Tabulation Areas.
- PRISM Group, Oregon State University / USDA ARS, 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map ZIP code listings. PRISM Group, Oregon State University, https://prism.oregonstate.edu, accessed 20 Oct 2026.
How the dates are worked out: a guide's rule such as "two weeks after the last frost" is applied to the station's NOAA date. Purdue's dates are 10% dates, so they are counted from the station's 10% date. When a guide gives no last date, the window closes early enough for the crop's longest days to harvest before the first fall frost. When a guide gives no first date for a fall planting, no fall window is shown. "Season too short" means the guide's window would close before it opens at this station's frost dates.
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