Fall in zone 8bPhoto: George Chernilevsky, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Frost dates for ZIP 71202 (Monroe, 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, Monroe Delta Cc, LA (7 miles away).
- Average last spring frostMar 950% chance of a 32°F freeze after this date
- Average first fall frostNov 1450% chance of a 32°F freeze by this date
- Growing season (frost-free)248 daysmedian, 32°F threshold
- USDA hardiness zone8b15 to 20°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
70°F 55°F or warmer
24-hour average · latest 68°F, as of Oct 18, 1:00 AM CDT
Estimate Not a measurement at this ZIP: distance-weighted average of Monroe 26 N (33 mi).
4-inch depth
73°F 55°F or warmer
24-hour average · latest 73°F, as of Oct 18, 1:00 AM CDT
Estimate Not a measurement at this ZIP: distance-weighted average of Monroe 26 N (33 mi).
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 71202 load here. You can also open the NWS forecast for this ZIP.
Pre-emergent
Soil is 73°F at 4 inches (estimated soil temperature, not a station reading). Fall pre-emergent (annual bluegrass, winter weeds): window open as soil cools through the 70s and 60s.
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 24 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 14: 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 21 |
| 50% (the "average" last frost) | Mar 9 |
| 10% (cautious: only 1 year in 10 freezes later) | Mar 28 |
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 31 |
| 50% (the "average" first frost) | Nov 14 |
| 90% (late: most years have frozen by now) | Dec 1 |
Light frost, freeze and hard freeze
| Threshold | Last spring (50%) | First fall (50%) |
|---|---|---|
| 36°F (light frost possible on clear, calm nights) | Mar 26 | Nov 2 |
| 32°F (freeze) | Mar 9 | Nov 14 |
| 28°F (hard freeze) | Feb 25 | Nov 26 |
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 71202
Dates count from your average last spring frost (Mar 9) and first fall frost (Nov 14). 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 12–26 | Mar 16–30 (transplant) | Jul 18–Aug 15 (transplant) |
| Pepper (sweet and hot) | Dec 29–Jan 12 | Mar 23–Apr 6 (transplant) | Jul 25–Aug 15 (transplant) |
| Eggplant | Dec 29–Jan 12 | Mar 23–Apr 6 (transplant) | Jul 25–Aug 15 (transplant) |
| Tomatillo | Jan 12–26 | Mar 16–30 (transplant) | – |
| Lettuce | Jan 12–26 | Feb 16–Mar 9 (transplant) Feb 9–Mar 23 (sow outdoors) | Sep 19–Oct 10 (transplant) Sep 5–Oct 3 (sowing) |
| Spinach | – | Jan 26–Feb 16 (sow outdoors) | Sep 19–Oct 10 (sowing) |
| Kale | Jan 12–26 | Feb 9–23 (transplant) Feb 9–23 (sow outdoors) | Aug 22–Sep 19 (transplant) Aug 8–Sep 5 (sowing) |
| Collards | Jan 12–26 | Feb 9–Mar 9 (transplant) Feb 9–Mar 9 (sow outdoors) | Aug 22–Sep 19 (transplant) Aug 8–Sep 5 (sowing) |
| Broccoli | Dec 29–Jan 12 | Feb 9–23 (transplant) | Aug 8–Sep 5 (transplant) |
| Cabbage | Dec 29–Jan 12 | Feb 9–23 (transplant) | Aug 8–Sep 5 (transplant) |
| Cauliflower | Dec 29–Jan 12 | Feb 23–Mar 9 (transplant) | Aug 8–Sep 5 (transplant) |
| Brussels sprouts | Dec 15–29 | Feb 9–23 (transplant) | Jul 25–Aug 15 (transplant) |
| Kohlrabi | Jan 12–26 | Feb 9–23 (transplant) Feb 9–23 (sow outdoors) | Sep 5–19 (sowing) |
| Bok choy / Asian greens | – | Feb 9–23 (sow outdoors) | Sep 19–Oct 3 (sowing) |
| Arugula | – | Feb 9–Mar 9 (sow outdoors) | Sep 19–Oct 17 (sowing) |
| Mustard greens | – | Feb 9–Mar 2 (sow outdoors) | Sep 19–Oct 3 (sowing) |
| Swiss chard | Jan 26–Feb 9 | Feb 23–Mar 16 (transplant) Feb 23–Mar 23 (sow outdoors) | Sep 5–19 (sowing) |
| Beet | – | Feb 9–Mar 9 (sow outdoors) | Sep 5–19 (sowing) |
| Carrot | – | Feb 16–Mar 16 (sow outdoors) | Aug 22–Sep 5 (sowing) |
| Radish | – | Feb 2–Mar 16 (sow outdoors) | Oct 3–17 (sowing) |
| Turnip | – | Feb 9–Mar 2 (sow outdoors) | Sep 5–19 (sowing) |
| Parsnip | – | Feb 16–Mar 9 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pea (garden, snap, snow) | – | Jan 12–Feb 9 (sow outdoors) | Aug 22–Sep 5 (sowing) |
| Onion (bulbing) | Dec 15–29 | Jan 26–Feb 9 (transplant) | – |
| Green onion / scallion | – | Jan 26–Feb 23 (sow outdoors) | Sep 5–19 (sowing) |
| Leek | Dec 15–29 | Feb 9–23 (transplant) | – |
| Garlic | – | – | Oct 3–31 (sowing) |
| Shallot | – | Jan 26–Feb 9 (transplant) | Oct 3–31 (sowing) |
| Potato | – | Feb 9–23 (transplant) | Jul 25–Aug 8 (transplant) |
| Sweet potato | – | Mar 30–Apr 13 (transplant) | – |
| Sweet corn | – | Mar 16–30 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, bush (snap) | – | Mar 16–30 (sow outdoors) | Aug 22–Sep 5 (sowing) |
| Bean, pole | – | Mar 16–30 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Lima bean | – | Mar 23–Apr 6 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Southern pea (cowpea, black-eyed pea) | – | Mar 30–Apr 20 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cucumber | Feb 9–16 | Mar 16–30 (transplant) Mar 16–30 (sow outdoors) | Aug 22–Sep 5 (sowing) |
| Summer squash / zucchini | Feb 9–16 | Mar 16–30 (transplant) Mar 16–30 (sow outdoors) | Aug 22–Sep 5 (sowing) |
| Winter squash | Feb 9–16 | Mar 16–30 (transplant) Mar 16–30 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pumpkin | – | Mar 16–30 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Watermelon | Feb 9–16 | Mar 23–Apr 6 (transplant) Mar 23–Apr 6 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cantaloupe / muskmelon | Feb 9–16 | Mar 23–Apr 6 (transplant) Mar 23–Apr 6 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Okra | Jan 26–Feb 9 | Mar 23–Apr 6 (transplant) Mar 23–Apr 6 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Celery | Dec 15–29 | Mar 16–23 (transplant) | – |
| Basil | Jan 26–Feb 9 | Mar 16–30 (transplant) Mar 16–30 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cilantro | – | Feb 23–Mar 23 (sow outdoors) | Sep 19–Oct 3 (sowing) |
| Parsley | Dec 29–Jan 12 | Feb 23–Mar 9 (transplant) Feb 16–Mar 9 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Dill | – | Mar 9–23 (sow outdoors) | Sep 19–Oct 3 (sowing) |
| Sunflower | – | Mar 9–23 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Asparagus (crowns) | – | Feb 9–23 (transplant) | – |
| Rhubarb (crowns) | – | Feb 9–23 (transplant) | – |
| Strawberry (plants) | – | Feb 9–23 (transplant) | Sep 5–Oct 3 (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 9 here (the average last frost). Not affiliated with the program.
Where these numbers come from
Station: Monroe Delta Cc, LA (NOAA GHCN-Daily ID USC00166314), elevation 70 ft, 6.6 miles from the ZIP's center point. NOAA completeness flag: R (representative, 10+ years).
Nearby stations
| Station | Distance | Last frost (50%) | First frost (50%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monroe Rgnl AP, LA | 8 mi | Mar 8 | Nov 15 |
| Columbia Lock, LA | 16 mi | Mar 5 | Nov 22 |
| Calhoun Rsch STN, LA | 19 mi | Mar 28 | Nov 5 |
The average last-frost dates of these stations span 23 days, a rough guide to local variation. See data sources & methods.
Frost questions for 71202
When is the last frost in 71202?
The average (50% chance) last spring freeze of 32°F for ZIP 71202 is March 9. For a more cautious planting date, use March 28, when only 1 year in 10 still sees a later freeze.
When is the first frost in 71202?
The average first fall freeze is November 14. In 1 year in 10 it comes by October 31.
What hardiness zone is 71202?
ZIP 71202 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 71202 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
71212 Monroe 71209 Monroe 71292 Brownsville 71201 Monroe 71203 Monroe 71279 Start 71291 Claiborne 71259 Mangham
Other ZIP codes in Ouachita Parish
71201 71203 71209 71212 71225 71291 71292 All Ouachita Parish frost dates · Louisiana frost dates
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Weekly yard timing, plus frost and soil-temperature alerts for your ZIP code.
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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.