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Planting Calendar for Natchitoches, LA | Almanac.com
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Planting Calendar for Natchitoches, LA

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The planting calendar below tells you when to plant in the SPRING and also plant in the FALL, based on your zip code or postal code.

Spring Planting Calendar

Our spring planting calendar starts with the very first dates that you can plant (based on the last spring frost). But if you've missed these dates, no worries! This is why we've added "last planting dates" to our spring calendar; this is meant to help new gardeners understand that if they missed the first spring planting window, they could still get crops in the ground.

In fact, many crops with short maturity times (such as radishes) can be succession planted all the way through the summer in northern areas. However, note that some cool-seasons crops such as kale and lettuce do not grow well in hot temperatures, which can cause bolting issues.  For some gardeners, especially in the South, a break to avoid summer heat is needed, but they can start once the heat has passed. 

The dates provided are based on the number of weeks before or after frost, so we can provide a unique calendar to every user in the country. Thus, several crops (especially similar crops) may appear to have the same date. Kale and lettuce, for example, or dates for starting seeds, like broccoli and cabbage. 

Fall Planting Calendar

When we say "fall," we really mean planting in summer in time for a fall harvest. Think of this as a second summer! It's easy to keep the crops going if you've already prepared the soil! 

Many crops that would be started indoors for a spring crop can just be plunked into the soil directly for a fall crop. Not only is the soil already warm but also there are less pests and it tends to be rainier so you don't need to water as often. Some fall vegetables need to be harvested by the first frost, but many are frost-tolerant and even taste better after a kiss of fall frost!

See each plant's individual Growing Guide for more specific planting, plant care, and harvesting information.

Specifically, on the charts, there are different columns labeled as follows:

  1. Start Seeds Indoors: When to sow seeds indoors to get an early start on the season.
  2. Plant Seedlings Outdoors: When to put small seedlings that you grew indoors (OR starter plants that you bought at a garden nursery) in the outdoor soil.
  3. Start Seeds Outdoors: When to plant seeds directly into the outdoor soil.
  4. Last Date to Plant: You may plant any time from the "start seeds" dates until this "last date." Don't wait any longer, or the crop won't have time to get to harvest before fall/winter frosts.

The "Moon Dates" indicate the best planting dates based on Moon phases. You can learn more about this age-old technique below.

When N/A appears in the chart, that starting method is typically not recommended, although it is likely still possible. 

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Planting Dates for Spring

On average, your last spring frost occurs on March 7 (at NATCHITOCHES, LA climate station, elevation 131 feet).
CropFrost Based on Frost Dates
Moon Based on Moon Dates
Start Seeds IndoorsPlant Seedlings
or Transplants
Start Seeds OutdoorsLast Date to Plant
ArugulaFrost Jan 11-25
Moon Jan 11-25
Frost Feb 15-29
Moon Feb 15-24
Frost Feb 8-15
Moon Feb 9-15
Oct 24
AsparagusN/AN/AFrost Feb 22-Mar 7
Moon Feb 25-Mar 7
Mar 7
BasilFrost Jan 25-Feb 8
Moon Jan 25
Frost Mar 21-Apr 4
Moon Mar 21-25
Frost Mar 21-Apr 4
Moon Mar 21-25
Oct 10
BeetsN/AFrost Feb 22-Mar 7
Moon Feb 25-Mar 7
Frost Feb 8-15
Moon Feb 8
Mar 21
Bell PeppersFrost Dec 28-Jan 11
Moon Jan 11
Frost Mar 21-28
Moon Mar 21-25
N/AAug 29
Bok ChoyFrost Jan 25-Feb 8
Moon Jan 25
Frost Mar 21-28
Moon Mar 21-25
Frost Mar 21-28
Moon Mar 21-25
Apr 18
BroccoliFrost Jan 11-25
Moon Jan 11-25
Frost Feb 22-Mar 7
Moon Feb 22-24
Frost Feb 8-15
Moon Feb 9-15
Sep 19
Brussels SproutsFrost Jan 25-Feb 8
Moon Jan 25
Frost Feb 22-Mar 7
Moon Feb 22-24
Frost Feb 8-15
Moon Feb 9-15
Aug 15
CabbageFrost Jan 11-25
Moon Jan 11-25
Frost Feb 22-Mar 7
Moon Feb 22-24
Frost Feb 8-15
Moon Feb 9-15
Aug 8
CantaloupesFrost Feb 15-29
Moon Feb 15-24
Frost Mar 7-21
Moon Mar 10-21
Frost Mar 14-21
Moon Mar 14-21
Aug 15
CarrotsN/AN/AFrost Feb 8-22
Moon Feb 8
Sep 12
CauliflowerFrost Jan 25-Feb 8
Moon Jan 25
Frost Feb 29-Mar 14
Moon Mar 10-14
N/ASep 12
CeleryFrost Dec 14-28
Moon Dec 14-26
Frost Mar 14-28
Moon Mar 14-25
Frost Mar 7
Sep 12
ChivesFrost Jan 11-25
Moon Jan 11-25
Frost Feb 15-22
Moon Feb 15-22
Frost Feb 15-22
Moon Feb 15-22
Sep 26
Cilantro (Coriander)N/AN/AFrost Mar 7-21
Moon Mar 10-21
Mar 28
CollardsFrost Jan 25-Feb 8
Moon Jan 25
Frost Feb 22-Mar 7
Moon Feb 22-24
Frost Feb 15-22
Moon Feb 15-22
Sep 12
CucumbersFrost Feb 15-22
Moon Feb 15-22
Frost Mar 14-28
Moon Mar 14-25
Frost Mar 21-28
Moon Mar 21-25
Sep 12
DillN/AN/AFrost Feb 29-Mar 21
Moon Mar 10-21
Sep 26
Dry BeansN/AN/AFrost Mar 21-28
Moon Mar 21-25
Aug 15
EggplantsFrost Jan 11-25
Moon Jan 11-25
Frost Mar 21-28
Moon Mar 21-25
N/ASep 12
Fava BeansN/AN/AFrost Feb 8-15
Moon Feb 9-15
Mar 21
FennelFrost Jan 25-Feb 8
Moon Jan 25
Frost Mar 14-21
Moon Mar 14-21
Frost Mar 7-21
Moon Mar 10-21
Sep 5
GarlicN/AN/AN/A
Green BeansN/AN/AFrost Mar 14-Apr 4
Moon Mar 14-25
Sep 12
Honeydew MelonsFrost Feb 15-22
Moon Feb 15-22
Frost Mar 21-28
Moon Mar 21-25
Frost Mar 21-28
Moon Mar 21-25
Aug 22
Jalapeño PeppersFrost Dec 28-Jan 11
Moon Jan 11
Frost Mar 21-28
Moon Mar 21-25
N/A
KaleFrost Jan 11-25
Moon Jan 11-25
Frost Feb 22-Mar 7
Moon Feb 22-24
Frost Feb 8-15
Moon Feb 9-15
Mar 21
KohlrabiFrost Jan 25-Feb 8
Moon Jan 25
Frost Feb 15-22
Moon Feb 15-22
Frost Feb 8-15
Moon Feb 9-15
Mar 21
LeeksFrost Dec 28-Jan 11
Moon Jan 11
Frost Feb 15-29
Moon Feb 15-24
N/AAug 8
LettuceFrost Jan 25-Feb 8
Moon Jan 25
Frost Feb 15-22
Moon Feb 15-22
Frost Feb 8-15
Moon Feb 9-15
Mar 21
Mustard GreensN/AN/AN/A
OkraFrost Feb 8-22
Moon Feb 9-22
Frost Mar 21-28
Moon Mar 21-25
Frost Mar 21-Apr 4
Moon Mar 21-25
Sep 12
OnionsN/AFrost Feb 8-22
Moon Feb 8
N/AAug 15
OreganoFrost Dec 28-Jan 25
Moon Jan 11-25
Frost Mar 14-28
Moon Mar 14-25
N/ASep 12
ParsleyFrost Dec 28-Jan 11
Moon Jan 11
Frost Mar 14-28
Moon Mar 14-25
Frost Feb 8-Mar 14
Moon Feb 9-24
Sep 5
ParsnipsN/AN/AFrost Feb 8-15
Moon Feb 8
Aug 15
PeasN/AN/AFrost Feb 8-15
Moon Feb 9-15
Mar 21
PotatoesN/AN/AFrost Feb 8-22
Moon Feb 8
Sep 12
PumpkinsFrost Feb 15-29
Moon Feb 15-24
Frost Mar 21-28
Moon Mar 21-25
Frost Mar 21-28
Moon Mar 21-25
Aug 8
RadishesN/AN/AFrost Feb 8-15
Moon Feb 8
Sep 26
RosemaryFrost Dec 14-28
Moon Dec 14-26
Frost Mar 21-28
Moon Mar 21-25
N/ASep 26
SageFrost Jan 11-25
Moon Jan 11-25
Frost Mar 14-28
Moon Mar 14-25
N/ASep 5
SalsifyN/AN/AFrost Feb 8-22
Moon Feb 8
Aug 15
SpinachFrost Jan 25-Feb 8
Moon Jan 25
Frost Feb 15-22
Moon Feb 15-22
Frost Feb 8-15
Moon Feb 9-15
Mar 21
Sweet CornN/AN/AFrost Mar 21-Apr 4
Moon Mar 21-25
Sep 5
Sweet PotatoesN/AN/AFrost Mar 21-Apr 4
Moon Mar 26-Apr 4
Aug 8
Swiss ChardFrost Jan 25-Feb 8
Moon Jan 25
Frost Feb 22-Mar 7
Moon Feb 22-24
Frost Feb 15-Mar 7
Moon Feb 15-24
Mar 21
ThymeFrost Dec 28-Jan 11
Moon Jan 11
Frost Mar 14-21
Moon Mar 14-21
N/AAug 29
TomatillosFrost Jan 25-Feb 8
Moon Jan 25
Frost Mar 21-Apr 4
Moon Mar 21-25
N/ASep 5
TomatoesFrost Jan 11-25
Moon Jan 11-25
Frost Mar 21-28
Moon Mar 21-25
N/AAug 22
TurnipsN/AN/AFrost Feb 8-15
Moon Feb 8
Oct 24
WatermelonsFrost Feb 15-29
Moon Feb 15-24
Frost Mar 21-28
Moon Mar 21-25
Frost Mar 14-21
Moon Mar 14-21
Aug 22
Winter SquashFrost Feb 15-22
Moon Feb 15-22
Frost Mar 14-28
Moon Mar 14-25
Frost Mar 21-28
Moon Mar 21-25
Aug 1
Zucchini (Summer Squash)Frost Feb 15-22
Moon Feb 15-22
Frost Mar 14-28
Moon Mar 14-25
Frost Mar 21-28
Moon Mar 21-25
Sep 19

Planting Dates for Fall

On average, your first fall frost occurs on November 21 (at NATCHITOCHES, LA climate station).
CropFrost Based on Frost Dates
Moon Based on Moon Dates
Start Seeds OutdoorsTransplantAverage Days to MaturityFrost Tolerance
ArugulaFrost Oct 3-Nov 7
Moon Oct 3-17, Nov 1-7
N/A40Frost-hardy
BeetsFrost Aug 29-Sep 26
Moon Aug 29-Sep 1, Sep 18-26
N/A50Frost-tolerant
Bok ChoyFrost Sep 12-Oct 3
Moon Sep 12-17, Oct 2-3
N/A50Frost-tolerant
BroccoliFrost Aug 22-29
Frost Sep 12-26
Moon Sep 12-17
60Frost-tolerant
Brussels SproutsFrost Aug 1-15
Moon Aug 4-15
N/A100Frost-hardy
CabbageFrost Aug 22-29
Frost Sep 12-19
Moon Sep 12-17
90Frost-tolerant
CarrotsFrost Sep 5-12
N/A70Frost-tolerant
CauliflowerFrost Aug 15-22
Moon Aug 15-19
Frost Aug 29-Sep 5
Moon Sep 2-5
75Frost-tolerant
ChivesFrost Aug 29-Sep 26
Moon Sep 2-17
N/A70Frost-tolerant
FennelFrost Aug 22-Sep 5
Moon Sep 2-5
N/A80Tender
GarlicFrost Dec 5-19
Moon Dec 16-19
N/A120Frost-hardy
Green BeansFrost Sep 5-19
Moon Sep 5-17
N/A55Tender
KaleFrost Sep 12-26
Moon Sep 12-17
N/A60Frost-hardy
KohlrabiFrost Sep 19-Oct 10
Moon Oct 2-10
N/A45Frost-tolerant
LettuceFrost Sep 12-26
Moon Sep 12-17
N/A60Frost-tolerant
Mustard GreensFrost Sep 19-Oct 10
Moon Oct 2-10
N/A45Tender
PeasFrost Sep 12-26
Moon Sep 12-17
N/A55Tender
RadishesFrost Oct 10-24
Moon Oct 18-24
N/A25Frost-tolerant
SpinachFrost Oct 3-24
Moon Oct 3-17
N/A30Frost-hardy
Swiss ChardFrost Sep 12-26
Moon Sep 12-17
N/A60Frost-tolerant
TurnipsFrost Sep 19-Oct 3
Moon Sep 19-Oct 1
N/A50Frost-tolerant
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