Fall in zone 9aPhoto: George Chernilevsky, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Frost dates for ZIP 70629 (Lake Charles, 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 Charles, LA (7 miles away).
- Average last spring frostFeb 1450% chance of a 32°F freeze after this date
- Average first fall frostDec 750% 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
No soil station with a fresh reading within 62 miles.
4-inch depth
No soil station with a fresh reading within 62 miles.
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 70629 load here. You can also open the NWS forecast for this ZIP.
Pre-emergent
No soil reading near this ZIP. Typical extension timing for your region: spring mid-February to early March; fall 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 1 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 28–Oct 26
- Lettuce: fall transplant Oct 12–Nov 2
- Spinach: fall sowing Oct 12–Nov 2
- Bok choy / Asian greens: fall sowing Oct 12–26
- Arugula: fall sowing Oct 12–Nov 9
- Mustard greens: fall sowing Oct 12–26
- Cilantro: fall sowing Oct 12–26
- Dill: fall sowing Oct 12–26
- Strawberry (plants): fall transplant Sep 28–Oct 26
Coming up in the next 3 weeks
Prune now
No frost-timed pruning windows are open this week.
Your average first frost is Dec 7: 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 16 |
| 50% (the "average" last frost) | Feb 14 |
| 10% (cautious: only 1 year in 10 freezes later) | Mar 11 |
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 7 |
| 90% (late: most years have frozen by now) | Jan 7 (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 2 | Nov 23 |
| 32°F (freeze) | Feb 14 | Dec 7 |
| 28°F (hard freeze) | Jan 27 | Jan 3 (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 70629
Dates count from your average last spring frost (Feb 14) and first fall frost (Dec 7). 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 20–Jan 3 | Feb 21–Mar 7 (transplant) | Aug 10–Sep 7 (transplant) |
| Pepper (sweet and hot) | Dec 6–20 | Feb 28–Mar 14 (transplant) | Aug 17–Sep 7 (transplant) |
| Eggplant | Dec 6–20 | Feb 28–Mar 14 (transplant) | Aug 17–Sep 7 (transplant) |
| Tomatillo | Dec 20–Jan 3 | Feb 21–Mar 7 (transplant) | – |
| Lettuce | Dec 20–Jan 3 | Jan 24–Feb 14 (transplant) Jan 17–Feb 28 (sow outdoors) | Oct 12–Nov 2 (transplant) Sep 28–Oct 26 (sowing) |
| Spinach | – | Jan 3–24 (sow outdoors) | Oct 12–Nov 2 (sowing) |
| Kale | Dec 20–Jan 3 | Jan 17–31 (transplant) Jan 17–31 (sow outdoors) | Sep 14–Oct 12 (transplant) Aug 31–Sep 28 (sowing) |
| Collards | Dec 20–Jan 3 | Jan 17–Feb 14 (transplant) Jan 17–Feb 14 (sow outdoors) | Sep 14–Oct 12 (transplant) Aug 31–Sep 28 (sowing) |
| Broccoli | Dec 6–20 | Jan 17–31 (transplant) | Aug 31–Sep 28 (transplant) |
| Cabbage | Dec 6–20 | Jan 17–31 (transplant) | Aug 31–Sep 28 (transplant) |
| Cauliflower | Dec 6–20 | Jan 31–Feb 14 (transplant) | Aug 31–Sep 28 (transplant) |
| Brussels sprouts | Nov 22–Dec 6 | Jan 17–31 (transplant) | Aug 17–Sep 7 (transplant) |
| Kohlrabi | Dec 20–Jan 3 | Jan 17–31 (transplant) Jan 17–31 (sow outdoors) | Sep 28–Oct 12 (sowing) |
| Bok choy / Asian greens | – | Jan 17–31 (sow outdoors) | Oct 12–26 (sowing) |
| Arugula | – | Jan 17–Feb 14 (sow outdoors) | Oct 12–Nov 9 (sowing) |
| Mustard greens | – | Jan 17–Feb 7 (sow outdoors) | Oct 12–26 (sowing) |
| Swiss chard | Jan 3–17 | Jan 31–Feb 21 (transplant) Jan 31–Feb 28 (sow outdoors) | Sep 28–Oct 12 (sowing) |
| Beet | – | Jan 17–Feb 14 (sow outdoors) | Sep 28–Oct 12 (sowing) |
| Carrot | – | Jan 24–Feb 21 (sow outdoors) | Sep 14–28 (sowing) |
| Radish | – | Jan 10–Feb 21 (sow outdoors) | Oct 26–Nov 9 (sowing) |
| Turnip | – | Jan 17–Feb 7 (sow outdoors) | Sep 28–Oct 12 (sowing) |
| Parsnip | – | Jan 24–Feb 14 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pea (garden, snap, snow) | – | Dec 20–Jan 17 (sow outdoors) | Sep 14–28 (sowing) |
| Onion (bulbing) | Nov 22–Dec 6 | Jan 3–17 (transplant) | – |
| Green onion / scallion | – | Jan 3–31 (sow outdoors) | Sep 28–Oct 12 (sowing) |
| Leek | Nov 22–Dec 6 | Jan 17–31 (transplant) | – |
| Garlic | – | – | Oct 26–Nov 23 (sowing) |
| Shallot | – | Jan 3–17 (transplant) | Oct 26–Nov 23 (sowing) |
| Potato | – | Jan 17–31 (transplant) | Aug 17–31 (transplant) |
| Sweet potato | – | Mar 7–21 (transplant) | – |
| Sweet corn | – | Feb 21–Mar 7 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, bush (snap) | – | Feb 21–Mar 7 (sow outdoors) | Sep 14–28 (sowing) |
| Bean, pole | – | Feb 21–Mar 7 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Lima bean | – | Feb 28–Mar 14 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Southern pea (cowpea, black-eyed pea) | – | Mar 7–28 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cucumber | Jan 17–24 | Feb 21–Mar 7 (transplant) Feb 21–Mar 7 (sow outdoors) | Sep 14–28 (sowing) |
| Summer squash / zucchini | Jan 17–24 | Feb 21–Mar 7 (transplant) Feb 21–Mar 7 (sow outdoors) | Sep 14–28 (sowing) |
| Winter squash | Jan 17–24 | Feb 21–Mar 7 (transplant) Feb 21–Mar 7 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pumpkin | – | Feb 21–Mar 7 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Watermelon | Jan 17–24 | Feb 28–Mar 14 (transplant) Feb 28–Mar 14 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cantaloupe / muskmelon | Jan 17–24 | Feb 28–Mar 14 (transplant) Feb 28–Mar 14 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Okra | Jan 3–17 | Feb 28–Mar 14 (transplant) Feb 28–Mar 14 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Celery | Nov 22–Dec 6 | Feb 21–28 (transplant) | – |
| Basil | Jan 3–17 | Feb 21–Mar 7 (transplant) Feb 21–Mar 7 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cilantro | – | Jan 31–Feb 28 (sow outdoors) | Oct 12–26 (sowing) |
| Parsley | Dec 6–20 | Jan 31–Feb 14 (transplant) Jan 24–Feb 14 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Dill | – | Feb 14–28 (sow outdoors) | Oct 12–26 (sowing) |
| Sunflower | – | Feb 14–28 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Asparagus (crowns) | – | Jan 17–31 (transplant) | – |
| Rhubarb (crowns) | – | Jan 17–31 (transplant) | – |
| Strawberry (plants) | – | Jan 17–31 (transplant) | Sep 28–Oct 26 (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 14 here (the average last frost). Not affiliated with the program.
Where these numbers come from
Station: Lake Charles, LA (NOAA GHCN-Daily ID USW00003937), elevation 13 ft, 7.3 miles from the ZIP's center point. NOAA completeness flag: S (standard, 24+ years).
Nearby stations
| Station | Distance | Last frost (50%) | First frost (50%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Moss Bluff 2 NNW, LA | 7 mi | Mar 2 | Nov 25 |
| Hackberry 8 SSW, LA | 26 mi | Feb 3 | Dec 24 |
| Lake Arthur 7 SW, LA | 31 mi | Feb 10 | Dec 11 |
The average last-frost dates of these stations span 30 days, a rough guide to local variation. See data sources & methods.
Frost questions for 70629
When is the last frost in 70629?
The average (50% chance) last spring freeze of 32°F for ZIP 70629 is February 14. For a more cautious planting date, use March 11, when only 1 year in 10 still sees a later freeze.
When is the first frost in 70629?
The average first fall freeze is December 7. In 1 year in 10 it comes by November 14.
What hardiness zone is 70629?
ZIP 70629 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 70629 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
70601 Lake Charles 70669 Westlake 70609 Lake Charles 70615 Lake Charles 70605 Lake Charles 70611 Moss Bluff 70663 Sulphur 70647 Iowa
Other ZIP codes in Calcasieu Parish
70601 70605 70607 70609 70611 70615 70633 70646 70647 70661 70663 70665 70668 70669 All Calcasieu Parish frost dates · Louisiana frost dates
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Weekly yard timing, plus frost and soil-temperature alerts for your ZIP code.
- 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.