When to Plant Tomatoes in Louisiana
In Louisiana, the time to transplant tomatoes outside runs from Jan 29 – Feb 12 in New Orleans to Mar 24 – Apr 7 in Minden. In New Orleans, it's Jan 29 – Feb 12. 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.
Tomatoes are killed by frost and sulk in cold soil. Wait until nights stay above 50°F, usually one to three weeks after the average last frost.
- Start indoors: 6–8 weeks before the last frost.
- Transplant outside: 1–3 weeks after the last frost.
Tomatoes planting dates in Louisiana by city
| City | Zone | Start indoors | Transplant outside |
|---|---|---|---|
| Abbeville | 9a | Dec 23 – Jan 6 | Feb 24 – Mar 10 |
| Alexandria | 9a | Jan 2 – Jan 16 | Mar 6 – Mar 20 |
| Baker | 9a | Dec 31 – Jan 14 | Mar 4 – Mar 18 |
| Baton Rouge | 9a | Jan 3 – Jan 17 | Mar 7 – Mar 21 |
| Bogalusa | 9a | Jan 5 – Jan 19 | Mar 9 – Mar 23 |
| Bossier City | 8b | Jan 3 – Jan 17 | Mar 7 – Mar 21 |
| Broussard | 9a | Dec 19 – Jan 2 | Feb 20 – Mar 6 |
| Carencro | 9a | Jan 1 – Jan 15 | Mar 5 – Mar 19 |
| Central | 9a | Dec 31 – Jan 14 | Mar 4 – Mar 18 |
| Covington | 9a | Jan 15 – Jan 29 | Mar 19 – Apr 2 |
| Crowley | 9a | Dec 26 – Jan 9 | Feb 27 – Mar 13 |
| DeRidder | 9a | Jan 4 – Jan 18 | Mar 8 – Mar 22 |
| Denham Springs | 9a | Dec 31 – Jan 14 | Mar 4 – Mar 18 |
| Eunice | 9a | Jan 1 – Jan 15 | Mar 5 – Mar 19 |
| Gonzales | 9a | Dec 27 – Jan 10 | Feb 28 – Mar 14 |
| Gretna | 9b | Dec 7 – Dec 21 | Feb 8 – Feb 22 |
| Hammond | 9a | Jan 11 – Jan 25 | Mar 15 – Mar 29 |
| Houma | 9b | Dec 11 – Dec 25 | Feb 12 – Feb 26 |
| Jennings | 9a | Dec 25 – Jan 8 | Feb 26 – Mar 12 |
| Kenner | 9b | Dec 5 – Dec 19 | Feb 6 – Feb 20 |
| Lafayette | 9a | Jan 1 – Jan 15 | Mar 5 – Mar 19 |
| Lake Charles | 9a | Dec 20 – Jan 3 | Feb 21 – Mar 7 |
| Mandeville | 9a | Jan 15 – Jan 29 | Mar 19 – Apr 2 |
| Minden | 8b | Jan 20 – Feb 3 | Mar 24 – Apr 7 |
| Monroe | 8b | Jan 11 – Jan 25 | Mar 15 – Mar 29 |
| Morgan City | 9b | Dec 5 – Dec 19 | Feb 6 – Feb 20 |
| Natchitoches | 9a | Jan 3 – Jan 17 | Mar 7 – Mar 21 |
| New Iberia | 9b | Dec 16 – Dec 30 | Feb 17 – Mar 3 |
| New Orleans | 9b | Nov 27 – Dec 11 | Jan 29 – Feb 12 |
| Opelousas | 9a | Jan 3 – Jan 17 | Mar 7 – Mar 21 |
| Pineville | 9a | Jan 2 – Jan 16 | Mar 6 – Mar 20 |
| Ruston | 8b | Jan 14 – Jan 28 | Mar 18 – Apr 1 |
| Scott | 9a | Jan 1 – Jan 15 | Mar 5 – Mar 19 |
| Shreveport | 8b | Jan 12 – Jan 26 | Mar 16 – Mar 30 |
| Slidell | 9a | Dec 30 – Jan 13 | Mar 3 – Mar 17 |
| Sulphur | 9a | Dec 20 – Jan 3 | Feb 21 – Mar 7 |
| Thibodaux | 9b | Dec 11 – Dec 25 | Feb 12 – Feb 26 |
| West Monroe | 8b | Jan 11 – Jan 25 | Mar 15 – Mar 29 |
| Youngsville | 9a | Dec 25 – Jan 8 | Feb 26 – Mar 12 |
| Zachary | 9a | Dec 31 – Jan 14 | Mar 4 – Mar 18 |
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 tomatoes.
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