Fall in zone 9bPhoto: George Chernilevsky, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Frost dates for ZIP 70040 (Plaquemines Parish, LA)
Average last spring and first fall frost dates with 10%, 50% and 90% odds, from NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the nearest weather station, New Orleans Alvin Callender Fl, LA (8 miles away).
- Average last spring frostFeb 1850% chance of a 32°F freeze after this date
- Average first fall frostDec 650% chance of a 32°F freeze by this date
- Growing season (frost-free)295 daysmedian, 32°F threshold
- USDA hardiness zone9b25 to 30°F avg. coldest night
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This week in your yard
As of Oct 18, 2026, from your frost dates, zone and soil temperature. Lawn timing · Vegetables · Pruning · Plants
Soil temperature now
2-inch depth
No soil station with a fresh reading within 62 miles.
4-inch depth
No soil station with a fresh reading within 62 miles.
Fall: Texas A&M AgriLife times fall pre-emergent (for winter weeds such as annual bluegrass) to soil cooling to about 70°F for several days. The 50–55°F band is the spring trigger. Always read and follow the product label.
7-day forecast and frost risk
The latest National Weather Service 7-day forecast and any Frost Advisory or Freeze Warning for 70040 load here. You can also open the NWS forecast for this ZIP.
Pre-emergent
No soil reading near this ZIP. Typical extension timing for your region: spring late January to mid-February (south Florida: earlier; check local soil temps); fall October to early November.
Fertilizer window
Lawn region: Gulf Coast and peninsular Florida. Timing only; always follow the product label.
- St. Augustinegrass (warm-season): Spring: About 2–3 weeks after full green-up (May in the Carolinas; earlier in Florida and south Texas) (about Mar 29 here, using green-up about 3–4 weeks after your average last frost); Summer: Light feedings June–August where local rules allow; Last: No later than about mid-September in the Carolinas, about 6–8 weeks before first frost elsewhere. Avoid: Feeding before green-up or late in fall (feeds weeds and favors large patch and cold injury).
Plant now
- Lettuce: fall sowing Sep 27–Oct 25
- Lettuce: fall transplant Oct 11–Nov 1
- Spinach: fall sowing Oct 11–Nov 1
- Bok choy / Asian greens: fall sowing Oct 11–25
- Arugula: fall sowing Oct 11–Nov 8
- Mustard greens: fall sowing Oct 11–25
- Cilantro: fall sowing Oct 11–25
- Dill: fall sowing Oct 11–25
- Strawberry (plants): fall transplant Sep 27–Oct 25
Coming up in the next 3 weeks
Prune now
No frost-timed pruning windows are open this week.
Your average first frost is Dec 6: skip heavy pruning in the 6–8 weeks before it, because new growth may not harden off in time.
Spring-flowering shrubs are pruned right after their flowers fade, not by date. See the pruning guide.
Last spring frost odds
| Chance of a 32°F freeze after this date | Date |
|---|---|
| 90% (early: most years still freeze after this) | Jan 17 |
| 50% (the "average" last frost) | Feb 18 |
| 10% (cautious: only 1 year in 10 freezes later) | Mar 13 |
Most gardeners plant frost-tender crops (tomatoes, peppers, basil) after the 50% date, and closer to the 10% date for less risk.
First fall frost odds
| Chance the first 32°F freeze has happened by this date | Date |
|---|---|
| 10% (early: 1 year in 10 freezes this soon) | Nov 15 |
| 50% (the "average" first frost) | Dec 6 |
| 90% (late: most years have frozen by now) | Jan 7 (next year) |
Light frost, freeze and hard freeze
| Threshold | Last spring (50%) | First fall (50%) |
|---|---|---|
| 36°F (light frost possible on clear, calm nights) | Mar 5 | Nov 21 |
| 32°F (freeze) | Feb 18 | Dec 6 |
| 28°F (hard freeze) | Jan 31 | Dec 30 |
n/a means NOAA did not publish a date at that threshold for this station (usually because it rarely gets that cold).
Vegetable planting calendar for 70040
Dates count from your average last spring frost (Feb 18) and first fall frost (Dec 6). Half of years have a frost after the spring date, so give tender crops (tomatoes, peppers, squash) some slack.
| Crop | Start indoors | Spring planting | Fall planting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomato | Dec 24–Jan 7 | Feb 25–Mar 11 (transplant) | Aug 9–Sep 6 (transplant) |
| Pepper (sweet and hot) | Dec 10–24 | Mar 4–18 (transplant) | Aug 16–Sep 6 (transplant) |
| Eggplant | Dec 10–24 | Mar 4–18 (transplant) | Aug 16–Sep 6 (transplant) |
| Tomatillo | Dec 24–Jan 7 | Feb 25–Mar 11 (transplant) | – |
| Lettuce | Dec 24–Jan 7 | Jan 28–Feb 18 (transplant) Jan 21–Mar 4 (sow outdoors) | Oct 11–Nov 1 (transplant) Sep 27–Oct 25 (sowing) |
| Spinach | – | Jan 7–28 (sow outdoors) | Oct 11–Nov 1 (sowing) |
| Kale | Dec 24–Jan 7 | Jan 21–Feb 4 (transplant) Jan 21–Feb 4 (sow outdoors) | Sep 13–Oct 11 (transplant) Aug 30–Sep 27 (sowing) |
| Collards | Dec 24–Jan 7 | Jan 21–Feb 18 (transplant) Jan 21–Feb 18 (sow outdoors) | Sep 13–Oct 11 (transplant) Aug 30–Sep 27 (sowing) |
| Broccoli | Dec 10–24 | Jan 21–Feb 4 (transplant) | Aug 30–Sep 27 (transplant) |
| Cabbage | Dec 10–24 | Jan 21–Feb 4 (transplant) | Aug 30–Sep 27 (transplant) |
| Cauliflower | Dec 10–24 | Feb 4–18 (transplant) | Aug 30–Sep 27 (transplant) |
| Brussels sprouts | Nov 26–Dec 10 | Jan 21–Feb 4 (transplant) | Aug 16–Sep 6 (transplant) |
| Kohlrabi | Dec 24–Jan 7 | Jan 21–Feb 4 (transplant) Jan 21–Feb 4 (sow outdoors) | Sep 27–Oct 11 (sowing) |
| Bok choy / Asian greens | – | Jan 21–Feb 4 (sow outdoors) | Oct 11–25 (sowing) |
| Arugula | – | Jan 21–Feb 18 (sow outdoors) | Oct 11–Nov 8 (sowing) |
| Mustard greens | – | Jan 21–Feb 11 (sow outdoors) | Oct 11–25 (sowing) |
| Swiss chard | Jan 7–21 | Feb 4–25 (transplant) Feb 4–Mar 4 (sow outdoors) | Sep 27–Oct 11 (sowing) |
| Beet | – | Jan 21–Feb 18 (sow outdoors) | Sep 27–Oct 11 (sowing) |
| Carrot | – | Jan 28–Feb 25 (sow outdoors) | Sep 13–27 (sowing) |
| Radish | – | Jan 14–Feb 25 (sow outdoors) | Oct 25–Nov 8 (sowing) |
| Turnip | – | Jan 21–Feb 11 (sow outdoors) | Sep 27–Oct 11 (sowing) |
| Parsnip | – | Jan 28–Feb 18 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pea (garden, snap, snow) | – | Dec 24–Jan 21 (sow outdoors) | Sep 13–27 (sowing) |
| Onion (bulbing) | Nov 26–Dec 10 | Jan 7–21 (transplant) | – |
| Green onion / scallion | – | Jan 7–Feb 4 (sow outdoors) | Sep 27–Oct 11 (sowing) |
| Leek | Nov 26–Dec 10 | Jan 21–Feb 4 (transplant) | – |
| Garlic | – | – | Oct 25–Nov 22 (sowing) |
| Shallot | – | Jan 7–21 (transplant) | Oct 25–Nov 22 (sowing) |
| Potato | – | Jan 21–Feb 4 (transplant) | Aug 16–30 (transplant) |
| Sweet potato | – | Mar 11–25 (transplant) | – |
| Sweet corn | – | Feb 25–Mar 11 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, bush (snap) | – | Feb 25–Mar 11 (sow outdoors) | Sep 13–27 (sowing) |
| Bean, pole | – | Feb 25–Mar 11 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Lima bean | – | Mar 4–18 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Southern pea (cowpea, black-eyed pea) | – | Mar 11–Apr 1 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cucumber | Jan 21–28 | Feb 25–Mar 11 (transplant) Feb 25–Mar 11 (sow outdoors) | Sep 13–27 (sowing) |
| Summer squash / zucchini | Jan 21–28 | Feb 25–Mar 11 (transplant) Feb 25–Mar 11 (sow outdoors) | Sep 13–27 (sowing) |
| Winter squash | Jan 21–28 | Feb 25–Mar 11 (transplant) Feb 25–Mar 11 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pumpkin | – | Feb 25–Mar 11 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Watermelon | Jan 21–28 | Mar 4–18 (transplant) Mar 4–18 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cantaloupe / muskmelon | Jan 21–28 | Mar 4–18 (transplant) Mar 4–18 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Okra | Jan 7–21 | Mar 4–18 (transplant) Mar 4–18 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Celery | Nov 26–Dec 10 | Feb 25–Mar 4 (transplant) | – |
| Basil | Jan 7–21 | Feb 25–Mar 11 (transplant) Feb 25–Mar 11 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cilantro | – | Feb 4–Mar 4 (sow outdoors) | Oct 11–25 (sowing) |
| Parsley | Dec 10–24 | Feb 4–18 (transplant) Jan 28–Feb 18 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Dill | – | Feb 18–Mar 4 (sow outdoors) | Oct 11–25 (sowing) |
| Sunflower | – | Feb 18–Mar 4 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Asparagus (crowns) | – | Jan 21–Feb 4 (transplant) | – |
| Rhubarb (crowns) | – | Jan 21–Feb 4 (transplant) | – |
| Strawberry (plants) | – | Jan 21–Feb 4 (transplant) | Sep 27–Oct 25 (transplant) |
Typical ranges from university extension planting calendars, adjusted to your frost dates. Probabilities, not guarantees. Fall windows that would overlap spring planting are left out, as are fall crops of frost-tender plants where the frost-free season is under 210 days.
Plants that do well here
Louisiana has a university or garden plant program: Louisiana Super Plants. Plant frost-tender annuals after February 18 here (the average last frost). Not affiliated with the program.
Where these numbers come from
Station: New Orleans Alvin Callender Fl, LA (NOAA GHCN-Daily ID USW00012958), elevation 5 ft, 7.7 miles from the ZIP's center point. NOAA completeness flag: R (representative, 10+ years).
Nearby stations
| Station | Distance | Last frost (50%) | First frost (50%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| St Bernard, LA | 11 mi | Feb 4 | Dec 15 |
| Marrero 9 SSW, LA | 12 mi | Feb 10 | Dec 12 |
| Lsu Citrus Rsch STN, LA | 12 mi | Feb 3 | Dec 28 |
The average last-frost dates of these stations span 15 days, a rough guide to local variation. See data sources & methods.
Frost questions for 70040
When is the last frost in 70040?
The average (50% chance) last spring freeze of 32°F for ZIP 70040 is February 18. For a more cautious planting date, use March 13, when only 1 year in 10 still sees a later freeze.
When is the first frost in 70040?
The average first fall freeze is December 6. In 1 year in 10 it comes by November 15.
What hardiness zone is 70040?
ZIP 70040 is in USDA zone 9b (25 to 30°F average coldest winter night), per the 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map ZIP listing.
What is the soil temperature in 70040 right now?
This page shows the latest 2-inch and 4-inch soil temperature from the nearest public soil station (USDA SCAN, NOAA USCRN or TexMesonet), or a labeled estimate when no station is close, against the 50–55°F spring pre-emergent band.
Nearby ZIP codes
70037 Belle Chasse 70067 Jean Lafitte 70092 Violet 70085 Poydras 70131 New Orleans 70056 Terrytown 70058 Harvey 70075 Meraux
Other ZIP codes in Plaquemines Parish
70037 70038 70041 70050 70082 70083 70091 All Plaquemines Parish frost dates · Louisiana frost dates
Never miss a frost: get The Dial
Weekly yard timing, plus frost and soil-temperature alerts for your ZIP code.
- Freeze alerts
- Soil-temp heads-up
- Weekly yard to-dos
Free. One weekly email plus alerts when your ZIP has a frost or a soil-temperature change worth acting on. After you submit, Kit (our email provider) sends a confirmation email: check your email and click the link to confirm. You aren't subscribed until you do. We collect only your email address and ZIP, sent to Kit to deliver The Dial. Unsubscribe anytime.