Frost dates · USDA zone 9a
Frost dates for Lake Charles, LA
Lake Charles, LA sees its last 32 °F night of spring around February 14 and its first of fall around December 7 — a 299-day freeze-free season in a typical year.
Pick a sauce; the Plan Builder runs this station's dates and hands back the calendar, plant count and gear list.
Freeze odds, by date
| Odds | Last spring freeze after | First fall freeze before |
|---|---|---|
| 9 years in 10 | Jan 16 | Jan 7 (next year) |
| Median — 1 year in 2 | Feb 14 | Dec 7 |
| 1 year in 10 | Mar 11 | Nov 14 |
The top row is the risky edge: in 9 years of 10 a spring freeze still comes after it, so tender transplants set out then need cover. The bottom row is the cautious date — only 1 year in 10 freezes after it — and the one to plan uncovered tender transplants against. Freeze-free season: 299 days median, at least 262 in 9 years of 10, at least 333 days in 1 year of 10. NOAA ranks season length year by year, so it is not the gap between two rows above. A hard freeze (28 °F) has a median last date of Jan 27 and first of Jan 3 (next year).
Lake Charles planting calendar, 2027
Every row runs from the median last frost (Feb 14) and median first frost (Dec 7) above, using each cultivar's days to maturity. Same engine as the Plan Builder.
| Crop | Start indoors | Transplant / plant | First harvest | Days |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hardneck GarlicSiberian (porcelain hardneck) | — | Oct 15prior fall | Jun 12 | 240 from sow |
| Spanish OnionYellow Sweet Spanish (long-day) | Nov 22 | Jan 17 | May 7 | 110 from transplant |
| Mustard greensGarnet Giant (Brassica juncea) | Direct sow | Feb 14 | Mar 16 | 30 from sow |
| CilantroSlow Bolt (Coriandrum sativum) | Jan 31 | Jan 31 | Mar 17 | 45 from sow |
| Genovese BasilGenovese | Jan 17 | Feb 28 | Apr 29 | 60 from transplant |
| CayenneLong Slim Cayenne (Capsicum annuum) | Dec 20 | Feb 21 | May 7 | 75 from transplant |
| HabaneroOrange Habanero (Capsicum chinense) | Dec 6 | Feb 28 | Jun 3 | 95 from transplant |
| JalapeñoEarly Jalapeño (Capsicum annuum) | Dec 20 | Feb 21 | May 7 | 75 from transplant |
| Marconi Red PepperMarconi Red (Capsicum annuum) | Dec 20 | Feb 21 | May 12 | 80 from transplant |
| SerranoSerrano Tampiqueño (Capsicum annuum) | Dec 20 | Feb 21 | May 12 | 80 from transplant |
| Nantes CarrotScarlet Nantes | Jan 31 | Jan 31 | Apr 11 | 70 from sow |
| TomatilloToma Verde | Jan 3 | Feb 21 | May 2 | 70 from transplant |
| Roma TomatoRoma VF (determinate paste) | Jan 3 | Feb 21 | May 7 | 75 from transplant |
| San Marzano TomatoSan Marzano (indeterminate paste) | Jan 3 | Feb 21 | May 12 | 80 from transplant |
Tight means first harvest lands within two weeks of the median first fall frost: start that crop indoors on time or cover it in fall.
What sauce can Lake Charles grow?
Each sauce, scheduled for a Lake Charles container garden: when the first seeds go in and when enough fruit has ripened for one batch.
Lake Charles frost questions
When is the last frost in Lake Charles, LA?
The median last 32 °F freeze at LAKE CHARLES, LA is February 14: half of years see a later one. One year in ten, a freeze still comes after March 11; nine years in ten, it comes after January 16. Source: NOAA NCEI 1991–2020 U.S. Climate Normals.
When is the first frost in Lake Charles, LA?
The median first 32 °F freeze of fall is December 7. One year in ten it arrives before November 14; nine years in ten, before January 7 (next year).
How long is the growing season in Lake Charles, LA?
299 days between the last spring and first fall 32 °F freeze in a median year. Nine years in ten the season runs at least 262 days; one year in ten, at least 333 days.
What growing zone is Lake Charles, LA?
USDA hardiness zone 9a, per the 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map for ZIP 70601. A zone describes the coldest winter night, not when frost ends, so it is the wrong number for a planting calendar — the frost dates on this page are the right one.
When should I plant tomatoes in Lake Charles, LA?
Start Roma VF (determinate paste) seeds indoors around Jan 3 and transplant around Feb 21, 1 week after the median last frost. To cut the freeze risk to one year in ten, wait for Mar 11. First ripe fruit lands around May 7.
When should I plant peppers in Lake Charles, LA?
Sow jalapeño indoors on a heat mat around Dec 20; transplant no earlier than Feb 21, and wait past it until nights hold above 50 °F — that can run weeks later. First green pods around May 7.
Nearby in Louisiana
- Lafayettelast frost Feb 26
- Alexandrialast frost Mar 3
- Baton Rougelast frost Feb 25
- Shreveportlast frost Mar 6
- Bossier Citylast frost Mar 6
- Monroelast frost Mar 8
All Louisiana frost dates → · How frost-date math drives a sowing calendar →