Fall in zone 9aPhoto: George Chernilevsky, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Frost dates for ZIP 71359 (Pineville, 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, Alexandria, LA (2 miles away).
- Average last spring frostFeb 2750% chance of a 32°F freeze after this date
- Average first fall frostNov 2750% chance of a 32°F freeze by this date
- Growing season (frost-free)274 daysmedian, 32°F threshold
- USDA hardiness zone9a20 to 25°F avg. coldest night
Get The Dial for 71359 (Pineville)
Frost and freeze alerts from the NWS forecast for 71359, the spring soil-temperature heads-up for pre-emergent, and a short weekly yard-timing email.
- Freeze alerts
- Soil-temp heads-up
- Weekly yard to-dos
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.
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 71359 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 Apr 14 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 transplant Oct 2–23
- Spinach: fall sowing Oct 2–23
- Arugula: fall sowing Oct 2–30
- Radish: fall sowing Oct 16–30
- Garlic: fall sowing Oct 16–Nov 13
- Shallot: fall sowing Oct 16–Nov 13
Prune now
No frost-timed pruning windows are open this week.
Your average first frost is Nov 27: 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 31 |
| 50% (the "average" last frost) | Feb 27 |
| 10% (cautious: only 1 year in 10 freezes later) | Mar 18 |
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 7 |
| 50% (the "average" first frost) | Nov 27 |
| 90% (late: most years have frozen by now) | Dec 19 |
Light frost, freeze and hard freeze
| Threshold | Last spring (50%) | First fall (50%) |
|---|---|---|
| 36°F (light frost possible on clear, calm nights) | Mar 12 | Nov 14 |
| 32°F (freeze) | Feb 27 | Nov 27 |
| 28°F (hard freeze) | Feb 8 | Dec 13 |
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 71359
Dates count from your average last spring frost (Feb 27) and first fall frost (Nov 27). 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 2–16 | Mar 6–20 (transplant) | Jul 31–Aug 28 (transplant) |
| Pepper (sweet and hot) | Dec 19–Jan 2 | Mar 13–27 (transplant) | Aug 7–28 (transplant) |
| Eggplant | Dec 19–Jan 2 | Mar 13–27 (transplant) | Aug 7–28 (transplant) |
| Tomatillo | Jan 2–16 | Mar 6–20 (transplant) | – |
| Lettuce | Jan 2–16 | Feb 6–27 (transplant) Jan 30–Mar 13 (sow outdoors) | Oct 2–23 (transplant) Sep 18–Oct 16 (sowing) |
| Spinach | – | Jan 16–Feb 6 (sow outdoors) | Oct 2–23 (sowing) |
| Kale | Jan 2–16 | Jan 30–Feb 13 (transplant) Jan 30–Feb 13 (sow outdoors) | Sep 4–Oct 2 (transplant) Aug 21–Sep 18 (sowing) |
| Collards | Jan 2–16 | Jan 30–Feb 27 (transplant) Jan 30–Feb 27 (sow outdoors) | Sep 4–Oct 2 (transplant) Aug 21–Sep 18 (sowing) |
| Broccoli | Dec 19–Jan 2 | Jan 30–Feb 13 (transplant) | Aug 21–Sep 18 (transplant) |
| Cabbage | Dec 19–Jan 2 | Jan 30–Feb 13 (transplant) | Aug 21–Sep 18 (transplant) |
| Cauliflower | Dec 19–Jan 2 | Feb 13–27 (transplant) | Aug 21–Sep 18 (transplant) |
| Brussels sprouts | Dec 5–19 | Jan 30–Feb 13 (transplant) | Aug 7–28 (transplant) |
| Kohlrabi | Jan 2–16 | Jan 30–Feb 13 (transplant) Jan 30–Feb 13 (sow outdoors) | Sep 18–Oct 2 (sowing) |
| Bok choy / Asian greens | – | Jan 30–Feb 13 (sow outdoors) | Oct 2–16 (sowing) |
| Arugula | – | Jan 30–Feb 27 (sow outdoors) | Oct 2–30 (sowing) |
| Mustard greens | – | Jan 30–Feb 20 (sow outdoors) | Oct 2–16 (sowing) |
| Swiss chard | Jan 16–30 | Feb 13–Mar 6 (transplant) Feb 13–Mar 13 (sow outdoors) | Sep 18–Oct 2 (sowing) |
| Beet | – | Jan 30–Feb 27 (sow outdoors) | Sep 18–Oct 2 (sowing) |
| Carrot | – | Feb 6–Mar 6 (sow outdoors) | Sep 4–18 (sowing) |
| Radish | – | Jan 23–Mar 6 (sow outdoors) | Oct 16–30 (sowing) |
| Turnip | – | Jan 30–Feb 20 (sow outdoors) | Sep 18–Oct 2 (sowing) |
| Parsnip | – | Feb 6–27 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pea (garden, snap, snow) | – | Jan 2–30 (sow outdoors) | Sep 4–18 (sowing) |
| Onion (bulbing) | Dec 5–19 | Jan 16–30 (transplant) | – |
| Green onion / scallion | – | Jan 16–Feb 13 (sow outdoors) | Sep 18–Oct 2 (sowing) |
| Leek | Dec 5–19 | Jan 30–Feb 13 (transplant) | – |
| Garlic | – | – | Oct 16–Nov 13 (sowing) |
| Shallot | – | Jan 16–30 (transplant) | Oct 16–Nov 13 (sowing) |
| Potato | – | Jan 30–Feb 13 (transplant) | Aug 7–21 (transplant) |
| Sweet potato | – | Mar 20–Apr 3 (transplant) | – |
| Sweet corn | – | Mar 6–20 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, bush (snap) | – | Mar 6–20 (sow outdoors) | Sep 4–18 (sowing) |
| Bean, pole | – | Mar 6–20 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Lima bean | – | Mar 13–27 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Southern pea (cowpea, black-eyed pea) | – | Mar 20–Apr 10 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cucumber | Jan 30–Feb 6 | Mar 6–20 (transplant) Mar 6–20 (sow outdoors) | Sep 4–18 (sowing) |
| Summer squash / zucchini | Jan 30–Feb 6 | Mar 6–20 (transplant) Mar 6–20 (sow outdoors) | Sep 4–18 (sowing) |
| Winter squash | Jan 30–Feb 6 | Mar 6–20 (transplant) Mar 6–20 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pumpkin | – | Mar 6–20 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Watermelon | Jan 30–Feb 6 | Mar 13–27 (transplant) Mar 13–27 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cantaloupe / muskmelon | Jan 30–Feb 6 | Mar 13–27 (transplant) Mar 13–27 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Okra | Jan 16–30 | Mar 13–27 (transplant) Mar 13–27 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Celery | Dec 5–19 | Mar 6–13 (transplant) | – |
| Basil | Jan 16–30 | Mar 6–20 (transplant) Mar 6–20 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cilantro | – | Feb 13–Mar 13 (sow outdoors) | Oct 2–16 (sowing) |
| Parsley | Dec 19–Jan 2 | Feb 13–27 (transplant) Feb 6–27 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Dill | – | Feb 27–Mar 13 (sow outdoors) | Oct 2–16 (sowing) |
| Sunflower | – | Feb 27–Mar 13 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Asparagus (crowns) | – | Jan 30–Feb 13 (transplant) | – |
| Rhubarb (crowns) | – | Jan 30–Feb 13 (transplant) | – |
| Strawberry (plants) | – | Jan 30–Feb 13 (transplant) | Sep 18–Oct 16 (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 27 here (the average last frost). Not affiliated with the program.
Where these numbers come from
Station: Alexandria, LA (NOAA GHCN-Daily ID USC00160098), elevation 87 ft, 2.1 miles from the ZIP's center point. NOAA completeness flag: S (standard, 24+ years).
Nearby stations
| Station | Distance | Last frost (50%) | First frost (50%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alexandria 5 SSE, LA | 5 mi | Mar 3 | Nov 22 |
| Alexandria Intl AP, LA | 8 mi | Mar 2 | Nov 17 |
| Alexandria Esler Rgnl AP, LA | 9 mi | Mar 16 | Nov 8 |
The average last-frost dates of these stations span 20 days, a rough guide to local variation. See data sources & methods.
Frost questions for 71359
When is the last frost in 71359?
The average (50% chance) last spring freeze of 32°F for ZIP 71359 is February 27. For a more cautious planting date, use March 18, when only 1 year in 10 still sees a later freeze.
When is the first frost in 71359?
The average first fall freeze is November 27. In 1 year in 10 it comes by November 7.
What hardiness zone is 71359?
ZIP 71359 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 71359 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
71301 Alexandria 71360 Pineville 71405 Ball 71303 Alexandria 71302 Alexandria 71485 Woodworth 71323 Center Point 71407 Pollock
Other ZIP codes in Rapides Parish
71301 71302 71303 71325 71328 71330 71346 71360 71405 71409 71424 71427 71430 71433 71447 71466 71472 71485 All Rapides Parish frost dates · Louisiana frost dates
Never miss a frost: get The Dial
Weekly yard timing, plus frost and soil-temperature alerts for your ZIP code.
- Freeze alerts
- Soil-temp heads-up
- Weekly yard to-dos
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.