Fall in zone 9aPhoto: George Chernilevsky, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Frost dates for ZIP 70346 (Donaldsonville, LA)
Average last spring and first fall frost dates with 10%, 50% and 90% odds, from NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the nearest weather station, Donaldsonville 4 SW, LA (2 miles away).
- Average last spring frostFeb 2150% chance of a 32°F freeze after this date
- Average first fall frostDec 550% chance of a 32°F freeze by this date
- Growing season (frost-free)291 daysmedian, 32°F threshold
- USDA hardiness zone9a20 to 25°F avg. coldest night
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This week in your yard
As of Oct 18, 2026, from your frost dates, zone and soil temperature. Lawn timing · Vegetables · Pruning · Plants
Soil temperature now
2-inch depth
75°F 55°F or warmer
24-hour average · latest 73°F, as of Oct 18, 1:00 AM CDT
Estimate Not a measurement at this ZIP: distance-weighted average of Lafayette 13 SE (51 mi).
4-inch depth
77°F 55°F or warmer
24-hour average · latest 77°F, as of Oct 18, 1:00 AM CDT
Estimate Not a measurement at this ZIP: distance-weighted average of Lafayette 13 SE (51 mi).
Fall: Texas A&M AgriLife times fall pre-emergent (for winter weeds such as annual bluegrass) to soil cooling to about 70°F for several days. The 50–55°F band is the spring trigger. Always read and follow the product label.
7-day forecast and frost risk
The latest National Weather Service 7-day forecast and any Frost Advisory or Freeze Warning for 70346 load here. You can also open the NWS forecast for this ZIP.
Pre-emergent
Soil is 77°F at 4 inches (estimated soil temperature, not a station reading). Fall pre-emergent (annual bluegrass, winter weeds): not yet. Apply as soil cools toward 70°F (typically September to early October).
Fertilizer window
Lawn region: Southeast (warm, humid). Timing only; always follow the product label.
- Centipedegrass (warm-season): Spring: Not before mid-May (NC State); after full green-up (about Apr 8 here, using green-up about 3–4 weeks after your average last frost); Summer: Optional mid-summer feeding, especially on sandy coastal soils. Avoid: Early-spring feeding, frequent feeding and liming unless a soil test calls for it (centipede decline).
Plant now
- Lettuce: fall sowing Sep 26–Oct 24
- Lettuce: fall transplant Oct 10–31
- Spinach: fall sowing Oct 10–31
- Bok choy / Asian greens: fall sowing Oct 10–24
- Arugula: fall sowing Oct 10–Nov 7
- Mustard greens: fall sowing Oct 10–24
- Cilantro: fall sowing Oct 10–24
- Dill: fall sowing Oct 10–24
- Strawberry (plants): fall transplant Sep 26–Oct 24
Coming up in the next 3 weeks
Prune now
No frost-timed pruning windows are open this week.
Your average first frost is Dec 5: skip heavy pruning in the 6–8 weeks before it, because new growth may not harden off in time.
Spring-flowering shrubs are pruned right after their flowers fade, not by date. See the pruning guide.
Last spring frost odds
| Chance of a 32°F freeze after this date | Date |
|---|---|
| 90% (early: most years still freeze after this) | Jan 23 |
| 50% (the "average" last frost) | Feb 21 |
| 10% (cautious: only 1 year in 10 freezes later) | Mar 15 |
Most gardeners plant frost-tender crops (tomatoes, peppers, basil) after the 50% date, and closer to the 10% date for less risk.
First fall frost odds
| Chance the first 32°F freeze has happened by this date | Date |
|---|---|
| 10% (early: 1 year in 10 freezes this soon) | Nov 14 |
| 50% (the "average" first frost) | Dec 5 |
| 90% (late: most years have frozen by now) | Jan 6 (next year) |
Light frost, freeze and hard freeze
| Threshold | Last spring (50%) | First fall (50%) |
|---|---|---|
| 36°F (light frost possible on clear, calm nights) | Mar 6 | Nov 20 |
| 32°F (freeze) | Feb 21 | Dec 5 |
| 28°F (hard freeze) | Feb 1 | Dec 28 |
n/a means NOAA did not publish a date at that threshold for this station (usually because it rarely gets that cold).
Vegetable planting calendar for 70346
Dates count from your average last spring frost (Feb 21) and first fall frost (Dec 5). Half of years have a frost after the spring date, so give tender crops (tomatoes, peppers, squash) some slack.
| Crop | Start indoors | Spring planting | Fall planting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomato | Dec 27–Jan 10 | Feb 28–Mar 14 (transplant) | Aug 8–Sep 5 (transplant) |
| Pepper (sweet and hot) | Dec 13–27 | Mar 7–21 (transplant) | Aug 15–Sep 5 (transplant) |
| Eggplant | Dec 13–27 | Mar 7–21 (transplant) | Aug 15–Sep 5 (transplant) |
| Tomatillo | Dec 27–Jan 10 | Feb 28–Mar 14 (transplant) | – |
| Lettuce | Dec 27–Jan 10 | Jan 31–Feb 21 (transplant) Jan 24–Mar 7 (sow outdoors) | Oct 10–31 (transplant) Sep 26–Oct 24 (sowing) |
| Spinach | – | Jan 10–31 (sow outdoors) | Oct 10–31 (sowing) |
| Kale | Dec 27–Jan 10 | Jan 24–Feb 7 (transplant) Jan 24–Feb 7 (sow outdoors) | Sep 12–Oct 10 (transplant) Aug 29–Sep 26 (sowing) |
| Collards | Dec 27–Jan 10 | Jan 24–Feb 21 (transplant) Jan 24–Feb 21 (sow outdoors) | Sep 12–Oct 10 (transplant) Aug 29–Sep 26 (sowing) |
| Broccoli | Dec 13–27 | Jan 24–Feb 7 (transplant) | Aug 29–Sep 26 (transplant) |
| Cabbage | Dec 13–27 | Jan 24–Feb 7 (transplant) | Aug 29–Sep 26 (transplant) |
| Cauliflower | Dec 13–27 | Feb 7–21 (transplant) | Aug 29–Sep 26 (transplant) |
| Brussels sprouts | Nov 29–Dec 13 | Jan 24–Feb 7 (transplant) | Aug 15–Sep 5 (transplant) |
| Kohlrabi | Dec 27–Jan 10 | Jan 24–Feb 7 (transplant) Jan 24–Feb 7 (sow outdoors) | Sep 26–Oct 10 (sowing) |
| Bok choy / Asian greens | – | Jan 24–Feb 7 (sow outdoors) | Oct 10–24 (sowing) |
| Arugula | – | Jan 24–Feb 21 (sow outdoors) | Oct 10–Nov 7 (sowing) |
| Mustard greens | – | Jan 24–Feb 14 (sow outdoors) | Oct 10–24 (sowing) |
| Swiss chard | Jan 10–24 | Feb 7–28 (transplant) Feb 7–Mar 7 (sow outdoors) | Sep 26–Oct 10 (sowing) |
| Beet | – | Jan 24–Feb 21 (sow outdoors) | Sep 26–Oct 10 (sowing) |
| Carrot | – | Jan 31–Feb 28 (sow outdoors) | Sep 12–26 (sowing) |
| Radish | – | Jan 17–Feb 28 (sow outdoors) | Oct 24–Nov 7 (sowing) |
| Turnip | – | Jan 24–Feb 14 (sow outdoors) | Sep 26–Oct 10 (sowing) |
| Parsnip | – | Jan 31–Feb 21 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pea (garden, snap, snow) | – | Dec 27–Jan 24 (sow outdoors) | Sep 12–26 (sowing) |
| Onion (bulbing) | Nov 29–Dec 13 | Jan 10–24 (transplant) | – |
| Green onion / scallion | – | Jan 10–Feb 7 (sow outdoors) | Sep 26–Oct 10 (sowing) |
| Leek | Nov 29–Dec 13 | Jan 24–Feb 7 (transplant) | – |
| Garlic | – | – | Oct 24–Nov 21 (sowing) |
| Shallot | – | Jan 10–24 (transplant) | Oct 24–Nov 21 (sowing) |
| Potato | – | Jan 24–Feb 7 (transplant) | Aug 15–29 (transplant) |
| Sweet potato | – | Mar 14–28 (transplant) | – |
| Sweet corn | – | Feb 28–Mar 14 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, bush (snap) | – | Feb 28–Mar 14 (sow outdoors) | Sep 12–26 (sowing) |
| Bean, pole | – | Feb 28–Mar 14 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Lima bean | – | Mar 7–21 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Southern pea (cowpea, black-eyed pea) | – | Mar 14–Apr 4 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cucumber | Jan 24–31 | Feb 28–Mar 14 (transplant) Feb 28–Mar 14 (sow outdoors) | Sep 12–26 (sowing) |
| Summer squash / zucchini | Jan 24–31 | Feb 28–Mar 14 (transplant) Feb 28–Mar 14 (sow outdoors) | Sep 12–26 (sowing) |
| Winter squash | Jan 24–31 | Feb 28–Mar 14 (transplant) Feb 28–Mar 14 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pumpkin | – | Feb 28–Mar 14 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Watermelon | Jan 24–31 | Mar 7–21 (transplant) Mar 7–21 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cantaloupe / muskmelon | Jan 24–31 | Mar 7–21 (transplant) Mar 7–21 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Okra | Jan 10–24 | Mar 7–21 (transplant) Mar 7–21 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Celery | Nov 29–Dec 13 | Feb 28–Mar 7 (transplant) | – |
| Basil | Jan 10–24 | Feb 28–Mar 14 (transplant) Feb 28–Mar 14 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cilantro | – | Feb 7–Mar 7 (sow outdoors) | Oct 10–24 (sowing) |
| Parsley | Dec 13–27 | Feb 7–21 (transplant) Jan 31–Feb 21 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Dill | – | Feb 21–Mar 7 (sow outdoors) | Oct 10–24 (sowing) |
| Sunflower | – | Feb 21–Mar 7 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Asparagus (crowns) | – | Jan 24–Feb 7 (transplant) | – |
| Rhubarb (crowns) | – | Jan 24–Feb 7 (transplant) | – |
| Strawberry (plants) | – | Jan 24–Feb 7 (transplant) | Sep 26–Oct 24 (transplant) |
Typical ranges from university extension planting calendars, adjusted to your frost dates. Probabilities, not guarantees. Fall windows that would overlap spring planting are left out, as are fall crops of frost-tender plants where the frost-free season is under 210 days.
Plants that do well here
Louisiana has a university or garden plant program: Louisiana Super Plants. Plant frost-tender annuals after February 21 here (the average last frost). Not affiliated with the program.
Where these numbers come from
Station: Donaldsonville 4 SW, LA (NOAA GHCN-Daily ID USC00162534), elevation 30 ft, 2.4 miles from the ZIP's center point. NOAA completeness flag: S (standard, 24+ years).
Nearby stations
| Station | Distance | Last frost (50%) | First frost (50%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Carville 2 SW, LA | 9 mi | Feb 9 | Dec 13 |
| Lsu Ben-hur Farm, LA | 20 mi | Feb 28 | Nov 26 |
| Brusly 2 W, LA | 25 mi | Feb 28 | Nov 24 |
The average last-frost dates of these stations span 19 days, a rough guide to local variation. See data sources & methods.
Frost questions for 70346
When is the last frost in 70346?
The average (50% chance) last spring freeze of 32°F for ZIP 70346 is February 21. For a more cautious planting date, use March 15, when only 1 year in 10 still sees a later freeze.
When is the first frost in 70346?
The average first fall freeze is December 5. In 1 year in 10 it comes by November 14.
What hardiness zone is 70346?
ZIP 70346 is in USDA zone 9a (20 to 25°F average coldest winter night), per the 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map ZIP listing.
What is the soil temperature in 70346 right now?
This page shows the latest 2-inch and 4-inch soil temperature from the nearest public soil station (USDA SCAN, NOAA USCRN or TexMesonet), or a labeled estimate when no station is close, against the 50–55°F spring pre-emergent band.
Nearby ZIP codes
70725 Darrow 70341 Belle Rose 70734 70393 70391 Paincourtville 70721 St. Gabriel 70737 Gonzales 70788 Bayou Goula
Other ZIP codes in Ascension Parish
70725 70734 70737 70769 70774 70778 All Ascension Parish frost dates · Louisiana frost dates
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- Freeze alerts
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Free. One weekly email plus alerts when your ZIP has a frost or a soil-temperature change worth acting on. After you submit, Kit (our email provider) sends a confirmation email: check your email and click the link to confirm. You aren't subscribed until you do. We collect only your email address and ZIP, sent to Kit to deliver The Dial. Unsubscribe anytime.