Fall in zone 8bPhoto: George Chernilevsky, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Frost dates for ZIP 71270 (Ruston, 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, Ruston La Tech, LA (1 miles away).
- Average last spring frostMar 1150% chance of a 32°F freeze after this date
- Average first fall frostNov 1650% 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 (41 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 (41 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 71270 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 26 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
- Arugula: fall sowing Sep 21–Oct 19
- Radish: fall sowing Oct 5–19
- Garlic: fall sowing Oct 5–Nov 2
- Shallot: fall sowing Oct 5–Nov 2
Prune now
No frost-timed pruning windows are open this week.
Your average first frost is Nov 16: 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 18 |
| 50% (the "average" last frost) | Mar 11 |
| 10% (cautious: only 1 year in 10 freezes later) | Mar 31 |
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 16 |
| 90% (late: most years have frozen by now) | Dec 4 |
Light frost, freeze and hard freeze
| Threshold | Last spring (50%) | First fall (50%) |
|---|---|---|
| 36°F (light frost possible on clear, calm nights) | Mar 27 | Nov 4 |
| 32°F (freeze) | Mar 11 | Nov 16 |
| 28°F (hard freeze) | Feb 24 | Dec 1 |
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 71270
Dates count from your average last spring frost (Mar 11) and first fall frost (Nov 16). 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 14–28 | Mar 18–Apr 1 (transplant) | Jul 20–Aug 17 (transplant) |
| Pepper (sweet and hot) | Dec 31–Jan 14 | Mar 25–Apr 8 (transplant) | Jul 27–Aug 17 (transplant) |
| Eggplant | Dec 31–Jan 14 | Mar 25–Apr 8 (transplant) | Jul 27–Aug 17 (transplant) |
| Tomatillo | Jan 14–28 | Mar 18–Apr 1 (transplant) | – |
| Lettuce | Jan 14–28 | Feb 18–Mar 11 (transplant) Feb 11–Mar 25 (sow outdoors) | Sep 21–Oct 12 (transplant) Sep 7–Oct 5 (sowing) |
| Spinach | – | Jan 28–Feb 18 (sow outdoors) | Sep 21–Oct 12 (sowing) |
| Kale | Jan 14–28 | Feb 11–25 (transplant) Feb 11–25 (sow outdoors) | Aug 24–Sep 21 (transplant) Aug 10–Sep 7 (sowing) |
| Collards | Jan 14–28 | Feb 11–Mar 11 (transplant) Feb 11–Mar 11 (sow outdoors) | Aug 24–Sep 21 (transplant) Aug 10–Sep 7 (sowing) |
| Broccoli | Dec 31–Jan 14 | Feb 11–25 (transplant) | Aug 10–Sep 7 (transplant) |
| Cabbage | Dec 31–Jan 14 | Feb 11–25 (transplant) | Aug 10–Sep 7 (transplant) |
| Cauliflower | Dec 31–Jan 14 | Feb 25–Mar 11 (transplant) | Aug 10–Sep 7 (transplant) |
| Brussels sprouts | Dec 17–31 | Feb 11–25 (transplant) | Jul 27–Aug 17 (transplant) |
| Kohlrabi | Jan 14–28 | Feb 11–25 (transplant) Feb 11–25 (sow outdoors) | Sep 7–21 (sowing) |
| Bok choy / Asian greens | – | Feb 11–25 (sow outdoors) | Sep 21–Oct 5 (sowing) |
| Arugula | – | Feb 11–Mar 11 (sow outdoors) | Sep 21–Oct 19 (sowing) |
| Mustard greens | – | Feb 11–Mar 4 (sow outdoors) | Sep 21–Oct 5 (sowing) |
| Swiss chard | Jan 28–Feb 11 | Feb 25–Mar 18 (transplant) Feb 25–Mar 25 (sow outdoors) | Sep 7–21 (sowing) |
| Beet | – | Feb 11–Mar 11 (sow outdoors) | Sep 7–21 (sowing) |
| Carrot | – | Feb 18–Mar 18 (sow outdoors) | Aug 24–Sep 7 (sowing) |
| Radish | – | Feb 4–Mar 18 (sow outdoors) | Oct 5–19 (sowing) |
| Turnip | – | Feb 11–Mar 4 (sow outdoors) | Sep 7–21 (sowing) |
| Parsnip | – | Feb 18–Mar 11 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pea (garden, snap, snow) | – | Jan 14–Feb 11 (sow outdoors) | Aug 24–Sep 7 (sowing) |
| Onion (bulbing) | Dec 17–31 | Jan 28–Feb 11 (transplant) | – |
| Green onion / scallion | – | Jan 28–Feb 25 (sow outdoors) | Sep 7–21 (sowing) |
| Leek | Dec 17–31 | Feb 11–25 (transplant) | – |
| Garlic | – | – | Oct 5–Nov 2 (sowing) |
| Shallot | – | Jan 28–Feb 11 (transplant) | Oct 5–Nov 2 (sowing) |
| Potato | – | Feb 11–25 (transplant) | Jul 27–Aug 10 (transplant) |
| Sweet potato | – | Apr 1–15 (transplant) | – |
| Sweet corn | – | Mar 18–Apr 1 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, bush (snap) | – | Mar 18–Apr 1 (sow outdoors) | Aug 24–Sep 7 (sowing) |
| Bean, pole | – | Mar 18–Apr 1 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Lima bean | – | Mar 25–Apr 8 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Southern pea (cowpea, black-eyed pea) | – | Apr 1–22 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cucumber | Feb 11–18 | Mar 18–Apr 1 (transplant) Mar 18–Apr 1 (sow outdoors) | Aug 24–Sep 7 (sowing) |
| Summer squash / zucchini | Feb 11–18 | Mar 18–Apr 1 (transplant) Mar 18–Apr 1 (sow outdoors) | Aug 24–Sep 7 (sowing) |
| Winter squash | Feb 11–18 | Mar 18–Apr 1 (transplant) Mar 18–Apr 1 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pumpkin | – | Mar 18–Apr 1 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Watermelon | Feb 11–18 | Mar 25–Apr 8 (transplant) Mar 25–Apr 8 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cantaloupe / muskmelon | Feb 11–18 | Mar 25–Apr 8 (transplant) Mar 25–Apr 8 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Okra | Jan 28–Feb 11 | Mar 25–Apr 8 (transplant) Mar 25–Apr 8 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Celery | Dec 17–31 | Mar 18–25 (transplant) | – |
| Basil | Jan 28–Feb 11 | Mar 18–Apr 1 (transplant) Mar 18–Apr 1 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cilantro | – | Feb 25–Mar 25 (sow outdoors) | Sep 21–Oct 5 (sowing) |
| Parsley | Dec 31–Jan 14 | Feb 25–Mar 11 (transplant) Feb 18–Mar 11 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Dill | – | Mar 11–25 (sow outdoors) | Sep 21–Oct 5 (sowing) |
| Sunflower | – | Mar 11–25 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Asparagus (crowns) | – | Feb 11–25 (transplant) | – |
| Rhubarb (crowns) | – | Feb 11–25 (transplant) | – |
| Strawberry (plants) | – | Feb 11–25 (transplant) | Sep 7–Oct 5 (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 11 here (the average last frost). Not affiliated with the program.
Where these numbers come from
Station: Ruston La Tech, LA (NOAA GHCN-Daily ID USC00168067), elevation 295 ft, 1.4 miles from the ZIP's center point. NOAA completeness flag: R (representative, 10+ years).
Nearby stations
| Station | Distance | Last frost (50%) | First frost (50%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Calhoun Rsch STN, LA | 17 mi | Mar 28 | Nov 5 |
| Bienville 3 NE, LA | 19 mi | Mar 19 | Nov 9 |
| Farmerville, LA | 24 mi | Mar 14 | Nov 16 |
The average last-frost dates of these stations span 17 days, a rough guide to local variation. See data sources & methods.
Frost questions for 71270
When is the last frost in 71270?
The average (50% chance) last spring freeze of 32°F for ZIP 71270 is March 11. For a more cautious planting date, use March 31, when only 1 year in 10 still sees a later freeze.
When is the first frost in 71270?
The average first fall freeze is November 16. In 1 year in 10 it comes by October 31.
What hardiness zone is 71270?
ZIP 71270 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 71270 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
71272 Ruston 71245 Grambling 71275 Simsboro 71227 Choudrant 71268 Quitman 71235 Vienna 71247 Hodge 71001 Arcadia
Other ZIP codes in Lincoln Parish
71227 71235 71245 71272 71275 All Lincoln Parish frost dates · Louisiana frost dates
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- Freeze alerts
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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.