Fall in zone 9aPhoto: George Chernilevsky, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Frost dates for ZIP 70552 (Loreauville, 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, Jeanerette 5 NW, LA (7 miles away).
- Average last spring frostFeb 1550% chance of a 32°F freeze after this date
- Average first fall frostDec 350% chance of a 32°F freeze by this date
- Growing season (frost-free)294 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
Measured at NOAA USCRN station Lafayette 13 SE, 13 mi away. Daily averages: Thu 79°, Fri 79°, Sat 75°.
4-inch depth
77°F 55°F or warmer
24-hour average · latest 77°F, as of Oct 18, 1:00 AM CDT
Measured at NOAA USCRN station Lafayette 13 SE, 13 mi away. Daily averages: Thu 80°, Fri 79°, Sat 78°.
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 70552 load here. You can also open the NWS forecast for this ZIP.
Pre-emergent
Soil is 77°F at 4 inches. 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 Apr 2 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 24–Oct 22
- Lettuce: fall transplant Oct 8–29
- Spinach: fall sowing Oct 8–29
- Bok choy / Asian greens: fall sowing Oct 8–22
- Arugula: fall sowing Oct 8–Nov 5
- Mustard greens: fall sowing Oct 8–22
- Cilantro: fall sowing Oct 8–22
- Dill: fall sowing Oct 8–22
- Strawberry (plants): fall transplant Sep 24–Oct 22
Coming up in the next 3 weeks
Prune now
No frost-timed pruning windows are open this week.
Your average first frost is Dec 3: 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 17 |
| 50% (the "average" last frost) | Feb 15 |
| 10% (cautious: only 1 year in 10 freezes later) | Mar 13 |
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 11 |
| 50% (the "average" first frost) | Dec 3 |
| 90% (late: most years have frozen by now) | Jan 4 (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 4 | Nov 19 |
| 32°F (freeze) | Feb 15 | Dec 3 |
| 28°F (hard freeze) | Jan 29 | Dec 24 |
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 70552
Dates count from your average last spring frost (Feb 15) and first fall frost (Dec 3). 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 21–Jan 4 | Feb 22–Mar 8 (transplant) | Aug 6–Sep 3 (transplant) |
| Pepper (sweet and hot) | Dec 7–21 | Mar 1–15 (transplant) | Aug 13–Sep 3 (transplant) |
| Eggplant | Dec 7–21 | Mar 1–15 (transplant) | Aug 13–Sep 3 (transplant) |
| Tomatillo | Dec 21–Jan 4 | Feb 22–Mar 8 (transplant) | – |
| Lettuce | Dec 21–Jan 4 | Jan 25–Feb 15 (transplant) Jan 18–Mar 1 (sow outdoors) | Oct 8–29 (transplant) Sep 24–Oct 22 (sowing) |
| Spinach | – | Jan 4–25 (sow outdoors) | Oct 8–29 (sowing) |
| Kale | Dec 21–Jan 4 | Jan 18–Feb 1 (transplant) Jan 18–Feb 1 (sow outdoors) | Sep 10–Oct 8 (transplant) Aug 27–Sep 24 (sowing) |
| Collards | Dec 21–Jan 4 | Jan 18–Feb 15 (transplant) Jan 18–Feb 15 (sow outdoors) | Sep 10–Oct 8 (transplant) Aug 27–Sep 24 (sowing) |
| Broccoli | Dec 7–21 | Jan 18–Feb 1 (transplant) | Aug 27–Sep 24 (transplant) |
| Cabbage | Dec 7–21 | Jan 18–Feb 1 (transplant) | Aug 27–Sep 24 (transplant) |
| Cauliflower | Dec 7–21 | Feb 1–15 (transplant) | Aug 27–Sep 24 (transplant) |
| Brussels sprouts | Nov 23–Dec 7 | Jan 18–Feb 1 (transplant) | Aug 13–Sep 3 (transplant) |
| Kohlrabi | Dec 21–Jan 4 | Jan 18–Feb 1 (transplant) Jan 18–Feb 1 (sow outdoors) | Sep 24–Oct 8 (sowing) |
| Bok choy / Asian greens | – | Jan 18–Feb 1 (sow outdoors) | Oct 8–22 (sowing) |
| Arugula | – | Jan 18–Feb 15 (sow outdoors) | Oct 8–Nov 5 (sowing) |
| Mustard greens | – | Jan 18–Feb 8 (sow outdoors) | Oct 8–22 (sowing) |
| Swiss chard | Jan 4–18 | Feb 1–22 (transplant) Feb 1–Mar 1 (sow outdoors) | Sep 24–Oct 8 (sowing) |
| Beet | – | Jan 18–Feb 15 (sow outdoors) | Sep 24–Oct 8 (sowing) |
| Carrot | – | Jan 25–Feb 22 (sow outdoors) | Sep 10–24 (sowing) |
| Radish | – | Jan 11–Feb 22 (sow outdoors) | Oct 22–Nov 5 (sowing) |
| Turnip | – | Jan 18–Feb 8 (sow outdoors) | Sep 24–Oct 8 (sowing) |
| Parsnip | – | Jan 25–Feb 15 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pea (garden, snap, snow) | – | Dec 21–Jan 18 (sow outdoors) | Sep 10–24 (sowing) |
| Onion (bulbing) | Nov 23–Dec 7 | Jan 4–18 (transplant) | – |
| Green onion / scallion | – | Jan 4–Feb 1 (sow outdoors) | Sep 24–Oct 8 (sowing) |
| Leek | Nov 23–Dec 7 | Jan 18–Feb 1 (transplant) | – |
| Garlic | – | – | Oct 22–Nov 19 (sowing) |
| Shallot | – | Jan 4–18 (transplant) | Oct 22–Nov 19 (sowing) |
| Potato | – | Jan 18–Feb 1 (transplant) | Aug 13–27 (transplant) |
| Sweet potato | – | Mar 8–22 (transplant) | – |
| Sweet corn | – | Feb 22–Mar 8 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, bush (snap) | – | Feb 22–Mar 8 (sow outdoors) | Sep 10–24 (sowing) |
| Bean, pole | – | Feb 22–Mar 8 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Lima bean | – | Mar 1–15 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Southern pea (cowpea, black-eyed pea) | – | Mar 8–29 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cucumber | Jan 18–25 | Feb 22–Mar 8 (transplant) Feb 22–Mar 8 (sow outdoors) | Sep 10–24 (sowing) |
| Summer squash / zucchini | Jan 18–25 | Feb 22–Mar 8 (transplant) Feb 22–Mar 8 (sow outdoors) | Sep 10–24 (sowing) |
| Winter squash | Jan 18–25 | Feb 22–Mar 8 (transplant) Feb 22–Mar 8 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pumpkin | – | Feb 22–Mar 8 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Watermelon | Jan 18–25 | Mar 1–15 (transplant) Mar 1–15 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cantaloupe / muskmelon | Jan 18–25 | Mar 1–15 (transplant) Mar 1–15 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Okra | Jan 4–18 | Mar 1–15 (transplant) Mar 1–15 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Celery | Nov 23–Dec 7 | Feb 22–Mar 1 (transplant) | – |
| Basil | Jan 4–18 | Feb 22–Mar 8 (transplant) Feb 22–Mar 8 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cilantro | – | Feb 1–Mar 1 (sow outdoors) | Oct 8–22 (sowing) |
| Parsley | Dec 7–21 | Feb 1–15 (transplant) Jan 25–Feb 15 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Dill | – | Feb 15–Mar 1 (sow outdoors) | Oct 8–22 (sowing) |
| Sunflower | – | Feb 15–Mar 1 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Asparagus (crowns) | – | Jan 18–Feb 1 (transplant) | – |
| Rhubarb (crowns) | – | Jan 18–Feb 1 (transplant) | – |
| Strawberry (plants) | – | Jan 18–Feb 1 (transplant) | Sep 24–Oct 22 (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 15 here (the average last frost). Not affiliated with the program.
Where these numbers come from
Station: Jeanerette 5 NW, LA (NOAA GHCN-Daily ID USC00164674), elevation 20 ft, 6.5 miles from the ZIP's center point. NOAA completeness flag: S (standard, 24+ years).
Nearby stations
| Station | Distance | Last frost (50%) | First frost (50%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| St Martinville 3 SW, LA | 13 mi | Feb 21 | Nov 27 |
| Lafayette 13 SE, LA | 13 mi | Feb 19 | Dec 1 |
| New Iberia Acadiana AP, LA | 13 mi | Feb 10 | Dec 11 |
The average last-frost dates of these stations span 11 days, a rough guide to local variation. See data sources & methods.
Frost questions for 70552
When is the last frost in 70552?
The average (50% chance) last spring freeze of 32°F for ZIP 70552 is February 15. For a more cautious planting date, use March 13, when only 1 year in 10 still sees a later freeze.
When is the first frost in 70552?
The average first fall freeze is December 3. In 1 year in 10 it comes by November 11.
What hardiness zone is 70552?
ZIP 70552 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 70552 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
70563 70544 Jeanerette 70582 Cade 70523 Charenton 70560 New Iberia 70514 Baldwin 70519 Cade 70518 Broussard
Other ZIP codes in Iberia Parish
70513 70528 70544 70560 70563 All Iberia 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.