When to plant pumpkins in Louisiana

Pumpkins
Sow outdoors in New Orleans
Feb 15–Mar 1

Across Louisiana the window opens between February 15 and March 25. Find your city below; the dates follow each town's own average last frost.

Sow outdoors, New Orleans
Feb 15–Mar 1
Last sowing for a harvest
Aug 24
Last frost, New Orleans
Jan 22

Sow outdoors 2–4 weeks after the last frost. For Halloween pumpkins, count back the variety's days to maturity from late September.

Pumpkins planting dates by city

Start indoorsPlant outSow outdoorsFall plantingAverage last and first frost
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
New OrleansFeb 15–Mar 1
Baton RougeMar 14–Mar 28
ShreveportMar 23–Apr 6
MetairieFeb 15–Mar 1
LafayetteMar 12–Mar 26
Lake CharlesFeb 28–Mar 14
St. GeorgeMar 14–Mar 28
KennerFeb 15–Mar 1
Bossier CityMar 14–Mar 28
MonroeMar 22–Apr 5
AlexandriaMar 13–Mar 27
PrairievilleFeb 23–Mar 9
MarreroFeb 15–Mar 1
HoumaFeb 19–Mar 5
CentralMar 11–Mar 25
LaplaceFeb 23–Mar 9
SlidellMar 10–Mar 24
New IberiaFeb 24–Mar 10
TerrytownFeb 15–Mar 1
HammondMar 22–Apr 5
ChalmetteFeb 24–Mar 10
RustonMar 25–Apr 8
Bayou CaneFeb 19–Mar 5
HarveyFeb 15–Mar 1
ZacharyMar 11–Mar 25
SulphurFeb 28–Mar 14

Questions

When should I plant pumpkins in Louisiana?

In New Orleans, sow outdoors from February 15 to March 1. Across Louisiana the window opens between February 15 and March 25, depending on the local last frost.

How is this date worked out?

Sow outdoors 2–4 weeks after the last frost. Frost dates are NOAA 1991–2020 averages for the weather station nearest each city.

More for Louisiana

Pumpkins in other states

Frost dates for every city in Louisiana