Fall in zone 8bPhoto: George Chernilevsky, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Frost dates for ZIP 71233 (Delta, 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, Vicksburg City, MS (5 miles away).
- Average last spring frostFeb 2650% chance of a 32°F freeze after this date
- Average first fall frostNov 2250% chance of a 32°F freeze by this date
- Growing season (frost-free)269 daysmedian, 32°F threshold
- USDA hardiness zone8b15 to 20°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
69°F 55°F or warmer
24-hour average · latest 66°F, as of Oct 18, 2:00 AM CDT
Estimate Not a measurement at this ZIP: distance-weighted average of Onward (30 mi), Mayday (44 mi), North Issaquena (47 mi).
4-inch depth
71°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 Onward (30 mi), Mayday (44 mi), North Issaquena (47 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 71233 load here. You can also open the NWS forecast for this ZIP.
Pre-emergent
Soil is 71°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 13 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 27–Oct 18
- Spinach: fall sowing Sep 27–Oct 18
- Arugula: fall sowing Sep 27–Oct 25
- Radish: fall sowing Oct 11–25
- Garlic: fall sowing Oct 11–Nov 8
- Shallot: fall sowing Oct 11–Nov 8
Prune now
No frost-timed pruning windows are open this week.
Your average first frost is Nov 22: 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 31 |
| 50% (the "average" last frost) | Feb 26 |
| 10% (cautious: only 1 year in 10 freezes later) | Mar 16 |
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 22 |
| 90% (late: most years have frozen by now) | Dec 15 |
Light frost, freeze and hard freeze
| Threshold | Last spring (50%) | First fall (50%) |
|---|---|---|
| 36°F (light frost possible on clear, calm nights) | Mar 9 | Nov 9 |
| 32°F (freeze) | Feb 26 | Nov 22 |
| 28°F (hard freeze) | Feb 8 | Dec 4 |
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 71233
Dates count from your average last spring frost (Feb 26) and first fall frost (Nov 22). 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 1–15 | Mar 5–19 (transplant) | Jul 26–Aug 23 (transplant) |
| Pepper (sweet and hot) | Dec 18–Jan 1 | Mar 12–26 (transplant) | Aug 2–23 (transplant) |
| Eggplant | Dec 18–Jan 1 | Mar 12–26 (transplant) | Aug 2–23 (transplant) |
| Tomatillo | Jan 1–15 | Mar 5–19 (transplant) | – |
| Lettuce | Jan 1–15 | Feb 5–26 (transplant) Jan 29–Mar 12 (sow outdoors) | Sep 27–Oct 18 (transplant) Sep 13–Oct 11 (sowing) |
| Spinach | – | Jan 15–Feb 5 (sow outdoors) | Sep 27–Oct 18 (sowing) |
| Kale | Jan 1–15 | Jan 29–Feb 12 (transplant) Jan 29–Feb 12 (sow outdoors) | Aug 30–Sep 27 (transplant) Aug 16–Sep 13 (sowing) |
| Collards | Jan 1–15 | Jan 29–Feb 26 (transplant) Jan 29–Feb 26 (sow outdoors) | Aug 30–Sep 27 (transplant) Aug 16–Sep 13 (sowing) |
| Broccoli | Dec 18–Jan 1 | Jan 29–Feb 12 (transplant) | Aug 16–Sep 13 (transplant) |
| Cabbage | Dec 18–Jan 1 | Jan 29–Feb 12 (transplant) | Aug 16–Sep 13 (transplant) |
| Cauliflower | Dec 18–Jan 1 | Feb 12–26 (transplant) | Aug 16–Sep 13 (transplant) |
| Brussels sprouts | Dec 4–18 | Jan 29–Feb 12 (transplant) | Aug 2–23 (transplant) |
| Kohlrabi | Jan 1–15 | Jan 29–Feb 12 (transplant) Jan 29–Feb 12 (sow outdoors) | Sep 13–27 (sowing) |
| Bok choy / Asian greens | – | Jan 29–Feb 12 (sow outdoors) | Sep 27–Oct 11 (sowing) |
| Arugula | – | Jan 29–Feb 26 (sow outdoors) | Sep 27–Oct 25 (sowing) |
| Mustard greens | – | Jan 29–Feb 19 (sow outdoors) | Sep 27–Oct 11 (sowing) |
| Swiss chard | Jan 15–29 | Feb 12–Mar 5 (transplant) Feb 12–Mar 12 (sow outdoors) | Sep 13–27 (sowing) |
| Beet | – | Jan 29–Feb 26 (sow outdoors) | Sep 13–27 (sowing) |
| Carrot | – | Feb 5–Mar 5 (sow outdoors) | Aug 30–Sep 13 (sowing) |
| Radish | – | Jan 22–Mar 5 (sow outdoors) | Oct 11–25 (sowing) |
| Turnip | – | Jan 29–Feb 19 (sow outdoors) | Sep 13–27 (sowing) |
| Parsnip | – | Feb 5–26 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pea (garden, snap, snow) | – | Jan 1–29 (sow outdoors) | Aug 30–Sep 13 (sowing) |
| Onion (bulbing) | Dec 4–18 | Jan 15–29 (transplant) | – |
| Green onion / scallion | – | Jan 15–Feb 12 (sow outdoors) | Sep 13–27 (sowing) |
| Leek | Dec 4–18 | Jan 29–Feb 12 (transplant) | – |
| Garlic | – | – | Oct 11–Nov 8 (sowing) |
| Shallot | – | Jan 15–29 (transplant) | Oct 11–Nov 8 (sowing) |
| Potato | – | Jan 29–Feb 12 (transplant) | Aug 2–16 (transplant) |
| Sweet potato | – | Mar 19–Apr 2 (transplant) | – |
| Sweet corn | – | Mar 5–19 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, bush (snap) | – | Mar 5–19 (sow outdoors) | Aug 30–Sep 13 (sowing) |
| Bean, pole | – | Mar 5–19 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Lima bean | – | Mar 12–26 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Southern pea (cowpea, black-eyed pea) | – | Mar 19–Apr 9 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cucumber | Jan 29–Feb 5 | Mar 5–19 (transplant) Mar 5–19 (sow outdoors) | Aug 30–Sep 13 (sowing) |
| Summer squash / zucchini | Jan 29–Feb 5 | Mar 5–19 (transplant) Mar 5–19 (sow outdoors) | Aug 30–Sep 13 (sowing) |
| Winter squash | Jan 29–Feb 5 | Mar 5–19 (transplant) Mar 5–19 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pumpkin | – | Mar 5–19 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Watermelon | Jan 29–Feb 5 | Mar 12–26 (transplant) Mar 12–26 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cantaloupe / muskmelon | Jan 29–Feb 5 | Mar 12–26 (transplant) Mar 12–26 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Okra | Jan 15–29 | Mar 12–26 (transplant) Mar 12–26 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Celery | Dec 4–18 | Mar 5–12 (transplant) | – |
| Basil | Jan 15–29 | Mar 5–19 (transplant) Mar 5–19 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cilantro | – | Feb 12–Mar 12 (sow outdoors) | Sep 27–Oct 11 (sowing) |
| Parsley | Dec 18–Jan 1 | Feb 12–26 (transplant) Feb 5–26 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Dill | – | Feb 26–Mar 12 (sow outdoors) | Sep 27–Oct 11 (sowing) |
| Sunflower | – | Feb 26–Mar 12 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Asparagus (crowns) | – | Jan 29–Feb 12 (transplant) | – |
| Rhubarb (crowns) | – | Jan 29–Feb 12 (transplant) | – |
| Strawberry (plants) | – | Jan 29–Feb 12 (transplant) | Sep 13–Oct 11 (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 26 here (the average last frost). Not affiliated with the program.
Where these numbers come from
Station: Vicksburg City, MS (NOAA GHCN-Daily ID USC00229230), elevation 80 ft, 5.3 miles from the ZIP's center point. NOAA completeness flag: R (representative, 10+ years).
Nearby stations
| Station | Distance | Last frost (50%) | First frost (50%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tallulah Vicksburg AP, LA | 6 mi | Mar 3 | Nov 11 |
| Tallulah, LA | 16 mi | Mar 2 | Nov 24 |
| Port Gibson 1 NE, MS | 24 mi | Mar 17 | Nov 12 |
The average last-frost dates of these stations span 22 days, a rough guide to local variation. See data sources & methods.
Frost questions for 71233
When is the last frost in 71233?
The average (50% chance) last spring freeze of 32°F for ZIP 71233 is February 26. For a more cautious planting date, use March 16, when only 1 year in 10 still sees a later freeze.
When is the first frost in 71233?
The average first fall freeze is November 22. In 1 year in 10 it comes by November 3.
What hardiness zone is 71233?
ZIP 71233 is in USDA zone 8b (15 to 20°F average coldest winter night), per the 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map ZIP listing.
What is the soil temperature in 71233 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
39180 Vicksburg 39183 Eagle Bend 71282 Delta 39156 Redwood 39066 Edwards 39177 Valley Park 71276 39150 Port Gibson
Other ZIP codes in Madison Parish
71232 71282 All Madison Parish frost dates · Louisiana frost dates
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