Fall in zone 9aPhoto: George Chernilevsky, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Frost dates for ZIP 71433 (McNary, 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, Elizabeth, LA (13 miles away).
- Average last spring frostMar 350% 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)268 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
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 71433 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 mid-February to early March; fall September to early October.
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 18 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) | Feb 4 |
| 50% (the "average" last frost) | Mar 3 |
| 10% (cautious: only 1 year in 10 freezes later) | Mar 28 |
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 15 |
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 10 |
| 32°F (freeze) | Mar 3 | Nov 25 |
| 28°F (hard freeze) | Feb 14 | 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 71433
Dates count from your average last spring frost (Mar 3) 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 6–20 | Mar 10–24 (transplant) | Jul 29–Aug 26 (transplant) |
| Pepper (sweet and hot) | Dec 23–Jan 6 | Mar 17–31 (transplant) | Aug 5–26 (transplant) |
| Eggplant | Dec 23–Jan 6 | Mar 17–31 (transplant) | Aug 5–26 (transplant) |
| Tomatillo | Jan 6–20 | Mar 10–24 (transplant) | – |
| Lettuce | Jan 6–20 | Feb 10–Mar 3 (transplant) Feb 3–Mar 17 (sow outdoors) | Sep 30–Oct 21 (transplant) Sep 16–Oct 14 (sowing) |
| Spinach | – | Jan 20–Feb 10 (sow outdoors) | Sep 30–Oct 21 (sowing) |
| Kale | Jan 6–20 | Feb 3–17 (transplant) Feb 3–17 (sow outdoors) | Sep 2–30 (transplant) Aug 19–Sep 16 (sowing) |
| Collards | Jan 6–20 | Feb 3–Mar 3 (transplant) Feb 3–Mar 3 (sow outdoors) | Sep 2–30 (transplant) Aug 19–Sep 16 (sowing) |
| Broccoli | Dec 23–Jan 6 | Feb 3–17 (transplant) | Aug 19–Sep 16 (transplant) |
| Cabbage | Dec 23–Jan 6 | Feb 3–17 (transplant) | Aug 19–Sep 16 (transplant) |
| Cauliflower | Dec 23–Jan 6 | Feb 17–Mar 3 (transplant) | Aug 19–Sep 16 (transplant) |
| Brussels sprouts | Dec 9–23 | Feb 3–17 (transplant) | Aug 5–26 (transplant) |
| Kohlrabi | Jan 6–20 | Feb 3–17 (transplant) Feb 3–17 (sow outdoors) | Sep 16–30 (sowing) |
| Bok choy / Asian greens | – | Feb 3–17 (sow outdoors) | Sep 30–Oct 14 (sowing) |
| Arugula | – | Feb 3–Mar 3 (sow outdoors) | Sep 30–Oct 28 (sowing) |
| Mustard greens | – | Feb 3–24 (sow outdoors) | Sep 30–Oct 14 (sowing) |
| Swiss chard | Jan 20–Feb 3 | Feb 17–Mar 10 (transplant) Feb 17–Mar 17 (sow outdoors) | Sep 16–30 (sowing) |
| Beet | – | Feb 3–Mar 3 (sow outdoors) | Sep 16–30 (sowing) |
| Carrot | – | Feb 10–Mar 10 (sow outdoors) | Sep 2–16 (sowing) |
| Radish | – | Jan 27–Mar 10 (sow outdoors) | Oct 14–28 (sowing) |
| Turnip | – | Feb 3–24 (sow outdoors) | Sep 16–30 (sowing) |
| Parsnip | – | Feb 10–Mar 3 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pea (garden, snap, snow) | – | Jan 6–Feb 3 (sow outdoors) | Sep 2–16 (sowing) |
| Onion (bulbing) | Dec 9–23 | Jan 20–Feb 3 (transplant) | – |
| Green onion / scallion | – | Jan 20–Feb 17 (sow outdoors) | Sep 16–30 (sowing) |
| Leek | Dec 9–23 | Feb 3–17 (transplant) | – |
| Garlic | – | – | Oct 14–Nov 11 (sowing) |
| Shallot | – | Jan 20–Feb 3 (transplant) | Oct 14–Nov 11 (sowing) |
| Potato | – | Feb 3–17 (transplant) | Aug 5–19 (transplant) |
| Sweet potato | – | Mar 24–Apr 7 (transplant) | – |
| Sweet corn | – | Mar 10–24 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, bush (snap) | – | Mar 10–24 (sow outdoors) | Sep 2–16 (sowing) |
| Bean, pole | – | Mar 10–24 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Lima bean | – | Mar 17–31 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Southern pea (cowpea, black-eyed pea) | – | Mar 24–Apr 14 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cucumber | Feb 3–10 | Mar 10–24 (transplant) Mar 10–24 (sow outdoors) | Sep 2–16 (sowing) |
| Summer squash / zucchini | Feb 3–10 | Mar 10–24 (transplant) Mar 10–24 (sow outdoors) | Sep 2–16 (sowing) |
| Winter squash | Feb 3–10 | Mar 10–24 (transplant) Mar 10–24 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pumpkin | – | Mar 10–24 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Watermelon | Feb 3–10 | Mar 17–31 (transplant) Mar 17–31 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cantaloupe / muskmelon | Feb 3–10 | Mar 17–31 (transplant) Mar 17–31 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Okra | Jan 20–Feb 3 | Mar 17–31 (transplant) Mar 17–31 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Celery | Dec 9–23 | Mar 10–17 (transplant) | – |
| Basil | Jan 20–Feb 3 | Mar 10–24 (transplant) Mar 10–24 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cilantro | – | Feb 17–Mar 17 (sow outdoors) | Sep 30–Oct 14 (sowing) |
| Parsley | Dec 23–Jan 6 | Feb 17–Mar 3 (transplant) Feb 10–Mar 3 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Dill | – | Mar 3–17 (sow outdoors) | Sep 30–Oct 14 (sowing) |
| Sunflower | – | Mar 3–17 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Asparagus (crowns) | – | Feb 3–17 (transplant) | – |
| Rhubarb (crowns) | – | Feb 3–17 (transplant) | – |
| Strawberry (plants) | – | Feb 3–17 (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 3 here (the average last frost). Not affiliated with the program.
Where these numbers come from
Station: Elizabeth, LA (NOAA GHCN-Daily ID USC00162800), elevation 150 ft, 13.5 miles from the ZIP's center point. NOAA completeness flag: R (representative, 10+ years).
Nearby stations
| Station | Distance | Last frost (50%) | First frost (50%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lsu Dean Lee Rsch STN, LA | 18 mi | Mar 1 | Nov 22 |
| Alexandria 5 SSE, LA | 21 mi | Mar 3 | Nov 22 |
| Ft Polk Fullerton Lndg Strip, LA | 22 mi | Mar 1 | Nov 23 |
The average last-frost dates of these stations span 2 days, a rough guide to local variation. See data sources & methods.
Frost questions for 71433
When is the last frost in 71433?
The average (50% chance) last spring freeze of 32°F for ZIP 71433 is March 3. For a more cautious planting date, use March 28, when only 1 year in 10 still sees a later freeze.
When is the first frost in 71433?
The average first fall freeze is November 25. In 1 year in 10 it comes by November 3.
What hardiness zone is 71433?
ZIP 71433 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 71433 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
71430 Forest Hill 71424 71463 Oakdale 70638 Elizabeth 71485 Woodworth 71472 71438 70585 Turkey Creek
Other ZIP codes in Rapides Parish
71301 71302 71303 71325 71328 71330 71346 71359 71360 71405 71409 71424 71427 71430 71447 71466 71472 71485 All Rapides 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
- 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.