Baton Rouge, LA Frost Dates & Growing Season

The two dates every Baton Rouge garden is planned around, plus ready-computed planting windows for the most popular crops.

Last spring frost
Feb 28
~50% chance of frost after
First fall frost
Nov 26
~50% chance of frost before
Growing season
271 days
frost-free stretch
USDA zone
9a
2023 hardiness map
Risky (1 year in 10)MedianSafe (9 years in 10)
Last spring frost Jan 31 Feb 28 Mar 21
First fall frost Dec 22 Nov 26 Nov 6
Hard freeze (28°F), median last Feb 7 · first Dec 16

Computed from NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals at the Lsu Ben-Hur Farm station (10 km from central Baton Rouge). "Safe" means frost past that date happens only about one year in ten. Your exact garden can still run days either way with elevation and terrain — check your own ZIP with the frost date lookup.

Planting windows for Baton Rouge

Computed from Baton Rouge's own frost dates. Click any crop for the full zone-9 growing guide — varieties, spacing, fall plantings, and more.

CropStart seeds indoorsTransplantDirect sow
🍅 Tomatoes Jan 3 – Jan 17 Mar 7 – Mar 14
🫑 Peppers Dec 20 – Jan 3 Mar 14 – Mar 21
🥬 Lettuce Jan 17 – Jan 31 Jan 31 – Feb 14 Jan 31 – Feb 28
🫛 Peas Jan 17 – Jan 31
🥕 Carrots Feb 7 – Feb 28
🥦 Broccoli Jan 10 – Jan 24 Feb 7 – Feb 21
🥬 Kale Jan 17 – Jan 31 Jan 31 – Feb 14 Jan 31 – Feb 14
🥒 Cucumbers Jan 31 – Feb 7 Mar 7 – Mar 14 Mar 7 – Mar 14
🥒 Zucchini Jan 31 – Feb 7 Mar 7 – Mar 14 Mar 7 – Mar 14
🫘 Green Beans (Bush) Mar 7 – Mar 14
🌽 Sweet Corn Mar 7 – Mar 14
🌿 Basil Jan 17 – Jan 31 Mar 7 – Mar 14 Mar 14 – Mar 21
🧄 Garlic Fall: Oct 15 – Nov 12

Want this for all 50 crops, or as a printable seed-shelf schedule? Use the planting calendar and the seed starting scheduler — both can use Baton Rouge's dates automatically after a lookup.

Reading the season in Baton Rouge

With roughly 271 frost-free days, Baton Rouge gardens fit long-season crops — melons, winter squash, sweet potatoes — with room left for spring and fall rounds of greens and roots. The first frost around Nov 26 is late enough that fall planting is a full second season, not an afterthought.

Frequently asked questions

When is the last frost in Baton Rouge, LA?

The average last spring frost in Baton Rouge is around Feb 28, based on 1991–2020 climate normals. That's a median — about half of years see a later frost, so tender crops are safest going out a week or two after this date.

When is the first frost in Baton Rouge, LA?

The average first fall frost in Baton Rouge arrives around Nov 26. Crops still in the garden need to mature before then, and frost-tender plants need harvesting or protection as the date approaches.

How long is the growing season in Baton Rouge?

About 271 frost-free days on average, from Feb 28 to Nov 26. That comfortably fits long-season crops like melons and winter squash, plus spring and fall plantings of cool-season vegetables.

What USDA zone is Baton Rouge in?

USDA zone 9a on the 2023 Plant Hardiness Zone Map. Note that zones describe winter cold, not frost timing — these frost dates are the numbers to plan plantings around.