NEW Orleans Lakefront Airport, LA Frost Dates & Growing Season

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

Last spring frost
Jan 22
~50% chance of frost after
First fall frost
Jan 5
~50% chance of frost before
Growing season
348 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 28 Jan 22 Feb 23
First fall frost Feb 1 Jan 5 Dec 13
Hard freeze (28°F), median last Jan 18 · first Jan 11

Computed from NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals at the NEW ORLEANS LAKEFRONT AP 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 NEW Orleans Lakefront Airport

Computed from NEW Orleans Lakefront Airport'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 27 – Dec 11 Jan 29 – Feb 5
🫑 Peppers Nov 13 – Nov 27 Feb 5 – Feb 12
🥬 Lettuce Dec 11 – Dec 25 Dec 25 – Jan 8 Dec 25 – Jan 22
🫛 Peas Dec 11 – Dec 25
🥕 Carrots Jan 1 – Jan 22
🥦 Broccoli Dec 4 – Dec 18 Jan 1 – Jan 15
🥬 Kale Dec 11 – Dec 25 Dec 25 – Jan 8 Dec 25 – Jan 8
🥒 Cucumbers Dec 25 – Jan 1 Jan 29 – Feb 5 Jan 29 – Feb 5
🥒 Zucchini Dec 25 – Jan 1 Jan 29 – Feb 5 Jan 29 – Feb 5
🫘 Green Beans (Bush) Jan 29 – Feb 5
🌽 Sweet Corn Jan 29 – Feb 5
🌿 Basil Dec 11 – Dec 25 Jan 29 – Feb 5 Feb 5 – Feb 12
🧄 Garlic Fall: Nov 24 – Dec 22

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 NEW Orleans Lakefront Airport's dates automatically after a lookup.

Reading the season in NEW Orleans Lakefront Airport

With roughly 348 frost-free days, NEW Orleans Lakefront Airport 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 5 is late enough that fall planting is a full second season, not an afterthought.

Frequently asked questions

When is the last frost in NEW Orleans Lakefront Airport, LA?

The average last spring frost in NEW Orleans Lakefront Airport is around Jan 22, 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 NEW Orleans Lakefront Airport, LA?

The average first fall frost in NEW Orleans Lakefront Airport arrives around Jan 5. 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 NEW Orleans Lakefront Airport?

About 348 frost-free days on average, from Jan 22 to Jan 5. That comfortably fits long-season crops like melons and winter squash, plus spring and fall plantings of cool-season vegetables.

What USDA zone is NEW Orleans Lakefront Airport 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.