Fall in zone 8bPhoto: George Chernilevsky, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Frost dates for ZIP 71326 (Clayton, 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, Natchez, MS (19 miles away).
- Average last spring frostMar 1650% chance of a 32°F freeze after this date
- Average first fall frostNov 950% chance of a 32°F freeze by this date
- Growing season (frost-free)237 daysmedian, 32°F threshold
- USDA hardiness zone8b15 to 20°F avg. coldest night
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Frost and freeze alerts from the NWS forecast for 71326, the spring soil-temperature heads-up for pre-emergent, and a short weekly yard-timing email.
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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
No soil station with a fresh reading within 62 miles.
4-inch depth
No soil station with a fresh reading within 62 miles.
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 71326 load here. You can also open the NWS forecast for this ZIP.
Pre-emergent
No soil reading near this ZIP. Typical extension timing for your region: spring mid-February to early March; fall 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 May 1 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 9: 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 25 |
| 50% (the "average" last frost) | Mar 16 |
| 10% (cautious: only 1 year in 10 freezes later) | Apr 6 |
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 27 |
| 50% (the "average" first frost) | Nov 9 |
| 90% (late: most years have frozen by now) | Nov 27 |
Light frost, freeze and hard freeze
| Threshold | Last spring (50%) | First fall (50%) |
|---|---|---|
| 36°F (light frost possible on clear, calm nights) | Apr 2 | Oct 31 |
| 32°F (freeze) | Mar 16 | Nov 9 |
| 28°F (hard freeze) | Mar 1 | Nov 22 |
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 71326
Dates count from your average last spring frost (Mar 16) and first fall frost (Nov 9). 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 19–Feb 2 | Mar 23–Apr 6 (transplant) | Jul 13–Aug 10 (transplant) |
| Pepper (sweet and hot) | Jan 5–19 | Mar 30–Apr 13 (transplant) | Jul 20–Aug 10 (transplant) |
| Eggplant | Jan 5–19 | Mar 30–Apr 13 (transplant) | Jul 20–Aug 10 (transplant) |
| Tomatillo | Jan 19–Feb 2 | Mar 23–Apr 6 (transplant) | – |
| Lettuce | Jan 19–Feb 2 | Feb 23–Mar 16 (transplant) Feb 16–Mar 30 (sow outdoors) | Sep 14–Oct 5 (transplant) Aug 31–Sep 28 (sowing) |
| Spinach | – | Feb 2–23 (sow outdoors) | Sep 14–Oct 5 (sowing) |
| Kale | Jan 19–Feb 2 | Feb 16–Mar 2 (transplant) Feb 16–Mar 2 (sow outdoors) | Aug 17–Sep 14 (transplant) Aug 3–31 (sowing) |
| Collards | Jan 19–Feb 2 | Feb 16–Mar 16 (transplant) Feb 16–Mar 16 (sow outdoors) | Aug 17–Sep 14 (transplant) Aug 3–31 (sowing) |
| Broccoli | Jan 5–19 | Feb 16–Mar 2 (transplant) | Aug 3–31 (transplant) |
| Cabbage | Jan 5–19 | Feb 16–Mar 2 (transplant) | Aug 3–31 (transplant) |
| Cauliflower | Jan 5–19 | Mar 2–16 (transplant) | Aug 3–31 (transplant) |
| Brussels sprouts | Dec 22–Jan 5 | Feb 16–Mar 2 (transplant) | Jul 20–Aug 10 (transplant) |
| Kohlrabi | Jan 19–Feb 2 | Feb 16–Mar 2 (transplant) Feb 16–Mar 2 (sow outdoors) | Aug 31–Sep 14 (sowing) |
| Bok choy / Asian greens | – | Feb 16–Mar 2 (sow outdoors) | Sep 14–28 (sowing) |
| Arugula | – | Feb 16–Mar 16 (sow outdoors) | Sep 14–Oct 12 (sowing) |
| Mustard greens | – | Feb 16–Mar 9 (sow outdoors) | Sep 14–28 (sowing) |
| Swiss chard | Feb 2–16 | Mar 2–23 (transplant) Mar 2–30 (sow outdoors) | Aug 31–Sep 14 (sowing) |
| Beet | – | Feb 16–Mar 16 (sow outdoors) | Aug 31–Sep 14 (sowing) |
| Carrot | – | Feb 23–Mar 23 (sow outdoors) | Aug 17–31 (sowing) |
| Radish | – | Feb 9–Mar 23 (sow outdoors) | Sep 28–Oct 12 (sowing) |
| Turnip | – | Feb 16–Mar 9 (sow outdoors) | Aug 31–Sep 14 (sowing) |
| Parsnip | – | Feb 23–Mar 16 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pea (garden, snap, snow) | – | Jan 19–Feb 16 (sow outdoors) | Aug 17–31 (sowing) |
| Onion (bulbing) | Dec 22–Jan 5 | Feb 2–16 (transplant) | – |
| Green onion / scallion | – | Feb 2–Mar 2 (sow outdoors) | Aug 31–Sep 14 (sowing) |
| Leek | Dec 22–Jan 5 | Feb 16–Mar 2 (transplant) | – |
| Garlic | – | – | Sep 28–Oct 26 (sowing) |
| Shallot | – | Feb 2–16 (transplant) | Sep 28–Oct 26 (sowing) |
| Potato | – | Feb 16–Mar 2 (transplant) | Jul 20–Aug 3 (transplant) |
| Sweet potato | – | Apr 6–20 (transplant) | – |
| Sweet corn | – | Mar 23–Apr 6 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, bush (snap) | – | Mar 23–Apr 6 (sow outdoors) | Aug 17–31 (sowing) |
| Bean, pole | – | Mar 23–Apr 6 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Lima bean | – | Mar 30–Apr 13 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Southern pea (cowpea, black-eyed pea) | – | Apr 6–27 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cucumber | Feb 16–23 | Mar 23–Apr 6 (transplant) Mar 23–Apr 6 (sow outdoors) | Aug 17–31 (sowing) |
| Summer squash / zucchini | Feb 16–23 | Mar 23–Apr 6 (transplant) Mar 23–Apr 6 (sow outdoors) | Aug 17–31 (sowing) |
| Winter squash | Feb 16–23 | Mar 23–Apr 6 (transplant) Mar 23–Apr 6 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pumpkin | – | Mar 23–Apr 6 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Watermelon | Feb 16–23 | Mar 30–Apr 13 (transplant) Mar 30–Apr 13 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cantaloupe / muskmelon | Feb 16–23 | Mar 30–Apr 13 (transplant) Mar 30–Apr 13 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Okra | Feb 2–16 | Mar 30–Apr 13 (transplant) Mar 30–Apr 13 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Celery | Dec 22–Jan 5 | Mar 23–30 (transplant) | – |
| Basil | Feb 2–16 | Mar 23–Apr 6 (transplant) Mar 23–Apr 6 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cilantro | – | Mar 2–30 (sow outdoors) | Sep 14–28 (sowing) |
| Parsley | Jan 5–19 | Mar 2–16 (transplant) Feb 23–Mar 16 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Dill | – | Mar 16–30 (sow outdoors) | Sep 14–28 (sowing) |
| Sunflower | – | Mar 16–30 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Asparagus (crowns) | – | Feb 16–Mar 2 (transplant) | – |
| Rhubarb (crowns) | – | Feb 16–Mar 2 (transplant) | – |
| Strawberry (plants) | – | Feb 16–Mar 2 (transplant) | Aug 31–Sep 28 (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 16 here (the average last frost). Not affiliated with the program.
Where these numbers come from
Station: Natchez, MS (NOAA GHCN-Daily ID USC00226177), elevation 195 ft, 19.2 miles from the ZIP's center point. NOAA completeness flag: S (standard, 24+ years).
Nearby stations
| Station | Distance | Last frost (50%) | First frost (50%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Winnsboro 5 SSE, LA | 24 mi | Mar 10 | Nov 16 |
| St Joseph 3 N, LA | 24 mi | Mar 13 | Nov 10 |
| Jonesville Locks, LA | 26 mi | Mar 6 | Nov 22 |
The average last-frost dates of these stations span 10 days, a rough guide to local variation. See data sources & methods.
Frost questions for 71326
When is the last frost in 71326?
The average (50% chance) last spring freeze of 32°F for ZIP 71326 is March 16. For a more cautious planting date, use April 6, when only 1 year in 10 still sees a later freeze.
When is the first frost in 71326?
The average first fall freeze is November 9. In 1 year in 10 it comes by October 27.
What hardiness zone is 71326?
ZIP 71326 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 71326 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
71334 Spokane 71375 Waterproof 71368 Sicily Island 71340 Harrisonburg 71378 Wisner 71336 Gilbert 71243 71366 St. Joseph
Other ZIP codes in Catahoula Parish
71340 71343 71368 71401 71425 All Catahoula Parish frost dates · Louisiana frost dates
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Weekly yard timing, plus frost and soil-temperature alerts for your ZIP code.
- 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.