Fall in zone 9aPhoto: George Chernilevsky, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Frost dates for ZIP 70542 (Gueydan, 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, Lake Arthur 7 SW, LA (11 miles away).
- Average last spring frostFeb 1050% chance of a 32°F freeze after this date
- Average first fall frostDec 1150% chance of a 32°F freeze by this date
- Growing season (frost-free)307 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 (43 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 (43 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 70542 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 Mar 28 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 Oct 2–30
- Lettuce: fall transplant Oct 16–Nov 6
- Spinach: fall sowing Oct 16–Nov 6
- Bok choy / Asian greens: fall sowing Oct 16–30
- Arugula: fall sowing Oct 16–Nov 13
- Mustard greens: fall sowing Oct 16–30
- Cilantro: fall sowing Oct 16–30
- Dill: fall sowing Oct 16–30
- Strawberry (plants): fall transplant Oct 2–30
Coming up in the next 3 weeks
- Radish: fall sowing Oct 30–Nov 13
- Garlic: fall sowing Oct 30–Nov 27
- Shallot: fall sowing Oct 30–Nov 27
Prune now
No frost-timed pruning windows are open this week.
Your average first frost is Dec 11: 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 10 |
| 50% (the "average" last frost) | Feb 10 |
| 10% (cautious: only 1 year in 10 freezes later) | Mar 8 |
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 19 |
| 50% (the "average" first frost) | Dec 11 |
| 90% (late: most years have frozen by now) | Jan 15 (next year) |
Light frost, freeze and hard freeze
| Threshold | Last spring (50%) | First fall (50%) |
|---|---|---|
| 36°F (light frost possible on clear, calm nights) | Feb 27 | Nov 26 |
| 32°F (freeze) | Feb 10 | Dec 11 |
| 28°F (hard freeze) | Jan 25 | Jan 1 (next year) |
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 70542
Dates count from your average last spring frost (Feb 10) and first fall frost (Dec 11). 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 16–30 | Feb 17–Mar 3 (transplant) | Aug 14–Sep 11 (transplant) |
| Pepper (sweet and hot) | Dec 2–16 | Feb 24–Mar 10 (transplant) | Aug 21–Sep 11 (transplant) |
| Eggplant | Dec 2–16 | Feb 24–Mar 10 (transplant) | Aug 21–Sep 11 (transplant) |
| Tomatillo | Dec 16–30 | Feb 17–Mar 3 (transplant) | – |
| Lettuce | Dec 16–30 | Jan 20–Feb 10 (transplant) Jan 13–Feb 24 (sow outdoors) | Oct 16–Nov 6 (transplant) Oct 2–30 (sowing) |
| Spinach | – | Dec 30–Jan 20 (sow outdoors) | Oct 16–Nov 6 (sowing) |
| Kale | Dec 16–30 | Jan 13–27 (transplant) Jan 13–27 (sow outdoors) | Sep 18–Oct 16 (transplant) Sep 4–Oct 2 (sowing) |
| Collards | Dec 16–30 | Jan 13–Feb 10 (transplant) Jan 13–Feb 10 (sow outdoors) | Sep 18–Oct 16 (transplant) Sep 4–Oct 2 (sowing) |
| Broccoli | Dec 2–16 | Jan 13–27 (transplant) | Sep 4–Oct 2 (transplant) |
| Cabbage | Dec 2–16 | Jan 13–27 (transplant) | Sep 4–Oct 2 (transplant) |
| Cauliflower | Dec 2–16 | Jan 27–Feb 10 (transplant) | Sep 4–Oct 2 (transplant) |
| Brussels sprouts | Nov 18–Dec 2 | Jan 13–27 (transplant) | Aug 21–Sep 11 (transplant) |
| Kohlrabi | Dec 16–30 | Jan 13–27 (transplant) Jan 13–27 (sow outdoors) | Oct 2–16 (sowing) |
| Bok choy / Asian greens | – | Jan 13–27 (sow outdoors) | Oct 16–30 (sowing) |
| Arugula | – | Jan 13–Feb 10 (sow outdoors) | Oct 16–Nov 13 (sowing) |
| Mustard greens | – | Jan 13–Feb 3 (sow outdoors) | Oct 16–30 (sowing) |
| Swiss chard | Dec 30–Jan 13 | Jan 27–Feb 17 (transplant) Jan 27–Feb 24 (sow outdoors) | Oct 2–16 (sowing) |
| Beet | – | Jan 13–Feb 10 (sow outdoors) | Oct 2–16 (sowing) |
| Carrot | – | Jan 20–Feb 17 (sow outdoors) | Sep 18–Oct 2 (sowing) |
| Radish | – | Jan 6–Feb 17 (sow outdoors) | Oct 30–Nov 13 (sowing) |
| Turnip | – | Jan 13–Feb 3 (sow outdoors) | Oct 2–16 (sowing) |
| Parsnip | – | Jan 20–Feb 10 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pea (garden, snap, snow) | – | Dec 16–Jan 13 (sow outdoors) | Sep 18–Oct 2 (sowing) |
| Onion (bulbing) | Nov 18–Dec 2 | Dec 30–Jan 13 (transplant) | – |
| Green onion / scallion | – | Dec 30–Jan 27 (sow outdoors) | Oct 2–16 (sowing) |
| Leek | Nov 18–Dec 2 | Jan 13–27 (transplant) | – |
| Garlic | – | – | Oct 30–Nov 27 (sowing) |
| Shallot | – | Dec 30–Jan 13 (transplant) | Oct 30–Nov 27 (sowing) |
| Potato | – | Jan 13–27 (transplant) | Aug 21–Sep 4 (transplant) |
| Sweet potato | – | Mar 3–17 (transplant) | – |
| Sweet corn | – | Feb 17–Mar 3 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, bush (snap) | – | Feb 17–Mar 3 (sow outdoors) | Sep 18–Oct 2 (sowing) |
| Bean, pole | – | Feb 17–Mar 3 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Lima bean | – | Feb 24–Mar 10 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Southern pea (cowpea, black-eyed pea) | – | Mar 3–24 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cucumber | Jan 13–20 | Feb 17–Mar 3 (transplant) Feb 17–Mar 3 (sow outdoors) | Sep 18–Oct 2 (sowing) |
| Summer squash / zucchini | Jan 13–20 | Feb 17–Mar 3 (transplant) Feb 17–Mar 3 (sow outdoors) | Sep 18–Oct 2 (sowing) |
| Winter squash | Jan 13–20 | Feb 17–Mar 3 (transplant) Feb 17–Mar 3 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pumpkin | – | Feb 17–Mar 3 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Watermelon | Jan 13–20 | Feb 24–Mar 10 (transplant) Feb 24–Mar 10 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cantaloupe / muskmelon | Jan 13–20 | Feb 24–Mar 10 (transplant) Feb 24–Mar 10 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Okra | Dec 30–Jan 13 | Feb 24–Mar 10 (transplant) Feb 24–Mar 10 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Celery | Nov 18–Dec 2 | Feb 17–24 (transplant) | – |
| Basil | Dec 30–Jan 13 | Feb 17–Mar 3 (transplant) Feb 17–Mar 3 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cilantro | – | Jan 27–Feb 24 (sow outdoors) | Oct 16–30 (sowing) |
| Parsley | Dec 2–16 | Jan 27–Feb 10 (transplant) Jan 20–Feb 10 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Dill | – | Feb 10–24 (sow outdoors) | Oct 16–30 (sowing) |
| Sunflower | – | Feb 10–24 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Asparagus (crowns) | – | Jan 13–27 (transplant) | – |
| Rhubarb (crowns) | – | Jan 13–27 (transplant) | – |
| Strawberry (plants) | – | Jan 13–27 (transplant) | Oct 2–30 (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 10 here (the average last frost). Not affiliated with the program.
Where these numbers come from
Station: Lake Arthur 7 SW, LA (NOAA GHCN-Daily ID USC00165065), elevation 11 ft, 11.0 miles from the ZIP's center point. NOAA completeness flag: R (representative, 10+ years).
Nearby stations
| Station | Distance | Last frost (50%) | First frost (50%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jennings, LA | 14 mi | Feb 19 | Dec 4 |
| Crowley 2 NE, LA | 21 mi | Feb 20 | Dec 4 |
| Rockefeller Wl Refuge, LA | 24 mi | Feb 2 | Dec 23 |
The average last-frost dates of these stations span 18 days, a rough guide to local variation. See data sources & methods.
Frost questions for 70542
When is the last frost in 70542?
The average (50% chance) last spring freeze of 32°F for ZIP 70542 is February 10. For a more cautious planting date, use March 8, when only 1 year in 10 still sees a later freeze.
When is the first frost in 70542?
The average first fall freeze is December 11. In 1 year in 10 it comes by November 19.
What hardiness zone is 70542?
ZIP 70542 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 70542 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
70559 Morse 70556 Mermentau 70534 Estherwood 70549 Lake Arthur 70531 Egan 70537 70548 Kaplan 70546 Jennings
Other ZIP codes in Vermilion Parish
70510 70533 70548 70555 70575 All Vermilion Parish frost dates · Louisiana frost dates
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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.