Fall in zone 8bPhoto: George Chernilevsky, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Frost dates for ZIP 71342 (Jena, 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, Jena, LA (6 miles away).
- Average last spring frostMar 1950% chance of a 32°F freeze after this date
- Average first fall frostNov 1250% chance of a 32°F freeze by this date
- Growing season (frost-free)238 daysmedian, 32°F threshold
- USDA hardiness zone8b15 to 20°F avg. coldest night
Get The Dial for 71342 (Jena)
Frost and freeze alerts from the NWS forecast for 71342, the spring soil-temperature heads-up for pre-emergent, and a short weekly yard-timing email.
- Freeze alerts
- Soil-temp heads-up
- Weekly yard to-dos
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.
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 71342 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 May 4 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
Prune now
No frost-timed pruning windows are open this week.
Your average first frost is Nov 12: 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) | Feb 25 |
| 50% (the "average" last frost) | Mar 19 |
| 10% (cautious: only 1 year in 10 freezes later) | Apr 9 |
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) | Oct 29 |
| 50% (the "average" first frost) | Nov 12 |
| 90% (late: most years have frozen by now) | Dec 2 |
Light frost, freeze and hard freeze
| Threshold | Last spring (50%) | First fall (50%) |
|---|---|---|
| 36°F (light frost possible on clear, calm nights) | Apr 2 | Nov 1 |
| 32°F (freeze) | Mar 19 | Nov 12 |
| 28°F (hard freeze) | Mar 1 | Nov 25 |
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 71342
Dates count from your average last spring frost (Mar 19) and first fall frost (Nov 12). 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 | Jan 22–Feb 5 | Mar 26–Apr 9 (transplant) | Jul 16–Aug 13 (transplant) |
| Pepper (sweet and hot) | Jan 8–22 | Apr 2–16 (transplant) | Jul 23–Aug 13 (transplant) |
| Eggplant | Jan 8–22 | Apr 2–16 (transplant) | Jul 23–Aug 13 (transplant) |
| Tomatillo | Jan 22–Feb 5 | Mar 26–Apr 9 (transplant) | – |
| Lettuce | Jan 22–Feb 5 | Feb 26–Mar 19 (transplant) Feb 19–Apr 2 (sow outdoors) | Sep 17–Oct 8 (transplant) Sep 3–Oct 1 (sowing) |
| Spinach | – | Feb 5–26 (sow outdoors) | Sep 17–Oct 8 (sowing) |
| Kale | Jan 22–Feb 5 | Feb 19–Mar 5 (transplant) Feb 19–Mar 5 (sow outdoors) | Aug 20–Sep 17 (transplant) Aug 6–Sep 3 (sowing) |
| Collards | Jan 22–Feb 5 | Feb 19–Mar 19 (transplant) Feb 19–Mar 19 (sow outdoors) | Aug 20–Sep 17 (transplant) Aug 6–Sep 3 (sowing) |
| Broccoli | Jan 8–22 | Feb 19–Mar 5 (transplant) | Aug 6–Sep 3 (transplant) |
| Cabbage | Jan 8–22 | Feb 19–Mar 5 (transplant) | Aug 6–Sep 3 (transplant) |
| Cauliflower | Jan 8–22 | Mar 5–19 (transplant) | Aug 6–Sep 3 (transplant) |
| Brussels sprouts | Dec 25–Jan 8 | Feb 19–Mar 5 (transplant) | Jul 23–Aug 13 (transplant) |
| Kohlrabi | Jan 22–Feb 5 | Feb 19–Mar 5 (transplant) Feb 19–Mar 5 (sow outdoors) | Sep 3–17 (sowing) |
| Bok choy / Asian greens | – | Feb 19–Mar 5 (sow outdoors) | Sep 17–Oct 1 (sowing) |
| Arugula | – | Feb 19–Mar 19 (sow outdoors) | Sep 17–Oct 15 (sowing) |
| Mustard greens | – | Feb 19–Mar 12 (sow outdoors) | Sep 17–Oct 1 (sowing) |
| Swiss chard | Feb 5–19 | Mar 5–26 (transplant) Mar 5–Apr 2 (sow outdoors) | Sep 3–17 (sowing) |
| Beet | – | Feb 19–Mar 19 (sow outdoors) | Sep 3–17 (sowing) |
| Carrot | – | Feb 26–Mar 26 (sow outdoors) | Aug 20–Sep 3 (sowing) |
| Radish | – | Feb 12–Mar 26 (sow outdoors) | Oct 1–15 (sowing) |
| Turnip | – | Feb 19–Mar 12 (sow outdoors) | Sep 3–17 (sowing) |
| Parsnip | – | Feb 26–Mar 19 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pea (garden, snap, snow) | – | Jan 22–Feb 19 (sow outdoors) | Aug 20–Sep 3 (sowing) |
| Onion (bulbing) | Dec 25–Jan 8 | Feb 5–19 (transplant) | – |
| Green onion / scallion | – | Feb 5–Mar 5 (sow outdoors) | Sep 3–17 (sowing) |
| Leek | Dec 25–Jan 8 | Feb 19–Mar 5 (transplant) | – |
| Garlic | – | – | Oct 1–29 (sowing) |
| Shallot | – | Feb 5–19 (transplant) | Oct 1–29 (sowing) |
| Potato | – | Feb 19–Mar 5 (transplant) | Jul 23–Aug 6 (transplant) |
| Sweet potato | – | Apr 9–23 (transplant) | – |
| Sweet corn | – | Mar 26–Apr 9 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, bush (snap) | – | Mar 26–Apr 9 (sow outdoors) | Aug 20–Sep 3 (sowing) |
| Bean, pole | – | Mar 26–Apr 9 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Lima bean | – | Apr 2–16 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Southern pea (cowpea, black-eyed pea) | – | Apr 9–30 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cucumber | Feb 19–26 | Mar 26–Apr 9 (transplant) Mar 26–Apr 9 (sow outdoors) | Aug 20–Sep 3 (sowing) |
| Summer squash / zucchini | Feb 19–26 | Mar 26–Apr 9 (transplant) Mar 26–Apr 9 (sow outdoors) | Aug 20–Sep 3 (sowing) |
| Winter squash | Feb 19–26 | Mar 26–Apr 9 (transplant) Mar 26–Apr 9 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pumpkin | – | Mar 26–Apr 9 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Watermelon | Feb 19–26 | Apr 2–16 (transplant) Apr 2–16 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cantaloupe / muskmelon | Feb 19–26 | Apr 2–16 (transplant) Apr 2–16 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Okra | Feb 5–19 | Apr 2–16 (transplant) Apr 2–16 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Celery | Dec 25–Jan 8 | Mar 26–Apr 2 (transplant) | – |
| Basil | Feb 5–19 | Mar 26–Apr 9 (transplant) Mar 26–Apr 9 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cilantro | – | Mar 5–Apr 2 (sow outdoors) | Sep 17–Oct 1 (sowing) |
| Parsley | Jan 8–22 | Mar 5–19 (transplant) Feb 26–Mar 19 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Dill | – | Mar 19–Apr 2 (sow outdoors) | Sep 17–Oct 1 (sowing) |
| Sunflower | – | Mar 19–Apr 2 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Asparagus (crowns) | – | Feb 19–Mar 5 (transplant) | – |
| Rhubarb (crowns) | – | Feb 19–Mar 5 (transplant) | – |
| Strawberry (plants) | – | Feb 19–Mar 5 (transplant) | Sep 3–Oct 1 (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 March 19 here (the average last frost). Not affiliated with the program.
Where these numbers come from
Station: Jena, LA (NOAA GHCN-Daily ID USC00164696), elevation 143 ft, 5.8 miles from the ZIP's center point. NOAA completeness flag: S (standard, 24+ years).
Nearby stations
| Station | Distance | Last frost (50%) | First frost (50%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alexandria Esler Rgnl AP, LA | 17 mi | Mar 16 | Nov 8 |
| Jonesville Locks, LA | 18 mi | Mar 6 | Nov 22 |
| Alexandria, LA | 27 mi | Feb 27 | Nov 27 |
The average last-frost dates of these stations span 23 days, a rough guide to local variation. See data sources & methods.
Frost questions for 71342
When is the last frost in 71342?
The average (50% chance) last spring freeze of 32°F for ZIP 71342 is March 19. For a more cautious planting date, use April 9, when only 1 year in 10 still sees a later freeze.
When is the first frost in 71342?
The average first fall freeze is November 12. In 1 year in 10 it comes by October 29.
What hardiness zone is 71342?
ZIP 71342 is in USDA zone 8b (15 to 20°F average coldest winter night), per the 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map ZIP listing.
What is the soil temperature in 71342 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
71371 Trout 71467 Pollock 71343 Wallace Ridge 71328 Deville 71401 71465 Olla 71405 Ball 71480 Urania
Other ZIP codes in LaSalle Parish
71371 71465 71480 All LaSalle Parish frost dates · Louisiana frost dates
Never miss a frost: get The Dial
Weekly yard timing, plus frost and soil-temperature alerts for your ZIP code.
- Freeze alerts
- Soil-temp heads-up
- Weekly yard to-dos
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.