Fall in zone 9aPhoto: George Chernilevsky, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Frost dates for ZIP 70501 (Lafayette, 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, Lafayette Rgnl AP, LA (2 miles away).
- Average last spring frostFeb 1350% chance of a 32°F freeze after this date
- Average first fall frostDec 450% chance of a 32°F freeze by this date
- Growing season (frost-free)299 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
Measured at NOAA USCRN station Lafayette 13 SE, 13 mi away. Daily averages: Thu 79°, Fri 79°, Sat 75°.
4-inch depth
77°F 55°F or warmer
24-hour average · latest 77°F, as of Oct 18, 1:00 AM CDT
Measured at NOAA USCRN station Lafayette 13 SE, 13 mi away. Daily averages: Thu 80°, Fri 79°, Sat 78°.
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 70501 load here. You can also open the NWS forecast for this ZIP.
Pre-emergent
Soil is 77°F at 4 inches. 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 Mar 31 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 25–Oct 23
- Lettuce: fall transplant Oct 9–30
- Spinach: fall sowing Oct 9–30
- Bok choy / Asian greens: fall sowing Oct 9–23
- Arugula: fall sowing Oct 9–Nov 6
- Mustard greens: fall sowing Oct 9–23
- Cilantro: fall sowing Oct 9–23
- Dill: fall sowing Oct 9–23
- Strawberry (plants): fall transplant Sep 25–Oct 23
Coming up in the next 3 weeks
Prune now
No frost-timed pruning windows are open this week.
Your average first frost is Dec 4: 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 13 |
| 50% (the "average" last frost) | Feb 13 |
| 10% (cautious: only 1 year in 10 freezes later) | Mar 10 |
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 13 |
| 50% (the "average" first frost) | Dec 4 |
| 90% (late: most years have frozen by now) | Jan 5 (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 3 | Nov 20 |
| 32°F (freeze) | Feb 13 | Dec 4 |
| 28°F (hard freeze) | Jan 27 | Dec 30 |
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 70501
Dates count from your average last spring frost (Feb 13) and first fall frost (Dec 4). 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 19–Jan 2 | Feb 20–Mar 6 (transplant) | Aug 7–Sep 4 (transplant) |
| Pepper (sweet and hot) | Dec 5–19 | Feb 27–Mar 13 (transplant) | Aug 14–Sep 4 (transplant) |
| Eggplant | Dec 5–19 | Feb 27–Mar 13 (transplant) | Aug 14–Sep 4 (transplant) |
| Tomatillo | Dec 19–Jan 2 | Feb 20–Mar 6 (transplant) | – |
| Lettuce | Dec 19–Jan 2 | Jan 23–Feb 13 (transplant) Jan 16–Feb 27 (sow outdoors) | Oct 9–30 (transplant) Sep 25–Oct 23 (sowing) |
| Spinach | – | Jan 2–23 (sow outdoors) | Oct 9–30 (sowing) |
| Kale | Dec 19–Jan 2 | Jan 16–30 (transplant) Jan 16–30 (sow outdoors) | Sep 11–Oct 9 (transplant) Aug 28–Sep 25 (sowing) |
| Collards | Dec 19–Jan 2 | Jan 16–Feb 13 (transplant) Jan 16–Feb 13 (sow outdoors) | Sep 11–Oct 9 (transplant) Aug 28–Sep 25 (sowing) |
| Broccoli | Dec 5–19 | Jan 16–30 (transplant) | Aug 28–Sep 25 (transplant) |
| Cabbage | Dec 5–19 | Jan 16–30 (transplant) | Aug 28–Sep 25 (transplant) |
| Cauliflower | Dec 5–19 | Jan 30–Feb 13 (transplant) | Aug 28–Sep 25 (transplant) |
| Brussels sprouts | Nov 21–Dec 5 | Jan 16–30 (transplant) | Aug 14–Sep 4 (transplant) |
| Kohlrabi | Dec 19–Jan 2 | Jan 16–30 (transplant) Jan 16–30 (sow outdoors) | Sep 25–Oct 9 (sowing) |
| Bok choy / Asian greens | – | Jan 16–30 (sow outdoors) | Oct 9–23 (sowing) |
| Arugula | – | Jan 16–Feb 13 (sow outdoors) | Oct 9–Nov 6 (sowing) |
| Mustard greens | – | Jan 16–Feb 6 (sow outdoors) | Oct 9–23 (sowing) |
| Swiss chard | Jan 2–16 | Jan 30–Feb 20 (transplant) Jan 30–Feb 27 (sow outdoors) | Sep 25–Oct 9 (sowing) |
| Beet | – | Jan 16–Feb 13 (sow outdoors) | Sep 25–Oct 9 (sowing) |
| Carrot | – | Jan 23–Feb 20 (sow outdoors) | Sep 11–25 (sowing) |
| Radish | – | Jan 9–Feb 20 (sow outdoors) | Oct 23–Nov 6 (sowing) |
| Turnip | – | Jan 16–Feb 6 (sow outdoors) | Sep 25–Oct 9 (sowing) |
| Parsnip | – | Jan 23–Feb 13 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pea (garden, snap, snow) | – | Dec 19–Jan 16 (sow outdoors) | Sep 11–25 (sowing) |
| Onion (bulbing) | Nov 21–Dec 5 | Jan 2–16 (transplant) | – |
| Green onion / scallion | – | Jan 2–30 (sow outdoors) | Sep 25–Oct 9 (sowing) |
| Leek | Nov 21–Dec 5 | Jan 16–30 (transplant) | – |
| Garlic | – | – | Oct 23–Nov 20 (sowing) |
| Shallot | – | Jan 2–16 (transplant) | Oct 23–Nov 20 (sowing) |
| Potato | – | Jan 16–30 (transplant) | Aug 14–28 (transplant) |
| Sweet potato | – | Mar 6–20 (transplant) | – |
| Sweet corn | – | Feb 20–Mar 6 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, bush (snap) | – | Feb 20–Mar 6 (sow outdoors) | Sep 11–25 (sowing) |
| Bean, pole | – | Feb 20–Mar 6 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Lima bean | – | Feb 27–Mar 13 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Southern pea (cowpea, black-eyed pea) | – | Mar 6–27 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cucumber | Jan 16–23 | Feb 20–Mar 6 (transplant) Feb 20–Mar 6 (sow outdoors) | Sep 11–25 (sowing) |
| Summer squash / zucchini | Jan 16–23 | Feb 20–Mar 6 (transplant) Feb 20–Mar 6 (sow outdoors) | Sep 11–25 (sowing) |
| Winter squash | Jan 16–23 | Feb 20–Mar 6 (transplant) Feb 20–Mar 6 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pumpkin | – | Feb 20–Mar 6 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Watermelon | Jan 16–23 | Feb 27–Mar 13 (transplant) Feb 27–Mar 13 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cantaloupe / muskmelon | Jan 16–23 | Feb 27–Mar 13 (transplant) Feb 27–Mar 13 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Okra | Jan 2–16 | Feb 27–Mar 13 (transplant) Feb 27–Mar 13 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Celery | Nov 21–Dec 5 | Feb 20–27 (transplant) | – |
| Basil | Jan 2–16 | Feb 20–Mar 6 (transplant) Feb 20–Mar 6 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cilantro | – | Jan 30–Feb 27 (sow outdoors) | Oct 9–23 (sowing) |
| Parsley | Dec 5–19 | Jan 30–Feb 13 (transplant) Jan 23–Feb 13 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Dill | – | Feb 13–27 (sow outdoors) | Oct 9–23 (sowing) |
| Sunflower | – | Feb 13–27 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Asparagus (crowns) | – | Jan 16–30 (transplant) | – |
| Rhubarb (crowns) | – | Jan 16–30 (transplant) | – |
| Strawberry (plants) | – | Jan 16–30 (transplant) | Sep 25–Oct 23 (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 13 here (the average last frost). Not affiliated with the program.
Where these numbers come from
Station: Lafayette Rgnl AP, LA (NOAA GHCN-Daily ID USW00013976), elevation 38 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%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lafayette, LA | 5 mi | Feb 26 | Nov 28 |
| Lafayette 13 SE, LA | 12 mi | Feb 19 | Dec 1 |
| Grand Coteau, LA | 13 mi | Feb 28 | Nov 23 |
The average last-frost dates of these stations span 15 days, a rough guide to local variation. See data sources & methods.
Frost questions for 70501
When is the last frost in 70501?
The average (50% chance) last spring freeze of 32°F for ZIP 70501 is February 13. For a more cautious planting date, use March 10, when only 1 year in 10 still sees a later freeze.
When is the first frost in 70501?
The average first fall freeze is December 4. In 1 year in 10 it comes by November 13.
What hardiness zone is 70501?
ZIP 70501 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 70501 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
70507 Lafayette 70503 Lafayette 70506 Lafayette 70508 Lafayette 70520 Carencro 70583 Scott 70518 Broussard 70529 Duson
Other ZIP codes in Lafayette Parish
70503 70506 70507 70508 70518 70520 70529 70558 70583 70592 All Lafayette 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.