Houma, LA planting zone & frost dates
Houma is in USDA hardiness zone 9b. The last spring frost usually comes around February 5 and the first fall frost around December 17, for a growing season of about 312 days.
Planting calendar for Houma
Dates are counted from the average last spring frost (February 5) 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: Dec 11 – Dec 25 Transplant outdoors: Feb 12 – Feb 19 |
| Peppers | Start seeds indoors: Nov 27 – Dec 11 Transplant outdoors: Feb 19 – Feb 26 |
| Eggplant | Start seeds indoors: Nov 27 – Dec 11 Transplant outdoors: Feb 19 – Feb 26 |
| Broccoli | Start seeds indoors: Nov 27 – Dec 11 Transplant outdoors: Jan 8 – Jan 22 |
| Cabbage | Start seeds indoors: Nov 27 – Dec 11 Transplant outdoors: Jan 8 – Jan 22 |
| Onions (sets) | Plant outdoors: Jan 8 – Jan 22 |
| Peas | Sow outdoors: Dec 25 – Jan 8 |
| Spinach | Sow outdoors: Dec 25 – Jan 8 |
| Lettuce | Sow outdoors: Jan 8 – Jan 22 |
| Carrots | Sow outdoors: Jan 8 – Jan 22 |
| Potatoes | Plant outdoors: Jan 8 – Jan 22 |
| Beans | Sow outdoors: Feb 12 – Feb 19 |
| Sweet corn | Sow outdoors: Feb 12 – Feb 19 |
| Cucumbers | Sow outdoors: Feb 12 – Feb 19 |
| Squash & zucchini | Sow outdoors: Feb 12 – Feb 19 |
| Basil | Start seeds indoors: Dec 25 – Jan 8 Transplant outdoors: Feb 12 – Feb 19 |
Fall garden: cool-season crops like lettuce, spinach and kale can be sown again around Oct 22 (8 weeks before the average first fall frost on Dec 17).
Useful for zone 9b 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 6 | Feb 5 | Mar 7 |
| First 32°F frost in fall is before | Jan 13 | Dec 17 | Nov 23 |
How to read it: in spring there is a 10% chance of a frost after March 7, so that is a safe date for tender plants. In fall there is a 10% chance of frost before November 23. A hard freeze (28°F) usually ends around January 26.
Hardiness zone by ZIP code in Houma
- 70360 zone 9b
- 70361 zone 9b
- 70363 zone 9b
- 70364 zone 9b
Nearby cities
- Bayou Cane zone 9b, last frost Feb 5
- Raceland zone 9b, last frost Feb 5
- Thibodaux zone 9b, last frost Feb 5
- Bayou Boeuf zone 9b, last frost Feb 9
- Grand Bayou Mobile Home Park zone 9b, last frost Feb 5
- Luling zone 9b, last frost Jan 30
- Morgan City zone 9b, last frost Jan 30
- Destrehan zone 9b, last frost Jan 30
Questions
What growing zone is Houma, LA?
Houma is in USDA Plant Hardiness Zone 9b (average extreme winter low 25°F to 30°F), according to the USDA 2023 map.
When is the last frost in Houma?
The average last spring frost (32°F) in Houma is February 5. There is still a 10% chance of frost until March 7.
When can I plant tomatoes in Houma?
Transplant tomatoes outdoors 1–2 weeks after the average last frost: around Feb 12 – Feb 19. Start seeds indoors 6–8 weeks before the last frost.
Frost dates: NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station Houma, LA (USC00164407), 10.6 km (6.6 mi) from the city center, elevation 2 m, based on 14 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.