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Last and first frost dates in Baton Rouge

United States

In Baton Rouge the last spring frost usually comes around 6 February and the first autumn frost around 9 December, which leaves about 306 frost-free days (median of 2016–2025). Tomato seedlings can go into open ground from 13 February to 19 August.

Last spring frostaround 6 February
First autumn frostaround 9 December
Frost-free days306 days

Median of 2016–2025 for the 25 km grid cell of the city: the last day at or below 0 °C in spring and the first in autumn (ERA5 reanalysis via Open-Meteo). In a cold year a frost can come a week or two later — Greenly warns 48 hours ahead.

When is the last frost in Baton Rouge?

The last frost in Baton Rouge usually comes around 6 February: that is the median of 2016–2025, so in about half of those years the last night at or below 0 °C came later. Hardy crops start before it and frost-tender ones only after it: in the table below arugula can go into open ground from 16 January, while corn waits until 13 February. The first autumn frost follows around 9 December, about 306 days later: harvest or cover frost-tender crops before then.

When to sow and plant

CropSow for seedlingsPlant out in a greenhouseOpen ground
Achocha14 December – 31 August23 January – 10 October13 February – 10 October
Ageratumfrom 28 November—from 13 February
Arugula——sow 16 January – 4 November
Basil3 January – 7 October10 February – 14 November3 March – 14 November
Beet——sow 16 January – 10 October
Bell Pepper12 December – 20 June10 February – 19 August3 March – 19 August
Black-eyed Susanfrom 22 November—from 13 February
Bok Choy19 December – 18 October23 January – 22 November13 February – 22 November
Borage——sow 13 February – 15 October
Broad bean——sow 16 January – 31 August
Broccoli——sow 16 January – 24 August
Brussels Sprouts11 November – 22 July26 December – 5 September16 January – 5 September
Busy Lizziefrom 21 November—from 13 February
Cabbage——sow 16 January – 1 August
Calendula——sow from 16 January
Carrot——sow 16 January – 16 September
Cauliflower14 November – 24 August26 December – 5 October16 January – 5 October
Celeriac7 November – 21 June23 January – 6 September13 February – 6 September
Celery7 November – 1 July23 January – 16 September13 February – 16 September
Celosiafrom 9 Decemberfrom 23 Januaryfrom 13 February
Chamomile——sow 16 January – 5 October
Chayote27 October – 14 June23 January – 10 September13 February – 10 September
Chickpea——sow 16 January – 21 August
Chicory1 December – 15 September—16 January – 10 October
Chili Pepper12 December – 27 July10 February – 25 September3 March – 25 September
China asterfrom 20 Decemberfrom 10 Februaryfrom 3 March
Chives——sow 16 January – 26 September
Cilantro——sow 16 January – 6 October
Corn——sow 13 February – 21 August
Corn poppy——sow from 16 January
Cosmosfrom 9 Decemberfrom 23 Januaryfrom 13 February
Cucumber13 January – 27 August10 February – 24 September3 March – 24 September
Daikon——sow 16 January – 3 October
Delphiniumfrom 28 October—from 16 January
Dill——sow 16 January – 16 October
Edging lobeliafrom 21 November—from 13 February
Eggplant12 December – 20 June10 February – 19 August3 March – 19 August
Florence fennel9 December – 31 August23 January – 15 October13 February – 15 October
Foxglovefrom 10 October—from 16 January
Garden sorrel——sow 16 January – 4 October
Green Beans——sow 13 February – 29 August
Hollyhock——sow from 16 January
Hyssop——sow 16 January – 27 August
Kale——sow 16 January – 28 September
Kiwano22 December – 3 September23 January – 5 October13 February – 5 October
Kohlrabi——sow 16 January – 8 October
Leek17 October – 12 June26 December – 21 August16 January – 21 August
Lemon balm——sow 16 January – 30 September
Lettuce——sow 16 January – 13 October
Lisianthusfrom 30 Septemberfrom 26 Decemberfrom 16 January
Lovage——sow from 16 January
Luffa30 December – 28 June10 February – 9 August3 March – 9 August
Marigoldfrom 12 Decemberfrom 23 Januaryfrom 13 February
Marjoram12 December – 15 September—3 March – 14 November
Melon13 January – 14 August10 February – 11 September3 March – 11 September
Microgreens——sow 13 February – 25 November
Moringa31 December – 20 September24 February – 14 November17 March – 14 November
Moss rosefrom 28 November—from 13 February
Mustard greens——sow 16 January – 25 October
Napa cabbage21 December – 25 September23 January – 28 October13 February – 28 October
Nasturtiumfrom 16 Decemberfrom 23 Januaryfrom 13 February
Okra30 December – 8 September10 February – 20 October3 March – 20 October
Oregano27 October – 5 September26 December – 4 November16 January – 4 November
Pansyfrom 31 Octoberfrom 26 Decemberfrom 16 January
Parsley——sow 16 January – 24 September
Parsnip——sow 16 January – 13 August
Peanut4 January – 4 August10 February – 10 September3 March – 10 September
Peas——sow 16 January – 26 September
Petuniafrom 9 Decemberfrom 10 Februaryfrom 3 March
Physalis9 December – 1 August23 January – 15 September13 February – 15 September
Pumpkin30 December – 3 July10 February – 14 August3 March – 14 August
Purple coneflowerfrom 25 October—from 16 January
Radish——sow 16 January – 9 November
Sage7 November – 1 September26 December – 20 October16 January – 20 October
Scarlet sagefrom 2 December—from 13 February
Snapdragonfrom 22 Octoberfrom 26 Decemberfrom 16 January
Soybean——sow 3 March – 20 September
Spinach——sow 16 January – 15 October
Stevia5 December – 23 July23 January – 10 September13 February – 10 September
Stock——sow from 16 January
Sunflower——sow from 13 February
Sweet alyssum——sow from 16 January
Sweet Corn1 January – 15 September23 January – 7 October13 February – 7 October
Sweet peafrom 14 Novemberfrom 26 Decemberfrom 16 January
Sweet William——sow from 16 January
Swiss Chard——sow 16 January – 10 October
Thyme——sow 16 January – 21 August
Tomato2 December – 28 June23 January – 19 August13 February – 19 August
Turnip——sow 16 January – 12 October
Watercress——sow 16 January – 23 October
Watermelon13 January – 2 August10 February – 30 August3 March – 30 August
Zinniafrom 20 Januaryfrom 24 Februaryfrom 17 March
Zucchini20 January – 1 September10 February – 22 September3 March – 22 September

Planting out: a week after the last frost once the soil is warm enough for the crop; frost-hardy crops three weeks before it; an unheated greenhouse three weeks earlier. Seedlings are sown so they are ready on that day. Each window starts on the Greenly calendar date and ends on the last day that still leaves the crop’s days to harvest (from its card) before the average first autumn frost, plus six weeks of picking for crops harvested over weeks (tomatoes, peppers, aubergines, cucumbers, courgettes, pumpkins, watermelons, beans) — our rule; earlier in the window is safer.

When the soil warms up in Baton Rouge

The day the top 7 cm of soil first averages each temperature over a week, median of 2016–2025 (ERA5 via Open-Meteo).

SoilDateAgainst the last spring frost
5 °Calready in the first week of January—
10 °Calready in the first week of January—
15 °C1 February5 days earlier
18 °C3 March25 days later

Frost dates near Baton Rouge

Of the nearest cities on our list, the last spring frost ends earliest in New Orleans (22 January) and latest in Jackson (24 February).

CityDistanceLast spring frostFirst autumn frost
Lafayette85 km19 February6 December
New Orleans119 km22 January15 December
Gulfport201 km7 February24 November
Jackson227 km24 February28 November
Mobile296 km24 January15 December

Seeds, seedlings and markets in Baton Rouge

Within 15 km of Baton Rouge OpenStreetMap lists 3 garden centres, 1 plant nursery and 2 markets (collected 28 October 2026). The nearest garden centre to the city centre is Walmart Garden Center, 5 km away.

Places: © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL.

What to grow at home in winter in Baton Rouge

Frosts in Baton Rouge usually come from about 9 December to about 6 February. These plants have indoor care in their Greenly cards and are harvested quickly, so they can be sown on a windowsill in winter.

Weather in Baton Rouge by month

Average weather in Baton Rouge over 2016–2025: the warmest month is July. Months that average 20 °C or more by day: February–November (20–32.5 °C). Months that average 30 °C or more by day: June–September (30.9–32.5 °C). No month averages below 0 °C at night; the coldest nights, in January, average 6.7 °C. About 1578 mm of rain falls in a year, on 151 days; August is the wettest month (203 mm) and October the driest (81 mm).

MonthDay, °CNight, °CRain, mmRainy days
January16.56.713410
February2010.110811
March22.913.112912
April25.415.513211
May29.419.914712
June31.823.214116
July32.524.416620
August32.524.320318
September30.922.211312
October27.417.5818
November21.811.8889
December18.69.313612

Average of the daily highs and lows, rain per month and days with at least 1 mm (ERA5 via Open-Meteo, the same grid cell as the frost dates).

Planted in autumn

CropWhen to plant
Bearded Irisby 9 November
Crocusby 9 November
Daffodilby 9 November
Garlicby 9 November
Grape hyacinthby 9 November
Helleboreby 9 November
Hyacinthby 9 November
Lilyby 9 November
Ornamental onionby 9 November
Peonyby 9 November
Saffronby 9 November
Snowdropby 9 November
Tulipby 9 November
Wild garlicby 9 November

From a month before the first autumn frost, so the roots grow before winter, to the late-planting limit on each crop’s page (about two weeks before the ground freezes, by ten years of weather).