When to plant in Natchitoches, LA
USDA Zone 9aNatchitoches, Louisiana frost dates, USDA zone, and a full-year planting calendar, drawn from the nearest NOAA station and tuned to the local season.
A generous ~276-day season lets Natchitoches gardeners direct-sow more and still ripen long-maturity crops like melons and winter squash. In zone 9a, frost is a minor factor for Natchitoches — most perennials thrive, and annual vegetables can go out early and stay late.
Frost probability
NATCHITOCHES · 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 Natchitoches’s own odds, recorded at NATCHITOCHES.
| Threshold | SPRING 10% | SPRING 50% | SPRING 90% | FALL 10% | FALL 50% | FALL 90% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | Apr 2 | Mar 12 | Feb 21 | Nov 2 | Nov 18 | Dec 5 |
| 32°F | Mar 17 | Feb 28 | Jan 31 | Nov 10 | Dec 1 | Dec 26 |
| 28°F | Mar 7 | Feb 8 | Jan 7 | Nov 23 | Dec 21 | Jan 21 |
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 Natchitoches, drawn to the day from the local frost dates. The dashed line is today.
Nearby weather stations
3 within 40 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.
Natchitoches planting FAQ
When is the last spring frost in Natchitoches, LA?
On average, the last spring frost in Natchitoches is around February 28 (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 Natchitoches, LA?
The first fall frost in Natchitoches typically arrives around December 1 (50% probability at 32°F). Harvest or protect frost-sensitive crops before then.
What hardiness zone is Natchitoches in?
Natchitoches is in USDA hardiness zone 9a. In zone 9a, winters are mild — many tender perennials overwinter here.
How long is the growing season in Natchitoches?
Natchitoches has about 276 frost-free days — a long growing season — between the average last spring frost (February 28) and first fall frost (December 1).
When should I plant tomatoes in Natchitoches?
For Natchitoches, sow tomatoes indoors about January 3–January 17 and move the seedlings out around March 7, after the last spring frost.
Never miss a window in Natchitoches
An email when it’s time to start seeds, transplant, and sow — timed to Natchitoches’s frost dates. Double opt-in, one-click unsubscribe, no spam.
Nearby cities
8 within reach- Alexandria · 77 km
- Pineville · 79 km
- Ruston · 99 km
- Minden · 100 km
- Bossier City · 102 km
- Shreveport · 104 km
- Claiborne · 124 km
- West Monroe · 124 km
Frost dates recorded at NATCHITOCHES, 4 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 Natchitoches, LA — Frost Dates & Zone 9a." Frost normals: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station USC00166582. Retrieved from https://blissgarden.com/louisiana/natchitoches.