Frost dates for Alexandria, LA
When the last spring frost and first fall frost usually come, and when to plant, from 30 years of NOAA weather records.
Last spring frost
March 3
typical year
Safe to plant
March 24
frost is over in 9 of 10 years
First fall frost
November 22
typical year
Growing season
263 days
frost-free, typical year
Frost watch this week
Tonight's and the next six nights' lows from the National Weather Service forecast for the station's location. Frost: 32°F or colder. Possible frost: 33–36°F, mostly in low spots on clear, still nights.
When to plant
Counted from this page's frost dates. Warm-season crops wait for the safe-to-plant date.
| Crop | Start indoors | Plant outside | Fall planting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cool-season crops | |||
| Peas | – | Feb 3 – 17 | – |
| Spinach | – | Jan 20 – Feb 10 | Sep 27 – Oct 11 |
| Lettuce | – | Feb 3 – 24 | Sep 27 – Oct 11 |
| Radishes | – | Feb 3 – Mar 17 | Oct 11 – 25 |
| Onions | – | Feb 3 – 17 | – |
| Potatoes | – | Feb 10 – 24 | – |
| Carrots | – | Feb 10 – Mar 3 | Aug 30 – Sep 13 |
| Beets | – | Feb 3 – 17 | Sep 13 – 27 |
| Kale | Dec 23 – Jan 6 | Feb 3 – 17 | Sep 13 – 27 |
| Broccoli | Dec 23 – Jan 6 | Feb 17 – Mar 3 | Sep 13 – 27 |
| Cabbage | Dec 9 – 23 | Feb 3 – 17 | Sep 13 – 27 |
| Garlic | – | – | Oct 11 – Nov 1 |
| Warm-season crops | |||
| Tomatoes | Jan 27 – Feb 10 | Mar 24 – Apr 7 | – |
| Peppers | Jan 20 – Feb 3 | Mar 31 – Apr 14 | – |
| Cucumbers | – | Mar 24 – Apr 14 | – |
| Zucchini | – | Mar 24 – Apr 21 | – |
| Pumpkins | – | Mar 24 – Apr 14 | – |
| Green beans | – | Mar 24 – Sep 13 | – |
| Sweet corn | – | Mar 24 – Apr 21 | – |
| Basil | Feb 17 – Mar 3 | Mar 31 – Apr 7 | – |
Onions: from sets. Green beans: until 10 weeks before the first fall frost. Garlic: harvest next summer.
The year at a glance
Start indoors Plant outside Fall planting
The chance of frost, by date
| 1 year in 10 | Half of years | 9 years in 10 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring frost after | March 24 | March 3 | February 4 |
| Fall frost before | November 3 | November 22 | December 11 |
Frost here means 32°F or colder. Read across: in 1 year in 10, spring frost carries on past the first date, which is why that date is the safe-to-plant date.
Hard freeze (28°F)
A hard freeze kills most garden plants, even hardy ones. The last one in spring usually comes around February 16 (March 13 in a late year), and the first one in fall around December 7.
Where these dates come from
NOAA weather station ALEXANDRIA 5 SSE, LA US (USC00160103), 1991–2020 climate normals. It's the nearest station for 1 zip code, all within 2 miles:
71301
Planting dates follow common university extension advice; your local extension service can fine-tune them for your soil and microclimate.