Fall in zone 9aPhoto: George Chernilevsky, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Frost dates for ZIP 70663 (Sulphur, 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, Moss Bluff 2 NNW, LA (12 miles away).
- Average last spring frostMar 250% chance of a 32°F freeze after this date
- Average first fall frostNov 2550% chance of a 32°F freeze by this date
- Growing season (frost-free)267 daysmedian, 32°F threshold
- USDA hardiness zone9a20 to 25°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
72°F 55°F or warmer
24-hour average · latest 70°F, as of Oct 18, 2:00 AM CDT
Estimate Not a measurement at this ZIP: distance-weighted average of Beaumont (55 mi).
4-inch depth
74°F 55°F or warmer
24-hour average · latest 72°F, as of Oct 18, 2:00 AM CDT
Estimate Not a measurement at this ZIP: distance-weighted average of Beaumont (55 mi).
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 70663 load here. You can also open the NWS forecast for this ZIP.
Pre-emergent
Soil is 74°F at 4 inches (estimated soil temperature, not a station reading). Fall pre-emergent (annual bluegrass, winter weeds): window open as soil cools through the 70s and 60s.
Fertilizer window
Lawn region: Southeast (warm, humid). Timing only; always follow the product label.
- Centipedegrass (warm-season): Spring: Not before mid-May (NC State); after full green-up (about Apr 17 here, using green-up about 3–4 weeks after your average last frost); Summer: Optional mid-summer feeding, especially on sandy coastal soils. Avoid: Early-spring feeding, frequent feeding and liming unless a soil test calls for it (centipede decline).
Plant now
- Lettuce: fall transplant Sep 30–Oct 21
- Spinach: fall sowing Sep 30–Oct 21
- Arugula: fall sowing Sep 30–Oct 28
- Radish: fall sowing Oct 14–28
- Garlic: fall sowing Oct 14–Nov 11
- Shallot: fall sowing Oct 14–Nov 11
Prune now
No frost-timed pruning windows are open this week.
Your average first frost is Nov 25: 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 30 |
| 50% (the "average" last frost) | Mar 2 |
| 10% (cautious: only 1 year in 10 freezes later) | Mar 26 |
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 3 |
| 50% (the "average" first frost) | Nov 25 |
| 90% (late: most years have frozen by now) | Dec 21 |
Light frost, freeze and hard freeze
| Threshold | Last spring (50%) | First fall (50%) |
|---|---|---|
| 36°F (light frost possible on clear, calm nights) | Mar 20 | Nov 12 |
| 32°F (freeze) | Mar 2 | Nov 25 |
| 28°F (hard freeze) | Feb 11 | Dec 10 |
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 70663
Dates count from your average last spring frost (Mar 2) and first fall frost (Nov 25). 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 | Jan 5–19 | Mar 9–23 (transplant) | Jul 29–Aug 26 (transplant) |
| Pepper (sweet and hot) | Dec 22–Jan 5 | Mar 16–30 (transplant) | Aug 5–26 (transplant) |
| Eggplant | Dec 22–Jan 5 | Mar 16–30 (transplant) | Aug 5–26 (transplant) |
| Tomatillo | Jan 5–19 | Mar 9–23 (transplant) | – |
| Lettuce | Jan 5–19 | Feb 9–Mar 2 (transplant) Feb 2–Mar 16 (sow outdoors) | Sep 30–Oct 21 (transplant) Sep 16–Oct 14 (sowing) |
| Spinach | – | Jan 19–Feb 9 (sow outdoors) | Sep 30–Oct 21 (sowing) |
| Kale | Jan 5–19 | Feb 2–16 (transplant) Feb 2–16 (sow outdoors) | Sep 2–30 (transplant) Aug 19–Sep 16 (sowing) |
| Collards | Jan 5–19 | Feb 2–Mar 2 (transplant) Feb 2–Mar 2 (sow outdoors) | Sep 2–30 (transplant) Aug 19–Sep 16 (sowing) |
| Broccoli | Dec 22–Jan 5 | Feb 2–16 (transplant) | Aug 19–Sep 16 (transplant) |
| Cabbage | Dec 22–Jan 5 | Feb 2–16 (transplant) | Aug 19–Sep 16 (transplant) |
| Cauliflower | Dec 22–Jan 5 | Feb 16–Mar 2 (transplant) | Aug 19–Sep 16 (transplant) |
| Brussels sprouts | Dec 8–22 | Feb 2–16 (transplant) | Aug 5–26 (transplant) |
| Kohlrabi | Jan 5–19 | Feb 2–16 (transplant) Feb 2–16 (sow outdoors) | Sep 16–30 (sowing) |
| Bok choy / Asian greens | – | Feb 2–16 (sow outdoors) | Sep 30–Oct 14 (sowing) |
| Arugula | – | Feb 2–Mar 2 (sow outdoors) | Sep 30–Oct 28 (sowing) |
| Mustard greens | – | Feb 2–23 (sow outdoors) | Sep 30–Oct 14 (sowing) |
| Swiss chard | Jan 19–Feb 2 | Feb 16–Mar 9 (transplant) Feb 16–Mar 16 (sow outdoors) | Sep 16–30 (sowing) |
| Beet | – | Feb 2–Mar 2 (sow outdoors) | Sep 16–30 (sowing) |
| Carrot | – | Feb 9–Mar 9 (sow outdoors) | Sep 2–16 (sowing) |
| Radish | – | Jan 26–Mar 9 (sow outdoors) | Oct 14–28 (sowing) |
| Turnip | – | Feb 2–23 (sow outdoors) | Sep 16–30 (sowing) |
| Parsnip | – | Feb 9–Mar 2 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pea (garden, snap, snow) | – | Jan 5–Feb 2 (sow outdoors) | Sep 2–16 (sowing) |
| Onion (bulbing) | Dec 8–22 | Jan 19–Feb 2 (transplant) | – |
| Green onion / scallion | – | Jan 19–Feb 16 (sow outdoors) | Sep 16–30 (sowing) |
| Leek | Dec 8–22 | Feb 2–16 (transplant) | – |
| Garlic | – | – | Oct 14–Nov 11 (sowing) |
| Shallot | – | Jan 19–Feb 2 (transplant) | Oct 14–Nov 11 (sowing) |
| Potato | – | Feb 2–16 (transplant) | Aug 5–19 (transplant) |
| Sweet potato | – | Mar 23–Apr 6 (transplant) | – |
| Sweet corn | – | Mar 9–23 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, bush (snap) | – | Mar 9–23 (sow outdoors) | Sep 2–16 (sowing) |
| Bean, pole | – | Mar 9–23 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Lima bean | – | Mar 16–30 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Southern pea (cowpea, black-eyed pea) | – | Mar 23–Apr 13 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cucumber | Feb 2–9 | Mar 9–23 (transplant) Mar 9–23 (sow outdoors) | Sep 2–16 (sowing) |
| Summer squash / zucchini | Feb 2–9 | Mar 9–23 (transplant) Mar 9–23 (sow outdoors) | Sep 2–16 (sowing) |
| Winter squash | Feb 2–9 | Mar 9–23 (transplant) Mar 9–23 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pumpkin | – | Mar 9–23 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Watermelon | Feb 2–9 | Mar 16–30 (transplant) Mar 16–30 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cantaloupe / muskmelon | Feb 2–9 | Mar 16–30 (transplant) Mar 16–30 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Okra | Jan 19–Feb 2 | Mar 16–30 (transplant) Mar 16–30 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Celery | Dec 8–22 | Mar 9–16 (transplant) | – |
| Basil | Jan 19–Feb 2 | Mar 9–23 (transplant) Mar 9–23 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cilantro | – | Feb 16–Mar 16 (sow outdoors) | Sep 30–Oct 14 (sowing) |
| Parsley | Dec 22–Jan 5 | Feb 16–Mar 2 (transplant) Feb 9–Mar 2 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Dill | – | Mar 2–16 (sow outdoors) | Sep 30–Oct 14 (sowing) |
| Sunflower | – | Mar 2–16 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Asparagus (crowns) | – | Feb 2–16 (transplant) | – |
| Rhubarb (crowns) | – | Feb 2–16 (transplant) | – |
| Strawberry (plants) | – | Feb 2–16 (transplant) | Sep 16–Oct 14 (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 March 2 here (the average last frost). Not affiliated with the program.
Where these numbers come from
Station: Moss Bluff 2 NNW, LA (NOAA GHCN-Daily ID USC00166434), elevation 25 ft, 12.1 miles from the ZIP's center point. NOAA completeness flag: R (representative, 10+ years).
Nearby stations
| Station | Distance | Last frost (50%) | First frost (50%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lake Charles, LA | 16 mi | Feb 14 | Dec 7 |
| Orange 9 N, TX | 20 mi | Feb 28 | Nov 23 |
| Hackberry 8 SSW, LA | 27 mi | Feb 3 | Dec 24 |
The average last-frost dates of these stations span 30 days, a rough guide to local variation. See data sources & methods.
Frost questions for 70663
When is the last frost in 70663?
The average (50% chance) last spring freeze of 32°F for ZIP 70663 is March 2. For a more cautious planting date, use March 26, when only 1 year in 10 still sees a later freeze.
When is the first frost in 70663?
The average first fall freeze is November 25. In 1 year in 10 it comes by November 3.
What hardiness zone is 70663?
ZIP 70663 is in USDA zone 9a (20 to 25°F average coldest winter night), per the 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map ZIP listing.
What is the soil temperature in 70663 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
70669 Westlake 70633 DeQuincy 70665 Carlyss 70629 Lake Charles 70601 Lake Charles 70605 Lake Charles 70611 Moss Bluff 70609 Lake Charles
Other ZIP codes in Calcasieu Parish
70601 70605 70607 70609 70611 70615 70629 70633 70646 70647 70661 70665 70668 70669 All Calcasieu Parish frost dates · Louisiana frost dates
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Weekly yard timing, plus frost and soil-temperature alerts for your ZIP code.
- Freeze alerts
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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.