Buras, LA Frost Dates & Growing Season

The two dates every Buras garden is planned around, plus ready-computed planting windows for the most popular crops.

Last spring frost
Jan 25
~50% chance of frost after
First fall frost
Jan 4
~50% chance of frost before
Growing season
344 days
frost-free stretch
USDA zone
≈ 9b
estimated from nearby reference
Risky (1 year in 10)MedianSafe (9 years in 10)
Last spring frost Dec 31 Jan 25 Feb 21
First fall frost Jan 29 Jan 4 Dec 13
Hard freeze (28°F), median last Jan 17 · first Jan 9

Computed from NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals at the BURAS station. "Safe" means frost past that date happens only about one year in ten. Your exact garden can still run days either way with elevation and terrain — check your own ZIP with the frost date lookup.

Planting windows for Buras

Computed from Buras's own frost dates. Click any crop for the full zone-9 growing guide — varieties, spacing, fall plantings, and more.

CropStart seeds indoorsTransplantDirect sow
🍅 Tomatoes Nov 30 – Dec 14 Feb 1 – Feb 8
🫑 Peppers Nov 16 – Nov 30 Feb 8 – Feb 15
🥬 Lettuce Dec 14 – Dec 28 Dec 28 – Jan 11 Dec 28 – Jan 25
🫛 Peas Dec 14 – Dec 28
🥕 Carrots Jan 4 – Jan 25
🥦 Broccoli Dec 7 – Dec 21 Jan 4 – Jan 18
🥬 Kale Dec 14 – Dec 28 Dec 28 – Jan 11 Dec 28 – Jan 11
🥒 Cucumbers Dec 28 – Jan 4 Feb 1 – Feb 8 Feb 1 – Feb 8
🥒 Zucchini Dec 28 – Jan 4 Feb 1 – Feb 8 Feb 1 – Feb 8
🫘 Green Beans (Bush) Feb 1 – Feb 8
🌽 Sweet Corn Feb 1 – Feb 8
🌿 Basil Dec 14 – Dec 28 Feb 1 – Feb 8 Feb 8 – Feb 15
🧄 Garlic Fall: Nov 23 – Dec 21

Want this for all 50 crops, or as a printable seed-shelf schedule? Use the planting calendar and the seed starting scheduler — both can use Buras's dates automatically after a lookup.

Reading the season in Buras

With roughly 344 frost-free days, Buras gardens fit long-season crops — melons, winter squash, sweet potatoes — with room left for spring and fall rounds of greens and roots. The first frost around Jan 4 is late enough that fall planting is a full second season, not an afterthought.

Frequently asked questions

When is the last frost in Buras, LA?

The average last spring frost in Buras is around Jan 25, based on 1991–2020 climate normals. That's a median — about half of years see a later frost, so tender crops are safest going out a week or two after this date.

When is the first frost in Buras, LA?

The average first fall frost in Buras arrives around Jan 4. Crops still in the garden need to mature before then, and frost-tender plants need harvesting or protection as the date approaches.

How long is the growing season in Buras?

About 344 frost-free days on average, from Jan 25 to Jan 4. That comfortably fits long-season crops like melons and winter squash, plus spring and fall plantings of cool-season vegetables.

What USDA zone is Buras in?

USDA zone 9b on the 2023 Plant Hardiness Zone Map. Note that zones describe winter cold, not frost timing — these frost dates are the numbers to plan plantings around.