When to plant tomatoes in Louisiana

Tomatoes
Plant out in New Orleans
Feb 15–Mar 1

Across Louisiana the window opens between February 15 and March 18. Find your city below; the dates follow each town's own average last frost.

Start indoors, New Orleans
Dec 14–Dec 28
Plant out, New Orleans
Feb 15–Mar 1
Last sowing for a harvest
Sep 28
Last frost, New Orleans
Jan 22

Start seeds indoors 6–8 weeks before the last frost; plant out 1–3 weeks after the last frost. Wait for nights that stay above 50°F. A cold snap after transplanting stalls tomatoes for weeks.

Tomatoes planting dates by city

Start indoorsPlant outSow outdoorsFall plantingAverage last and first frost
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
New OrleansFeb 15–Mar 1
Baton RougeMar 7–Mar 21
ShreveportMar 16–Mar 30
MetairieFeb 15–Mar 1
LafayetteMar 5–Mar 19
Lake CharlesFeb 21–Mar 7
St. GeorgeMar 7–Mar 21
KennerFeb 15–Mar 1
Bossier CityMar 7–Mar 21
MonroeMar 15–Mar 29
AlexandriaMar 6–Mar 20
PrairievilleFeb 16–Mar 2
MarreroFeb 15–Mar 1
HoumaFeb 15–Mar 1
CentralMar 4–Mar 18
LaplaceFeb 16–Mar 2
SlidellMar 3–Mar 17
New IberiaFeb 17–Mar 3
TerrytownFeb 15–Mar 1
HammondMar 15–Mar 29
ChalmetteFeb 17–Mar 3
RustonMar 18–Apr 1
Bayou CaneFeb 15–Mar 1
HarveyFeb 15–Mar 1
ZacharyMar 4–Mar 18
SulphurFeb 21–Mar 7

Questions

When should I plant tomatoes in Louisiana?

In New Orleans, plant out from February 15 to March 1. Across Louisiana the window opens between February 15 and March 18, depending on the local last frost.

How is this date worked out?

Start seeds indoors 6–8 weeks before the last frost; plant out 1–3 weeks after the last frost. Frost dates are NOAA 1991–2020 averages for the weather station nearest each city.

More for Louisiana

Tomatoes in other states

Frost dates for every city in Louisiana