Baton Rouge, LA planting zone & frost dates
Baton Rouge is in USDA hardiness zone 9a. The last spring frost usually comes around February 28 and the first fall frost around November 26, for a growing season of about 272 days.
Planting calendar for Baton Rouge
Dates are counted from the average last spring frost (February 28) 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 3 – Jan 17 Transplant outdoors: Mar 7 – Mar 14 |
| Peppers | Start seeds indoors: Dec 20 – Jan 3 Transplant outdoors: Mar 14 – Mar 21 |
| Eggplant | Start seeds indoors: Dec 20 – Jan 3 Transplant outdoors: Mar 14 – Mar 21 |
| Broccoli | Start seeds indoors: Dec 20 – Jan 3 Transplant outdoors: Jan 31 – Feb 14 |
| Cabbage | Start seeds indoors: Dec 20 – Jan 3 Transplant outdoors: Jan 31 – Feb 14 |
| Onions (sets) | Plant outdoors: Jan 31 – Feb 14 |
| Peas | Sow outdoors: Jan 17 – Jan 31 |
| Spinach | Sow outdoors: Jan 17 – Jan 31 |
| Lettuce | Sow outdoors: Jan 31 – Feb 14 |
| Carrots | Sow outdoors: Jan 31 – Feb 14 |
| Potatoes | Plant outdoors: Jan 31 – Feb 14 |
| Beans | Sow outdoors: Mar 7 – Mar 14 |
| Sweet corn | Sow outdoors: Mar 7 – Mar 14 |
| Cucumbers | Sow outdoors: Mar 7 – Mar 14 |
| Squash & zucchini | Sow outdoors: Mar 7 – Mar 14 |
| Basil | Start seeds indoors: Jan 17 – Jan 31 Transplant outdoors: Mar 7 – Mar 14 |
Fall garden: cool-season crops like lettuce, spinach and kale can be sown again around Oct 1 (8 weeks before the average first fall frost on Nov 26).
Useful for zone 9a 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
- Shade cloth — for hot summers
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Frost risk in detail
| 90% chance | 50% chance | 10% chance | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Last 32°F frost in spring is after | Jan 31 | Feb 28 | Mar 21 |
| First 32°F frost in fall is before | Dec 22 | Nov 26 | Nov 6 |
How to read it: in spring there is a 10% chance of a frost after March 21, so that is a safe date for tender plants. In fall there is a 10% chance of frost before November 6. A hard freeze (28°F) usually ends around February 7.
Hardiness zone by ZIP code in Baton Rouge
- 70801 zone 9a
- 70802 zone 9a
- 70804 zone 9a
- 70805 zone 9a
- 70806 zone 9a
- 70807 zone 9a
- 70808 zone 9a
- 70809 zone 9a
- 70810 zone 9a
- 70811 zone 9a
- 70812 zone 9a
- 70813 zone 9a
- 70814 zone 9a
- 70815 zone 9a
- 70816 zone 9a
- 70817 zone 9a
- 70818 zone 9a
- 70819 zone 9a
- 70820 zone 9a
- 70821 zone 9a
- 70822 zone 9a
- 70823 zone 9a
- 70825 zone 9a
- 70826 zone 9a
- 70827 zone 9a
- 70831 zone 9a
- 70833 zone 9a
- 70835 zone 9a
- 70836 zone 9a
- 70837 zone 9a
- 70873 zone 9a
- 70874 zone 9a
- 70879 zone 9a
- 70884 zone 9a
- 70891 zone 9a
- 70892 zone 9a
- 70893 zone 9a
- 70894 zone 9a
- 70895 zone 9a
- 70896 zone 9a
- 70898 zone 9a
Nearby cities
- Gardere zone 9a, last frost Feb 28
- Baker zone 9a, last frost Feb 25
- Central zone 9a, last frost Feb 25
- Shenandoah zone 9a, last frost Feb 28
- Zachary zone 9a, last frost Feb 25
- Denham Springs zone 9a, last frost Feb 25
- Prairieville zone 9a, last frost Feb 9
- Gonzales zone 9a, last frost Feb 9
Questions
What growing zone is Baton Rouge, LA?
Baton Rouge is in USDA Plant Hardiness Zone 9a (average extreme winter low 20°F to 25°F), according to the USDA 2023 map.
When is the last frost in Baton Rouge?
The average last spring frost (32°F) in Baton Rouge is February 28. There is still a 10% chance of frost until March 21.
When can I plant tomatoes in Baton Rouge?
Transplant tomatoes outdoors 1–2 weeks after the average last frost: around Mar 7 – Mar 14. Start seeds indoors 6–8 weeks before the last frost.
Frost dates: NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station Lsu Ben-Hur Farm, LA (USC00165620), 9.0 km (5.6 mi) from the city center, elevation 6 m, based on 28 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.