When to Plant Peppers in Louisiana
In Louisiana, the time to transplant peppers outside runs from Feb 5 – Feb 19 in New Orleans to Mar 31 – Apr 14 in Minden. In New Orleans, it's Feb 5 – Feb 19. The average last spring frost differs by about 8 weeks across the state (Jan 22 in New Orleans, Mar 17 in Minden), so use the dates for the town nearest you.
Peppers need even more warmth than tomatoes. Start them early indoors and set them out once the soil has warmed, two to four weeks after the last frost.
- Start indoors: 8–10 weeks before the last frost.
- Transplant outside: 2–4 weeks after the last frost.
Peppers planting dates in Louisiana by city
| City | Zone | Start indoors | Transplant outside |
|---|---|---|---|
| Abbeville | 9a | Dec 9 – Dec 23 | Mar 3 – Mar 17 |
| Alexandria | 9a | Dec 19 – Jan 2 | Mar 13 – Mar 27 |
| Baker | 9a | Dec 17 – Dec 31 | Mar 11 – Mar 25 |
| Baton Rouge | 9a | Dec 20 – Jan 3 | Mar 14 – Mar 28 |
| Bogalusa | 9a | Dec 22 – Jan 5 | Mar 16 – Mar 30 |
| Bossier City | 8b | Dec 20 – Jan 3 | Mar 14 – Mar 28 |
| Broussard | 9a | Dec 5 – Dec 19 | Feb 27 – Mar 13 |
| Carencro | 9a | Dec 18 – Jan 1 | Mar 12 – Mar 26 |
| Central | 9a | Dec 17 – Dec 31 | Mar 11 – Mar 25 |
| Covington | 9a | Jan 1 – Jan 15 | Mar 26 – Apr 9 |
| Crowley | 9a | Dec 12 – Dec 26 | Mar 6 – Mar 20 |
| DeRidder | 9a | Dec 21 – Jan 4 | Mar 15 – Mar 29 |
| Denham Springs | 9a | Dec 17 – Dec 31 | Mar 11 – Mar 25 |
| Eunice | 9a | Dec 18 – Jan 1 | Mar 12 – Mar 26 |
| Gonzales | 9a | Dec 13 – Dec 27 | Mar 7 – Mar 21 |
| Gretna | 9b | Nov 23 – Dec 7 | Feb 15 – Mar 1 |
| Hammond | 9a | Dec 28 – Jan 11 | Mar 22 – Apr 5 |
| Houma | 9b | Nov 27 – Dec 11 | Feb 19 – Mar 5 |
| Jennings | 9a | Dec 11 – Dec 25 | Mar 5 – Mar 19 |
| Kenner | 9b | Nov 21 – Dec 5 | Feb 13 – Feb 27 |
| Lafayette | 9a | Dec 18 – Jan 1 | Mar 12 – Mar 26 |
| Lake Charles | 9a | Dec 6 – Dec 20 | Feb 28 – Mar 14 |
| Mandeville | 9a | Jan 1 – Jan 15 | Mar 26 – Apr 9 |
| Minden | 8b | Jan 6 – Jan 20 | Mar 31 – Apr 14 |
| Monroe | 8b | Dec 28 – Jan 11 | Mar 22 – Apr 5 |
| Morgan City | 9b | Nov 21 – Dec 5 | Feb 13 – Feb 27 |
| Natchitoches | 9a | Dec 20 – Jan 3 | Mar 14 – Mar 28 |
| New Iberia | 9b | Dec 2 – Dec 16 | Feb 24 – Mar 10 |
| New Orleans | 9b | Nov 13 – Nov 27 | Feb 5 – Feb 19 |
| Opelousas | 9a | Dec 20 – Jan 3 | Mar 14 – Mar 28 |
| Pineville | 9a | Dec 19 – Jan 2 | Mar 13 – Mar 27 |
| Ruston | 8b | Dec 31 – Jan 14 | Mar 25 – Apr 8 |
| Scott | 9a | Dec 18 – Jan 1 | Mar 12 – Mar 26 |
| Shreveport | 8b | Dec 29 – Jan 12 | Mar 23 – Apr 6 |
| Slidell | 9a | Dec 16 – Dec 30 | Mar 10 – Mar 24 |
| Sulphur | 9a | Dec 6 – Dec 20 | Feb 28 – Mar 14 |
| Thibodaux | 9b | Nov 27 – Dec 11 | Feb 19 – Mar 5 |
| West Monroe | 8b | Dec 28 – Jan 11 | Mar 22 – Apr 5 |
| Youngsville | 9a | Dec 11 – Dec 25 | Mar 5 – Mar 19 |
| Zachary | 9a | Dec 17 – Dec 31 | Mar 11 – Mar 25 |
Calculated from each town's average (50%) frost dates, from the nearest NOAA station (1991–2020). Typical dates for the 2027 planting season, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 averages. They are long-term odds, not a forecast: always check your local forecast before planting. Zones: 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (USDA-ARS and Oregon State University). Not the official map; see planthardiness.ars.usda.gov.
See all frost dates in Louisiana, or the general guide to when to plant peppers.
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