Frost dates · USDA zone 9b
Frost dates for New Orleans, LA
New Orleans, LA sees its last 32 °F night of spring around January 22 and its first of fall around January 5 (next year) — a 348-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 | Dec 28 (prior winter) | Feb 1 (next year) |
| Median — 1 year in 2 | Jan 22 | Jan 5 (next year) |
| 1 year in 10 | Feb 23 | Dec 13 |
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: 348 days median, at least 310 in 9 years of 10, no freeze at all 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 18 and first of Jan 11 (next year).
New Orleans planting calendar, 2027
Every row runs from the median last frost (Jan 22) and median first frost (Jan 5) 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) | Oct 30 | Dec 25 | Apr 14 | 110 from transplant |
| Mustard greensGarnet Giant (Brassica juncea) | Direct sow | Jan 22 | Feb 21 | 30 from sow |
| CilantroSlow Bolt (Coriandrum sativum) | Jan 8 | Jan 8 | Feb 22 | 45 from sow |
| Genovese BasilGenovese | Dec 25 | Feb 5 | Apr 6 | 60 from transplant |
| CayenneLong Slim Cayenne (Capsicum annuum) | Nov 27 | Jan 29 | Apr 14 | 75 from transplant |
| HabaneroOrange Habanero (Capsicum chinense) | Nov 13 | Feb 5 | May 11 | 95 from transplant |
| JalapeñoEarly Jalapeño (Capsicum annuum) | Nov 27 | Jan 29 | Apr 14 | 75 from transplant |
| Marconi Red PepperMarconi Red (Capsicum annuum) | Nov 27 | Jan 29 | Apr 19 | 80 from transplant |
| SerranoSerrano Tampiqueño (Capsicum annuum) | Nov 27 | Jan 29 | Apr 19 | 80 from transplant |
| Nantes CarrotScarlet Nantes | Jan 8 | Jan 8 | Mar 19 | 70 from sow |
| TomatilloToma Verde | Dec 11 | Jan 29 | Apr 9 | 70 from transplant |
| Roma TomatoRoma VF (determinate paste) | Dec 11 | Jan 29 | Apr 14 | 75 from transplant |
| San Marzano TomatoSan Marzano (indeterminate paste) | Dec 11 | Jan 29 | Apr 19 | 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 New Orleans grow?
Each sauce, scheduled for a New Orleans container garden: when the first seeds go in and when enough fruit has ripened for one batch.
New Orleans frost questions
When is the last frost in New Orleans, LA?
The median last 32 °F freeze at NEW ORLEANS LAKEFRONT AP, LA is January 22: half of years see a later one. One year in ten, a freeze still comes after February 23; nine years in ten, it comes after December 28 (prior winter). Source: NOAA NCEI 1991–2020 U.S. Climate Normals.
When is the first frost in New Orleans, LA?
The median first 32 °F freeze of fall is January 5 (next year). One year in ten it arrives before December 13; nine years in ten, before February 1 (next year).
How long is the growing season in New Orleans, LA?
348 days between the last spring and first fall 32 °F freeze in a median year. Nine years in ten the season runs at least 310 days; one year in ten, no freeze at all.
What growing zone is New Orleans, LA?
USDA hardiness zone 9b, per the 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map for ZIP 70128. 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 New Orleans, LA?
Start Roma VF (determinate paste) seeds indoors around Dec 11 and transplant around Jan 29, 1 week after the median last frost. To cut the freeze risk to one year in ten, wait for Feb 23. First ripe fruit lands around Apr 14.
When should I plant peppers in New Orleans, LA?
Sow jalapeño indoors on a heat mat around Nov 27; transplant no earlier than Jan 29, and wait past it until nights hold above 50 °F — that can run weeks later. First green pods around Apr 14.
Nearby in Louisiana
- Kennerlast frost Jan 30
- Baton Rougelast frost Feb 25
- Lafayettelast frost Feb 26
- Alexandrialast frost Mar 3
- Lake Charleslast frost Feb 14
- Monroelast frost Mar 8
All Louisiana frost dates → · How frost-date math drives a sowing calendar →