Bastrop, LA planting zone & frost dates
Bastrop is in USDA hardiness zone 8b. The last spring frost usually comes around March 15 and the first fall frost around November 12, for a growing season of about 241 days.
Planting calendar for Bastrop
Dates are counted from the average last spring frost (March 15) using the typical timing recommended by U.S. extension services. Warm-season crops go out only after the danger of frost has passed and the soil has warmed.
| Crop | When |
|---|---|
| Tomatoes | Start seeds indoors: Jan 18 – Feb 1 Transplant outdoors: Mar 22 – Mar 29 |
| Peppers | Start seeds indoors: Jan 4 – Jan 18 Transplant outdoors: Mar 29 – Apr 5 |
| Eggplant | Start seeds indoors: Jan 4 – Jan 18 Transplant outdoors: Mar 29 – Apr 5 |
| Broccoli | Start seeds indoors: Jan 4 – Jan 18 Transplant outdoors: Feb 15 – Mar 1 |
| Cabbage | Start seeds indoors: Jan 4 – Jan 18 Transplant outdoors: Feb 15 – Mar 1 |
| Onions (sets) | Plant outdoors: Feb 15 – Mar 1 |
| Peas | Sow outdoors: Feb 1 – Feb 15 |
| Spinach | Sow outdoors: Feb 1 – Feb 15 |
| Lettuce | Sow outdoors: Feb 15 – Mar 1 |
| Carrots | Sow outdoors: Feb 15 – Mar 1 |
| Potatoes | Plant outdoors: Feb 15 – Mar 1 |
| Beans | Sow outdoors: Mar 22 – Mar 29 |
| Sweet corn | Sow outdoors: Mar 22 – Mar 29 |
| Cucumbers | Sow outdoors: Mar 22 – Mar 29 |
| Squash & zucchini | Sow outdoors: Mar 22 – Mar 29 |
| Basil | Start seeds indoors: Feb 1 – Feb 15 Transplant outdoors: Mar 22 – Mar 29 |
Fall garden: cool-season crops like lettuce, spinach and kale can be sown again around Sep 17 (8 weeks before the average first fall frost on Nov 12).
Useful for zone 8b gardens
- Seed starting kit with dome — to start seeds indoors before the last frost
- LED grow light for seedlings — stops leggy seedlings
- Frost cloth / plant covers — for late spring and early fall frosts
- Soil thermometer — warm-season crops need soil above 60°F
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Frost risk in detail
| 90% chance | 50% chance | 10% chance | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Last 32°F frost in spring is after | Feb 26 | Mar 15 | Apr 3 |
| First 32°F frost in fall is before | Dec 2 | Nov 12 | Oct 29 |
How to read it: in spring there is a 10% chance of a frost after April 3, so that is a safe date for tender plants. In fall there is a 10% chance of frost before October 29. A hard freeze (28°F) usually ends around March 2.
Hardiness zone by ZIP code in Bastrop
- 71220 zone 8b
- 71221 zone 8b
Nearby cities
- Monroe zone 8b, last frost Mar 8
- West Monroe zone 8b, last frost Mar 8
- Claiborne zone 8b, last frost Mar 8
- Ruston zone 8b, last frost Mar 11
- Minden zone 8b, last frost Mar 17
- Pineville zone 9a, last frost Feb 27
- Natchitoches zone 9a, last frost Feb 28
- Alexandria zone 9a, last frost Feb 27
Questions
What growing zone is Bastrop, LA?
Bastrop is in USDA Plant Hardiness Zone 8b (average extreme winter low 15°F to 20°F), according to the USDA 2023 map.
When is the last frost in Bastrop?
The average last spring frost (32°F) in Bastrop is March 15. There is still a 10% chance of frost until April 3.
When can I plant tomatoes in Bastrop?
Transplant tomatoes outdoors 1–2 weeks after the average last frost: around Mar 22 – Mar 29. Start seeds indoors 6–8 weeks before the last frost.
Frost dates: NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station Bastrop, LA (USC00160537), 5.2 km (3.2 mi) from the city center, elevation 46 m, based on 22 years of records. Hardiness zone: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map 2023 for the ZIP code nearest to the city center. Microclimates (valleys, hills, cities, coasts) can be warmer or colder: check the local forecast before planting. How we calculate the data.