When to plant in Central, LA
USDA Zone 9aHere are the average frost dates, USDA hardiness zone, and a month-by-month planting calendar for Central, Louisiana — all computed from Central's nearest NOAA weather station.
With about 274 frost-free days, Central supports back-to-back plantings; stagger sowings every few weeks to keep beds productive spring through fall. Zone 9a is warm enough that Central can grow subtropical perennials, and the short (or absent) frost period barely limits the annual calendar.
The average first fall frost in Central is now 5 days earlier than in the 1981–2010 normals. See how frost dates are shifting nationwide →
Frost probability
BATON ROUGE RYAN AP · 1991–2020The date the last spring and first fall frost occur, by threshold and probability. A 90% date is later in spring — and earlier in fall — than a 10% date; the 50% · 32°F row is what most gardeners plan around. These are Central’s own odds, recorded at BATON ROUGE RYAN AP.
| Threshold | SPRING 10% | SPRING 50% | SPRING 90% | FALL 10% | FALL 50% | FALL 90% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | Apr 1 | Mar 13 | Feb 20 | Oct 30 | Nov 13 | Dec 1 |
| 32°F | Mar 19 | Feb 25 | Jan 29 | Nov 7 | Nov 26 | Dec 19 |
| 28°F | Mar 8 | Feb 6 | Jan 4 | Nov 19 | Dec 11 | Jan 18 |
Download this table as CSV ↓ — every threshold and probability, plus this city’s planting-window dates.
What to plant now
TODAY · JULY 19Full-year planting calendar
Each bar is the exact window to take a planting action in Central, drawn to the day from the local frost dates. The dashed line is today.
Nearby weather stations
3 within 29 km · complete 32°F normalsWhen stations disagree by more than a few days, that spread is real microclimate variation — elevation, water, urban heat. Judge which station best matches your own yard.
Central planting FAQ
When is the last spring frost in Central, LA?
Central's average last spring frost falls near February 25 — the 50% mark at 32°F in the 1991–2020 normals. Hold tender transplants until the risk has passed, then plant out.
When is the first fall frost in Central, LA?
Expect Central's first fall frost near November 26 — a 50% chance of 32°F by that date. Bring in or cover tender crops ahead of it.
What hardiness zone is Central in?
Central is in USDA hardiness zone 9a. In zone 9a, winters are mild — many tender perennials overwinter here.
How long is the growing season in Central?
There are roughly 274 frost-free days in Central (a long growing season), running from the average last frost around February 25 to the first fall frost near November 26.
When should I plant tomatoes in Central?
In Central, start tomato seeds indoors around December 31–January 14, then transplant seedlings outdoors around March 4 once the danger of frost has passed.
Never miss a window in Central
An email when it’s time to start seeds, transplant, and sow — timed to Central’s frost dates. Double opt-in, one-click unsubscribe, no spam.
Nearby cities
8 within reach- Baker · 12 km
- Baton Rouge · 16 km
- Zachary · 17 km
- Gardere · 24 km
- Prairieville · 28 km
- Gonzales · 40 km
- Hammond · 56 km
- Laplace · 76 km
Frost dates recorded at BATON ROUGE RYAN AP, 11 km from the city center · 1991–2020 NOAA climate normals · zone from the USDA/PRISM 2023 map. How we compute this.
BlissGarden. "When to Plant in Central, LA — Frost Dates & Zone 9a." Frost normals: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station USW00013970. Retrieved from https://blissgarden.com/louisiana/central.