Data: 2023 USDA zones (PRISM/OSU) · NOAA 1991–2020 normals · updated

Planting zone for Abbeville, LA

Abbeville, LA is in USDA zone 9a across its 2 ZIP codes. The median last spring frost is February 17 and the first fall frost December 5.

Abbeville on the zone map

Outlined: its 1 ZIP code areas · tap the map for the zone at any spot · scroll or pinch to zoom

Not the official USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map. Zones come from the 2023 USDA hardiness-zone data by the PRISM Group, Oregon State University; we re-mapped and recolored them. The official map is at planthardiness.ars.usda.gov.

Zone9a20 to 25 °F
ZIP codes2
Last frostFeb 17
First frostDec 5
Growing season298 days

9a 2 ZIPs

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

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Forecast data: National Weather Service (api.weather.gov), public domain. This is not a warning service — for official frost and freeze warnings see weather.gov.

Frost dates in Abbeville, LA

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostFebruary 17median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMarch 13only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostDecember 5median — 10% chance by Nov 13
Growing season298 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around January 29 and returns around December 25.

From the NOAA station Leland Bowman Lock, LA, elevation 39 ft. NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, 32 °F threshold. Low spots and valleys can freeze later in spring than the station.

When to plant vegetables in Abbeville

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Jan 6 – Jan 20
SpinachSow outdoors · Jan 6 – Jan 27
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Dec 9 – Dec 23
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Jan 27 – Feb 10
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Jan 20 – Feb 3
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Jan 27 – Feb 10
LettuceSow outdoors · Jan 20 – Feb 3
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Jan 27 – Feb 10
TomatoesStart indoors · Dec 23 – Jan 6
TomatoesTransplant · Feb 24 – Mar 10
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Dec 9 – Dec 23
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · Mar 3 – Mar 17
BeansSow outdoors · Feb 24 – Mar 10
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Feb 24 – Mar 10
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Feb 24 – Mar 10
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Oct 10 – Oct 24
GarlicPlant cloves · Nov 21 – Dec 26
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Feb 17) and first fall frost (Dec 5) with the rules of thumb U.S. extension services publish. Cool-season crops take a light frost; warm-season crops do best once the soil is above about 60 °F.

When spring arrived in 2026

In 2026, spring leaf-out near 70511 came on Jan 11 — 14 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Jan 25).

JanFebMarAprMayJun

The Spring Index marks the day when accumulated warmth is enough for lilac and honeysuckle to leaf out — a widely used signal that the growing season has started. Source: USA National Phenology Network, www.usanpn.org — Spring Indices, first leaf, 2026 (data as of 2026-09-08) and 30-year average 1991–2020 (CC BY 4.0).

Native plants for zone 9a in Louisiana

517 plants native to the lower 48 states, recorded in Louisiana, and rated by the USDA to survive 20 °F or colder — the bottom of zone 9a. Each links to its USDA PLANTS profile.

Trees 69

American basswood100 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −46 °FAmerican beech80 ft · blooms mid spring · low shade tolerance · to −44 °FAmerican chestnut115 ft · blooms early summer · high shade tolerance · to −33 °FAmerican elm120 ft · blooms early spring · medium shade tolerance · to −46 °FAmerican sycamore100 ft · blooms spring · medium shade tolerance · to −34 °Fbald cypress130 ft · blooms mid spring · medium shade tolerance · to −18 °F

Shrubs 108

aloe yucca15 ft · blooms early summer · medium shade tolerance · to −1 °FAmerican beautyberry6 ft · blooms early summer · medium shade tolerance · to −8 °FAmerican hazelnut10 ft · blooms spring · medium shade tolerance · to −33 °FAmerican holly40 ft · blooms mid spring · low shade tolerance · to −20 °FAmerican hornbeam30 ft · blooms mid spring · low shade tolerance · to −34 °FAmerican plum24 ft · blooms mid spring · high shade tolerance · to −38 °F

Wildflowers & perennials 168

American bur-reed3 ft · blooms indeterminate · medium shade tolerance · to −33 °FAmerican century plant6 ft · blooms indeterminate · high shade tolerance · to 12 °FAmerican eelgrass1 ft · blooms mid summer · high shade tolerance · to −33 °FAmerican lotus3 ft · blooms mid summer · high shade tolerance · to −36 °FAmerican pokeweed7 ft · blooms mid summer · low shade tolerance · to −33 °FAmerican spongeplant0.5 ft · blooms mid spring · high shade tolerance · to −24 °F

Grasses 150

American cupscale3 ft · blooms early summer · high shade tolerance · to −18 °Fautumn bluegrass1.5 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −8 °Fawlfruit sedge4 ft · blooms mid spring · low shade tolerance · to −38 °Fbeaked spikerush3 ft · blooms late spring · high shade tolerance · to −28 °Fbig bluestem6 ft · blooms summer · high shade tolerance · to −46 °Fbig cordgrass8 ft · blooms spring · high shade tolerance · to −3 °F

Vines 14

American bittersweet15 ft · blooms spring · low shade tolerance · to −38 °FAmerican wisteria50 ft · blooms spring · low shade tolerance · to −3 °Fcatbird grape30 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −13 °Fcupseed30 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −3 °Fdevil's darning needles15 ft · blooms mid summer · medium shade tolerance · to −38 °Ffrost grape83 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −23 °F

Source: USDA, NRCS. 2026. The PLANTS Database (plants.usda.gov), National Plant Data Team — state distribution, native status and the “Temperature, Minimum” characteristic. Check light, moisture and soil needs before buying; local nurseries and your state native plant society can confirm what thrives in Abbeville, LA.

Soil in Abbeville, LA

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 70511 is Coteau — silt loam, somewhat poorly drained.

TextureSilt loama good balance for most vegetables
pH5.5moderately acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageSomewhat poorly drainedconsider raised beds
Organic matter2.25%moderate
Hydrologic groupCwater soaks in slowly
Farmland classprime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Coteau silt loam, 0 to 1 percent slopes.

Soil Survey Staff, Natural Resources Conservation Service, USDA. Soil Survey Geographic (SSURGO) Database, via Soil Data Access, accessed 2026-10-29. The soil at the center point of ZIP 70511; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Abbeville, LA

Summer high90 °Faverage high, July
Winter low41 °Faverage low, January
Hot days73days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights10nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days6,576base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day14 h 04 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day10 h 13 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growShort-daysummer days stay under about 14 h 20 min, so long-day varieties won’t bulb
Precipitation65.3 inper year, rain and melted snow

Average high and low, by month

30°40°50°60°70°80°90°100°32 °FJanuary: average high 60 °F, low 41 °F 60°41° JanFebruary: average high 63 °F, low 45 °F 63°45° FebMarch: average high 69 °F, low 51 °F 69°51° MarApril: average high 75 °F, low 58 °F 75°58° AprMay: average high 82 °F, low 66 °F 82°66° MayJune: average high 88 °F, low 72 °F 88°72° JunJuly: average high 90 °F, low 73 °F 90°73° JulAugust: average high 90 °F, low 73 °F 90°73° AugSeptember: average high 87 °F, low 69 °F 87°69° SepOctober: average high 80 °F, low 59 °F 80°59° OctNovember: average high 69 °F, low 49 °F 69°49° NovDecember: average high 62 °F, low 43 °F 62°43° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″2″4″6″8″January: 5.76 in precipitation 5.8 JanFebruary: 4.14 in precipitation 4.1 FebMarch: 3.97 in precipitation 4.0 MarApril: 5.08 in precipitation 5.1 AprMay: 4.83 in precipitation 4.8 MayJune: 7.38 in precipitation 7.4 JunJuly: 7.09 in precipitation 7.1 JulAugust: 7.24 in precipitation 7.2 AugSeptember: 5.66 in precipitation 5.7 SepOctober: 5.11 in precipitation 5.1 OctNovember: 4.55 in precipitation 4.5 NovDecember: 4.45 in precipitation 4.5 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Leland Bowman Lock, LA (14 mi away); precipitation: Abbeville, LA (within 1 mile). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

ZIP codes in Abbeville

705109a
20 to 25 °F
705119a
20 to 25 °F

Louisiana planting zones →

Questions about Abbeville

What planting zone is Abbeville, LA?

Abbeville, LA is in USDA hardiness zone 9a on the 2023 map (9a: 20 to 25 °F).

When is the last frost in Abbeville, LA?

The median last spring frost is February 17 and the median first fall frost is December 5 (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Leland Bowman Lock station).

When can I plant a garden in Abbeville, LA?

Cool-season crops like peas and spinach go in around Jan 6 – Jan 27; tomatoes, peppers, beans and squash after about Feb 24, once frost risk has passed.

What kind of onions grow in Abbeville, LA?

Short-day onions: the longest day is 14 h 04 min, so summer days stay under about 14 h 20 min, so long-day varieties won’t bulb.

How much rain and snow does Abbeville, LA get?

About 65.3 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals).