Frost dates for Westlake, 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 26
frost is over in 9 of 10 years
First fall frost
November 25
typical year
Growing season
267 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 | Sep 30 – Oct 14 |
| Lettuce | – | Feb 2 – 23 | Sep 30 – Oct 14 |
| Radishes | – | Feb 2 – Mar 16 | Oct 14 – 28 |
| Onions | – | Feb 2 – 16 | – |
| Potatoes | – | Feb 9 – 23 | – |
| Carrots | – | Feb 9 – Mar 2 | Sep 2 – 16 |
| Beets | – | Feb 2 – 16 | Sep 16 – 30 |
| Kale | Dec 22 – Jan 5 | Feb 2 – 16 | Sep 16 – 30 |
| Broccoli | Dec 22 – Jan 5 | Feb 16 – Mar 2 | Sep 16 – 30 |
| Cabbage | Dec 8 – 22 | Feb 2 – 16 | Sep 16 – 30 |
| Garlic | – | – | Oct 14 – Nov 4 |
| Warm-season crops | |||
| Tomatoes | Jan 29 – Feb 12 | Mar 26 – Apr 9 | – |
| Peppers | Jan 22 – Feb 5 | Apr 2 – 16 | – |
| Cucumbers | – | Mar 26 – Apr 16 | – |
| Zucchini | – | Mar 26 – Apr 23 | – |
| Pumpkins | – | Mar 26 – Apr 16 | – |
| Green beans | – | Mar 26 – Sep 16 | – |
| Sweet corn | – | Mar 26 – Apr 23 | – |
| Basil | Feb 19 – Mar 5 | Apr 2 – 9 | – |
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 26 | March 2 | January 30 |
| Fall frost before | November 3 | November 25 | December 21 |
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 13 in a late year), and the first one in fall around December 10.
Towns that use these dates
This is the nearest NOAA station with frost records for 5 towns.
Westlake, Iowa, DeQuincy, Reeves, Fenton
Where these dates come from
NOAA weather station MOSS BLUFF 2 NNW, LA US (USC00166434), 1991–2020 climate normals. It's the nearest station for 9 zip codes, all within 18 miles:
70611, 70615, 70633, 70640, 70647, 70657, 70658, 70663, 70669
Planting dates follow common university extension advice; your local extension service can fine-tune them for your soil and microclimate.