When to plant in Gonzales, LA
USDA Zone 9aHere are the average frost dates, USDA hardiness zone, and a month-by-month planting calendar for Gonzales, Louisiana — all computed from Gonzales's nearest NOAA weather station.
With about 287 frost-free days, Gonzales supports back-to-back plantings; stagger sowings every few weeks to keep beds productive spring through fall. Heads up: the nearest complete-normals station is about 19 km from Gonzales, so your yard's frost dates can differ — a low spot or a paved city center can shift them by a week. In zone 9a, frost is a minor factor for Gonzales — most perennials thrive, and annual vegetables can go out early and stay late.
Frost probability
DONALDSONVILLE 4 SW · 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 Gonzales’s own odds, recorded at DONALDSONVILLE 4 SW.
| Threshold | SPRING 10% | SPRING 50% | SPRING 90% | FALL 10% | FALL 50% | FALL 90% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | Mar 28 | Mar 6 | Feb 10 | Nov 3 | Nov 20 | Dec 10 |
| 32°F | Mar 15 | Feb 21 | Jan 23 | Nov 14 | Dec 5 | Jan 6 |
| 28°F | Mar 5 | Feb 1 | Dec 31 | Dec 1 | Dec 28 | Jan 29 |
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 Gonzales, 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.
Gonzales planting FAQ
When is the last spring frost in Gonzales, LA?
On average, the last spring frost in Gonzales is around February 21 (50% probability at 32°F, from 1991–2020 NOAA normals). Wait until after this date to set out tender plants like tomatoes and peppers.
When is the first fall frost in Gonzales, LA?
Expect Gonzales's first fall frost near December 5 — a 50% chance of 32°F by that date. Bring in or cover tender crops ahead of it.
What hardiness zone is Gonzales in?
Gonzales is in USDA hardiness zone 9a. In zone 9a, winters are mild — many tender perennials overwinter here.
How long is the growing season in Gonzales?
Gonzales has about 287 frost-free days — a long growing season — between the average last spring frost (February 21) and first fall frost (December 5).
When should I plant tomatoes in Gonzales?
For Gonzales, sow tomatoes indoors about December 27–January 10 and move the seedlings out around February 28, after the last spring frost.
Never miss a window in Gonzales
An email when it’s time to start seeds, transplant, and sow — timed to Gonzales’s frost dates. Double opt-in, one-click unsubscribe, no spam.
Nearby cities
8 within reach- Prairieville · 12 km
- Gardere · 26 km
- Baton Rouge · 32 km
- Central · 40 km
- Laplace · 46 km
- Baker · 47 km
- Thibodaux · 48 km
- Hammond · 55 km
Frost dates recorded at DONALDSONVILLE 4 SW, 19 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 Gonzales, LA — Frost Dates & Zone 9a." Frost normals: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station USC00162534. Retrieved from https://blissgarden.com/louisiana/gonzales.