Frost dates for Colfax, 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 2
typical year
Safe to plant
March 19
frost is over in 9 of 10 years
First fall frost
November 27
typical year
Growing season
271 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 2 – 16 | – |
| Spinach | – | Jan 19 – Feb 9 | Oct 2 – 16 |
| Lettuce | – | Feb 2 – 23 | Oct 2 – 16 |
| Radishes | – | Feb 2 – Mar 16 | Oct 16 – 30 |
| Onions | – | Feb 2 – 16 | – |
| Potatoes | – | Feb 9 – 23 | – |
| Carrots | – | Feb 9 – Mar 2 | Sep 4 – 18 |
| Beets | – | Feb 2 – 16 | Sep 18 – Oct 2 |
| Kale | Dec 22 – Jan 5 | Feb 2 – 16 | Sep 18 – Oct 2 |
| Broccoli | Dec 22 – Jan 5 | Feb 16 – Mar 2 | Sep 18 – Oct 2 |
| Cabbage | Dec 8 – 22 | Feb 2 – 16 | Sep 18 – Oct 2 |
| Garlic | – | – | Oct 16 – Nov 6 |
| Warm-season crops | |||
| Tomatoes | Jan 22 – Feb 5 | Mar 19 – Apr 2 | – |
| Peppers | Jan 15 – 29 | Mar 26 – Apr 9 | – |
| Cucumbers | – | Mar 19 – Apr 9 | – |
| Zucchini | – | Mar 19 – Apr 16 | – |
| Pumpkins | – | Mar 19 – Apr 9 | – |
| Green beans | – | Mar 19 – Sep 18 | – |
| Sweet corn | – | Mar 19 – Apr 16 | – |
| Basil | Feb 12 – 26 | Mar 26 – Apr 2 | – |
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 19 | March 2 | February 1 |
| Fall frost before | November 7 | November 27 | December 17 |
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 11 (March 8 in a late year), and the first one in fall around December 14.
Towns that use these dates
This is the nearest NOAA station with frost records for 3 towns.
Colfax, Boyce, Dry Prong
Where these dates come from
NOAA weather station BOYCE 3 WNW, LA US (USC00161232), 1991–2020 climate normals. It's the nearest station for 9 zip codes, all within 17 miles:
71409, 71416, 71417, 71423, 71427, 71434, 71447, 71455, 71466
Planting dates follow common university extension advice; your local extension service can fine-tune them for your soil and microclimate.