In New Orleans, the average last spring frost is Feb 1 and the average first fall frost is Dec 31, a growing season of about 333 days (zone 9b). Start tomatoes indoors around Dec 21 and move them outside from Feb 15. For a fall and winter garden, sow peas and kale around Oct 22, lettuce around Nov 5, spinach around Nov 12 and radishes around Nov 26.
New Orleans at a glance
- Last spring frost
- Feb 1 (average)
- First fall frost
- Dec 31 (average)
- Frost-free season
- About 333 days
- Hardiness zone
- 9b (USDA)
- Weather stations
- Terrytown 3S, LA; NEW Orleans Audubon, LA; and Chalmette, LA, 1991 to 2020 normals. GrowSmart's dates are the median of these stations, to within 3 days
An average frost date means frost is still possible after it in about half of years. GrowSmart times tender crops like tomatoes, peppers and basil after this date, not on it.
What to plant in New Orleans this month (January)
- Start basil indoors: Jan 4
- Direct sow spinach: Jan 11
- Direct sow peas: Jan 11
- Direct sow radishes: Jan 11
- Transplant lettuce: Jan 18
- Direct sow carrots: Jan 18
- Start cucumbers indoors: Jan 18
- Start zucchini indoors: Jan 18
- Start winter squash indoors: Jan 18
- Direct sow beets: Jan 25
- Transplant kale: Jan 25
- Transplant broccoli: Jan 25
- Transplant cabbage: Jan 25
- Direct sow potatoes: Jan 25
Coming up in early February: transplant onions (Feb 1), transplant cucumbers (Feb 8), transplant zucchini (Feb 8), transplant winter squash (Feb 8) and direct sow beans (Feb 8).
What to plant in New Orleans this month (February)
- Transplant onions: Feb 1
- Transplant cucumbers: Feb 8
- Transplant zucchini: Feb 8
- Transplant winter squash: Feb 8
- Direct sow beans: Feb 8
- Transplant tomatoes: Feb 15
- Transplant peppers: Feb 15
- Transplant eggplant: Feb 15
- Transplant basil: Feb 15
What to plant in New Orleans this month (March)
Nothing is scheduled to be sown or planted in New Orleans in March. Next up: sow peas for a fall harvest on Oct 22.
What to plant in New Orleans this month (April)
Nothing is scheduled to be sown or planted in New Orleans in April. Next up: sow peas for a fall harvest on Oct 22.
What to plant in New Orleans this month (May)
Nothing is scheduled to be sown or planted in New Orleans in May. Next up: sow peas for a fall harvest on Oct 22.
What to plant in New Orleans this month (June)
Nothing is scheduled to be sown or planted in New Orleans in June. Next up: sow peas for a fall harvest on Oct 22.
What to plant in New Orleans this month (July)
Nothing is scheduled to be sown or planted in New Orleans in July. Next up: sow peas for a fall harvest on Oct 22.
What to plant in New Orleans this month (August)
Nothing is scheduled to be sown or planted in New Orleans in August. Next up: sow peas for a fall harvest on Oct 22.
What to plant in New Orleans this month (September)
Nothing is scheduled to be sown or planted in New Orleans in September. Next up: sow peas for a fall harvest on Oct 22.
What to plant in New Orleans this month (October)
- Sow peas for a fall harvest: Oct 22
- Sow kale for a fall harvest: Oct 22
Coming up in early November: sow lettuce for a fall harvest (Nov 5) and sow spinach for a fall harvest (Nov 12).
What to plant in New Orleans this month (November)
- Sow lettuce for a fall harvest: Nov 5
- Sow spinach for a fall harvest: Nov 12
- Plant garlic: Nov 19
- Start onions indoors: Nov 23
- Sow radishes for a fall harvest: Nov 26
What to plant in New Orleans this month (December)
- Start tomatoes indoors: Dec 21
- Start peppers indoors: Dec 21
- Start eggplant indoors: Dec 21
- Start lettuce indoors: Dec 21
- Start kale indoors: Dec 28
- Start broccoli indoors: Dec 28
- Start cabbage indoors: Dec 28
Coming up in early January: start basil indoors (Jan 4), direct sow spinach (Jan 11), direct sow peas (Jan 11) and direct sow radishes (Jan 11).
New Orleans planting calendar
| Crop | Start indoors | Plant outside | Harvest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomatoes | Dec 21 | Transplant Feb 15 | From May 4 |
| Peppers | Dec 21 | Transplant Feb 15 | From Apr 28 |
| Eggplant | Dec 21 | Transplant Feb 15 | From May 1 |
| Basil | Jan 4 | Transplant Feb 15 | From Mar 29 |
| Onions (from seed) | Nov 23 | Transplant Feb 1 | From May 12 |
| Lettuce | Dec 21 | Transplant Jan 18Fall: direct sow Nov 5 | From Feb 27Fall: from Dec 15 |
| Spinach | n/a | Direct sow Jan 11Fall: direct sow Nov 12 | From Feb 20Fall: from Dec 22 |
| Peas | n/a | Direct sow Jan 11Fall: direct sow Oct 22 | From Mar 12Fall: from Dec 21 |
| Radishes | n/a | Direct sow Jan 11Fall: direct sow Nov 26 | From Feb 5Fall: from Dec 21 |
| Carrots | n/a | Direct sow Jan 18 | From Mar 29 |
| Beets | n/a | Direct sow Jan 25 | From Mar 21 |
| Kale | Dec 28 | Transplant Jan 25Fall: direct sow Oct 22 | From Mar 21Fall: from Dec 16 |
| Broccoli | Dec 28 | Transplant Jan 25 | From Mar 31 |
| Cabbage | Dec 28 | Transplant Jan 25 | From Apr 5 |
| Cucumbers | Jan 18 | Transplant Feb 8 | From Apr 4 |
| Zucchini | Jan 18 | Transplant Feb 8 | From Mar 30 |
| Winter squash | Jan 18 | Transplant Feb 8 | From May 9 |
| Beans | n/a | Direct sow Feb 8 | From Apr 4 |
| Potatoes | n/a | Direct sow Jan 25 | From Apr 15 |
| Garlic | n/a | Plant cloves around Nov 19 | Around Apr 26 the next year |
Dates are for one planting of each crop, from New Orleans's average frost dates. Tomatoes are indeterminate, lettuce is looseleaf and beans are bush beans. Harvest dates are when the first picking is usually ready.
Fall planting in New Orleans
GrowSmart schedules garlic in New Orleans around Nov 19, six weeks before the average first fall frost of Dec 31, with harvest around Apr 26.
Shallots: GrowSmart's plan has you plant shallot sets in fall in zone 5 and warmer, and in spring in colder zones.
Cool-season crops GrowSmart schedules for a fall harvest in New Orleans:
- Peas: sow Oct 22, ready from about Dec 21
- Kale: sow Oct 22, ready from about Dec 16
- Lettuce: sow Nov 5, ready from about Dec 15
- Spinach: sow Nov 12, ready from about Dec 22
- Radishes: sow Nov 26, ready from about Dec 21
Nearby planting calendars
New Orleans planting questions
When is the last frost in New Orleans?
The average last spring frost in New Orleans is Feb 1, and the average first fall frost is Dec 31, from 1991 to 2020 climate normals at 3 nearby weather stations. Frost is still possible after the spring date in about half of years.
When should I start tomato seeds in New Orleans?
Start tomatoes indoors around Dec 21, 8 weeks before moving them outside around Feb 15, which is two weeks after the average last frost.
What can I plant in New Orleans in fall?
Fall and winter is a main growing season in New Orleans. Sow peas and kale around Oct 22, lettuce around Nov 5, spinach around Nov 12 and radishes around Nov 26, and plant garlic around Nov 19.