NEW Orleans International Airport, LA Frost Dates & Growing Season

The two dates every NEW Orleans International Airport garden is planned around, plus ready-computed planting windows for the most popular crops.

Last spring frost
Jan 30
~50% chance of frost after
First fall frost
Dec 31
~50% chance of frost before
Growing season
335 days
frost-free stretch
USDA zone
≈ 9b
estimated from nearby reference
Risky (1 year in 10)MedianSafe (9 years in 10)
Last spring frost Dec 29 Jan 30 Feb 27
First fall frost Jan 31 Dec 31 Dec 1
Hard freeze (28°F), median last Jan 20 · first Jan 7

Computed from NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals at the NEW ORLEANS INTL AP station. "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 NEW Orleans International Airport

Computed from NEW Orleans International Airport'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 Dec 5 – Dec 19 Feb 6 – Feb 13
🫑 Peppers Nov 21 – Dec 5 Feb 13 – Feb 20
🥬 Lettuce Dec 19 – Jan 2 Jan 2 – Jan 16 Jan 2 – Jan 30
🫛 Peas Dec 19 – Jan 2
🥕 Carrots Jan 9 – Jan 30
🥦 Broccoli Dec 12 – Dec 26 Jan 9 – Jan 23
🥬 Kale Dec 19 – Jan 2 Jan 2 – Jan 16 Jan 2 – Jan 16
🥒 Cucumbers Jan 2 – Jan 9 Feb 6 – Feb 13 Feb 6 – Feb 13
🥒 Zucchini Jan 2 – Jan 9 Feb 6 – Feb 13 Feb 6 – Feb 13
🫘 Green Beans (Bush) Feb 6 – Feb 13
🌽 Sweet Corn Feb 6 – Feb 13
🌿 Basil Dec 19 – Jan 2 Feb 6 – Feb 13 Feb 13 – Feb 20
🧄 Garlic Fall: Nov 19 – Dec 17

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 NEW Orleans International Airport's dates automatically after a lookup.

Reading the season in NEW Orleans International Airport

With roughly 335 frost-free days, NEW Orleans International Airport 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 Dec 31 is late enough that fall planting is a full second season, not an afterthought.

Frequently asked questions

When is the last frost in NEW Orleans International Airport, LA?

The average last spring frost in NEW Orleans International Airport is around Jan 30, 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 NEW Orleans International Airport, LA?

The average first fall frost in NEW Orleans International Airport arrives around Dec 31. 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 NEW Orleans International Airport?

About 335 frost-free days on average, from Jan 30 to Dec 31. That comfortably fits long-season crops like melons and winter squash, plus spring and fall plantings of cool-season vegetables.

What USDA zone is NEW Orleans International Airport in?

USDA zone 9b 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.