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Last and first frost dates in New Orleans

United States

In New Orleans the last spring frost usually comes around 22 January and the first autumn frost around 15 December, which leaves about 327 frost-free days (median of 2016–2025). Tomato seedlings can go into open ground from 29 January to 25 August.

Last spring frostaround 22 January
First autumn frostaround 15 December
Frost-free days327 days
Hardiness zone (USDA-equivalent)official USDA map: 9b

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 New Orleans?

The last frost in New Orleans usually comes around 22 January: 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 1 January, while corn waits until 29 January. The first autumn frost follows around 15 December, about 327 days later: harvest or cover frost-tender crops before then.

When to sow and plant

CropSow for seedlingsPlant out in a greenhouseOpen ground
Achocha29 November – 6 September8 January – 16 October29 January – 16 October
Ageratumfrom 13 November—from 29 January
Arugula——sow 1 January – 10 November
Basil26 December – 13 October2 February – 20 November23 February – 20 November
Beet——sow 1 January – 16 October
Bell Pepper4 December – 26 June2 February – 25 August23 February – 25 August
Black-eyed Susanfrom 7 November—from 29 January
Bok Choy4 December – 24 October8 January – 28 November29 January – 28 November
Borage——sow 29 January – 21 October
Broad bean——sow 1 January – 6 September
Broccoli——sow 1 January – 30 August
Brussels Sprouts27 October – 28 July11 December – 11 September1 January – 11 September
Busy Lizziefrom 6 November—from 29 January
Cabbage——sow 1 January – 7 August
Calendula——sow from 1 January
Carrot——sow 1 January – 22 September
Cauliflower30 October – 30 August11 December – 11 October1 January – 11 October
Celeriac23 October – 27 June8 January – 12 September29 January – 12 September
Celery23 October – 7 July8 January – 22 September29 January – 22 September
Celosiafrom 24 Novemberfrom 8 Januaryfrom 29 January
Chamomile——sow 1 January – 11 October
Chayote12 October – 20 June8 January – 16 September29 January – 16 September
Chickpea——sow 1 January – 27 August
Chicory16 November – 21 September—1 January – 16 October
Chili Pepper4 December – 2 August2 February – 1 October23 February – 1 October
China asterfrom 12 Decemberfrom 2 Februaryfrom 23 February
Chives——sow 1 January – 2 October
Cilantro——sow 1 January – 12 October
Corn——sow 29 January – 27 August
Corn poppy——sow from 1 January
Cosmosfrom 24 Novemberfrom 8 Januaryfrom 29 January
Cucumber5 January – 2 September2 February – 30 September23 February – 30 September
Daikon——sow 1 January – 9 October
Delphiniumfrom 13 October—from 1 January
Dill——sow 1 January – 22 October
Edging lobeliafrom 6 November—from 29 January
Eggplant4 December – 26 June2 February – 25 August23 February – 25 August
Florence fennel24 November – 6 September8 January – 21 October29 January – 21 October
Foxglovefrom 25 September—from 1 January
Garden sorrel——sow 1 January – 10 October
Green Beans——sow 29 January – 4 September
Hollyhock——sow from 1 January
Hyssop——sow 1 January – 2 September
Kale——sow 1 January – 4 October
Kiwano7 December – 9 September8 January – 11 October29 January – 11 October
Kohlrabi——sow 1 January – 14 October
Leek2 October – 18 June11 December – 27 August1 January – 27 August
Lemon balm——sow 1 January – 6 October
Lettuce——sow 1 January – 19 October
Lisianthusfrom 15 Septemberfrom 11 Decemberfrom 1 January
Lovage——sow from 1 January
Luffa22 December – 4 July2 February – 15 August23 February – 15 August
Marigoldfrom 27 Novemberfrom 8 Januaryfrom 29 January
Marjoram4 December – 21 September—23 February – 20 November
Melon5 January – 20 August2 February – 17 September23 February – 17 September
Microgreens——sow 29 January – 1 December
Moringa26 December – 26 September19 February – 20 November12 March – 20 November
Moss rosefrom 13 November—from 29 January
Mustard greens——sow 1 January – 31 October
Napa cabbage6 December – 1 October8 January – 3 November29 January – 3 November
Nasturtiumfrom 1 Decemberfrom 8 Januaryfrom 29 January
Okra22 December – 14 September2 February – 26 October23 February – 26 October
Oregano12 October – 11 September11 December – 10 November1 January – 10 November
Pansyfrom 16 Octoberfrom 11 Decemberfrom 1 January
Parsley——sow 1 January – 30 September
Parsnip——sow 1 January – 19 August
Peanut27 December – 10 August2 February – 16 September23 February – 16 September
Peas——sow 1 January – 2 October
Petuniafrom 1 Decemberfrom 2 Februaryfrom 23 February
Physalis24 November – 7 August8 January – 21 September29 January – 21 September
Pumpkin22 December – 9 July2 February – 20 August23 February – 20 August
Purple coneflowerfrom 10 October—from 1 January
Radish——sow 1 January – 15 November
Sage23 October – 7 September11 December – 26 October1 January – 26 October
Scarlet sagefrom 17 November—from 29 January
Snapdragonfrom 7 Octoberfrom 11 Decemberfrom 1 January
Soybean——sow 23 February – 26 September
Spinach——sow 1 January – 21 October
Stevia20 November – 29 July8 January – 16 September29 January – 16 September
Stock——sow from 1 January
Sunflower——sow from 29 January
Sweet alyssum——sow from 1 January
Sweet Corn17 December – 21 September8 January – 13 October29 January – 13 October
Sweet peafrom 30 Octoberfrom 11 Decemberfrom 1 January
Sweet William——sow from 1 January
Swiss Chard——sow 1 January – 16 October
Thyme——sow 1 January – 27 August
Tomato17 November – 4 July8 January – 25 August29 January – 25 August
Turnip——sow 1 January – 18 October
Watercress——sow 1 January – 29 October
Watermelon5 January – 8 August2 February – 5 September23 February – 5 September
Zinniafrom 15 Januaryfrom 19 Februaryfrom 12 March
Zucchini12 January – 7 September2 February – 28 September23 February – 28 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.

What planting zone is New Orleans?

The official USDA map (2023, 1991–2020 data) puts the centre of New Orleans (ZIP 70163) in zone 9b. Zone 9b stands for an average coldest night of 25 to 30 °F (-3.9 to -1.1 °C), so perennials hardy to zone 9b or a colder zone should come through a typical winter here.

Check the official USDA map for New Orleans: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map.

When the soil warms up in New Orleans

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 °C19 January3 days earlier
18 °C23 February32 days later

Frost dates near New Orleans

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

CityDistanceLast spring frostFirst autumn frost
Gulfport108 km7 February24 November
Baton Rouge119 km6 February9 December
Lafayette189 km19 February6 December
Mobile206 km24 January15 December
Jackson261 km24 February28 November

Seeds, seedlings and markets in New Orleans

Within 15 km of New Orleans OpenStreetMap lists 7 garden centres, 3 markets and 1 farm shop (collected 20 October 2026). The nearest garden centre to the city centre is Urban Roots Garden Center, 3 km away.

Places: © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL.

What to grow at home in winter in New Orleans

Frosts in New Orleans usually come from about 15 December to about 22 January. 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 New Orleans by month

Average weather in New Orleans over 2016–2025: the warmest month is July. Months that average 20 °C or more by day: February–November (20.2–31.2 °C). Months that average 30 °C or more by day: June (30.8 °C), July (31.2 °C) and August (31.2 °C). No month averages below 0 °C at night; the coldest nights, in January, average 8.5 °C. About 1761 mm of rain falls in a year, on 167 days; August is the wettest month (230 mm) and November the driest (79 mm).

MonthDay, °CNight, °CRain, mmRainy days
January16.68.511511
February20.211.811812
March22.714.613012
April25.11711012
May28.621.115514
June30.824.120819
July31.225.122623
August31.225.423021
September29.823.515015
October26.419.21029
November21.513.9798
December18.611.113811

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 15 November
Crocusby 15 November
Daffodilby 15 November
Garlicby 15 November
Grape hyacinthby 15 November
Helleboreby 15 November
Hyacinthby 15 November
Lilyby 15 November
Ornamental onionby 15 November
Peonyby 15 November
Saffronby 15 November
Snowdropby 15 November
Tulipby 15 November
Wild garlicby 15 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).