St Joseph 3 N, LA Frost Dates & Growing Season

The two dates every St Joseph 3 N garden is planned around, plus ready-computed planting windows for the most popular crops.

Last spring frost
Mar 13
~50% chance of frost after
First fall frost
Nov 10
~50% chance of frost before
Growing season
242 days
frost-free stretch
USDA zone
≈ 8b
estimated from nearby reference
Risky (1 year in 10)MedianSafe (9 years in 10)
Last spring frost Feb 20 Mar 13 Apr 4
First fall frost Dec 1 Nov 10 Oct 27
Hard freeze (28°F), median last Feb 27 · first Nov 22

Computed from NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals at the ST JOSEPH 3 N 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 St Joseph 3 N

Computed from St Joseph 3 N's own frost dates. Click any crop for the full zone-8 growing guide — varieties, spacing, fall plantings, and more.

CropStart seeds indoorsTransplantDirect sow
🍅 Tomatoes Jan 16 – Jan 30 Mar 20 – Mar 27
🫑 Peppers Jan 2 – Jan 16 Mar 27 – Apr 3
🥬 Lettuce Jan 30 – Feb 13 Feb 13 – Feb 27 Feb 13 – Mar 13
🫛 Peas Jan 30 – Feb 13
🥕 Carrots Feb 20 – Mar 13
🥦 Broccoli Jan 23 – Feb 6 Feb 20 – Mar 6
🥬 Kale Jan 30 – Feb 13 Feb 13 – Feb 27 Feb 13 – Feb 27
🥒 Cucumbers Feb 13 – Feb 20 Mar 20 – Mar 27 Mar 20 – Mar 27
🥒 Zucchini Feb 13 – Feb 20 Mar 20 – Mar 27 Mar 20 – Mar 27
🫘 Green Beans (Bush) Mar 20 – Mar 27
🌽 Sweet Corn Mar 20 – Mar 27
🌿 Basil Jan 30 – Feb 13 Mar 20 – Mar 27 Mar 27 – Apr 3
🧄 Garlic Fall: Sep 29 – Oct 27

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 St Joseph 3 N's dates automatically after a lookup.

Reading the season in St Joseph 3 N

With roughly 242 frost-free days, St Joseph 3 N 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 Nov 10 is late enough that fall planting is a full second season, not an afterthought.

Frequently asked questions

When is the last frost in St Joseph 3 N, LA?

The average last spring frost in St Joseph 3 N is around Mar 13, 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 St Joseph 3 N, LA?

The average first fall frost in St Joseph 3 N arrives around Nov 10. 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 St Joseph 3 N?

About 242 frost-free days on average, from Mar 13 to Nov 10. That comfortably fits long-season crops like melons and winter squash, plus spring and fall plantings of cool-season vegetables.

What USDA zone is St Joseph 3 N in?

USDA zone 8b 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.