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

Planting zone for Plaquemine, LA

Plaquemine, LA is in USDA zone 9a across its 2 ZIP codes. The median last spring frost is February 28 and the first fall frost November 24.

Plaquemine 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 28
First frostNov 24
Growing season268 days

9a 2 ZIPs

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Plaquemine, LA…

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 Plaquemine, LA

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostFebruary 28median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMarch 21only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostNovember 24median — 10% chance by Nov 6
Growing season268 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around February 8 and returns around December 9.

From the NOAA station Brusly 2 W, LA, elevation 20 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 Plaquemine

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Jan 17 – Jan 31
SpinachSow outdoors · Jan 17 – Feb 7
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Dec 20 – Jan 3
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Feb 7 – Feb 21
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Jan 31 – Feb 14
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Feb 7 – Feb 21
LettuceSow outdoors · Jan 31 – Feb 14
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Feb 7 – Feb 21
TomatoesStart indoors · Jan 3 – Jan 17
TomatoesTransplant · Mar 7 – Mar 21
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Dec 20 – Jan 3
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · Mar 14 – Mar 28
BeansSow outdoors · Mar 7 – Mar 21
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Mar 7 – Mar 21
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Mar 7 – Mar 21
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Sep 29 – Oct 13
GarlicPlant cloves · Nov 10 – Dec 15
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Feb 28) and first fall frost (Nov 24) 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 70765 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 Plaquemine, LA.

Soil in Plaquemine, LA

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 70765 is Commerce — silt loam, somewhat poorly drained.

TextureSilt loama good balance for most vegetables
pH7.3neutral; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageSomewhat poorly drainedconsider raised beds
Organic matter0.95%low — add compost
Hydrologic groupCwater soaks in slowly
Farmland classprime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Commerce 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 70765; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Plaquemine, LA

Summer high91 °Faverage high, July
Winter low40 °Faverage low, January
Hot days88days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights20nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days6,647base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day14 h 06 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day10 h 11 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growShort-daysummer days stay under about 14 h 20 min, so long-day varieties won’t bulb
Precipitation61.4 inper year, rain and melted snow

Average high and low, by month

30°40°50°60°70°80°90°100°32 °FJanuary: average high 61 °F, low 40 °F 61°40° JanFebruary: average high 65 °F, low 44 °F 65°44° FebMarch: average high 71 °F, low 50 °F 71°50° MarApril: average high 78 °F, low 56 °F 78°56° AprMay: average high 84 °F, low 65 °F 84°65° MayJune: average high 89 °F, low 71 °F 89°71° JunJuly: average high 91 °F, low 73 °F 91°73° JulAugust: average high 91 °F, low 72 °F 91°72° AugSeptember: average high 88 °F, low 68 °F 88°68° SepOctober: average high 80 °F, low 57 °F 80°57° OctNovember: average high 70 °F, low 47 °F 70°47° NovDecember: average high 63 °F, low 42 °F 63°42° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″2″4″6″January: 5.80 in precipitation 5.8 JanFebruary: 4.85 in precipitation 4.8 FebMarch: 4.21 in precipitation 4.2 MarApril: 5.19 in precipitation 5.2 AprMay: 5.96 in precipitation 6.0 MayJune: 6.52 in precipitation 6.5 JunJuly: 5.54 in precipitation 5.5 JulAugust: 5.54 in precipitation 5.5 AugSeptember: 4.54 in precipitation 4.5 SepOctober: 4.38 in precipitation 4.4 OctNovember: 4.08 in precipitation 4.1 NovDecember: 4.83 in precipitation 4.8 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Lsu Ben-Hur Farm, LA (7 mi away); precipitation: Plaquemine 2 N, LA (2 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

ZIP codes in Plaquemine

707649a
20 to 25 °F
707659a
20 to 25 °F

Louisiana planting zones →

Questions about Plaquemine

What planting zone is Plaquemine, LA?

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

When is the last frost in Plaquemine, LA?

The median last spring frost is February 28 and the median first fall frost is November 24 (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Brusly 2 W station).

When can I plant a garden in Plaquemine, LA?

Cool-season crops like peas and spinach go in around Jan 17 – Feb 7; tomatoes, peppers, beans and squash after about Mar 7, once frost risk has passed.

What kind of onions grow in Plaquemine, LA?

Short-day onions: the longest day is 14 h 06 min, so summer days stay under about 14 h 20 min, so long-day varieties won’t bulb.

How much rain and snow does Plaquemine, LA get?

About 61.4 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals).