When to plant in Zachary, LA
USDA Zone 9aHere are the average frost dates, USDA hardiness zone, and a month-by-month planting calendar for Zachary, Louisiana — all computed from Zachary's nearest NOAA weather station.
Zachary enjoys a long ~274-day frost-free season — you can succession-sow, fit in a second crop, and grow long-season heat-lovers with room to spare. In zone 9a, frost is a minor factor for Zachary — most perennials thrive, and annual vegetables can go out early and stay late.
The average first fall frost in Zachary 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 Zachary’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 Zachary, drawn to the day from the local frost dates. The dashed line is today.
Nearby weather stations
3 within 24 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.
Zachary planting FAQ
When is the last spring frost in Zachary, LA?
On average, the last spring frost in Zachary is around February 25 (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 Zachary, LA?
Expect Zachary'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 Zachary in?
Zachary is in USDA hardiness zone 9a. In zone 9a, winters are mild — many tender perennials overwinter here.
How long is the growing season in Zachary?
Zachary has about 274 frost-free days — a long growing season — between the average last spring frost (February 25) and first fall frost (November 26).
When should I plant tomatoes in Zachary?
For Zachary, sow tomatoes indoors about December 31–January 14 and move the seedlings out around March 4, after the last spring frost.
Never miss a window in Zachary
An email when it’s time to start seeds, transplant, and sow — timed to Zachary’s frost dates. Double opt-in, one-click unsubscribe, no spam.
Nearby cities
8 within reach- Baker · 9 km
- Central · 17 km
- Baton Rouge · 25 km
- Gardere · 34 km
- Prairieville · 44 km
- Gonzales · 55 km
- Hammond · 70 km
- Opelousas · 89 km
Frost dates recorded at BATON ROUGE RYAN AP, 14 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 Zachary, LA — Frost Dates & Zone 9a." Frost normals: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station USW00013970. Retrieved from https://blissgarden.com/louisiana/zachary.