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

Planting zone for 70544 — Jeanerette, LA

ZIP code 70544 (Jeanerette, Iberia County) is in USDA zone 9b: the coldest winter night averages 25 to 30 °F. The median last spring frost is February 15 and the first fall frost December 3.

Where ZIP 70544 is

Outlined: the ZIP code area · 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.

Zone9b25 to 30 °F
Coldest night−3.9 to −1.1 °C
Last frostFeb 15
First frostDec 3
2012 zone9a

Was 9a on the 2012 map — half a zone warmer now. The zone is the one at the center of the ZIP code; hilly ZIPs can span two zones. What zone 9b means →

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Jeanerette, 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 Jeanerette, LA

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostFebruary 15median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMarch 13only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostDecember 3median — 10% chance by Nov 11
Growing season294 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around January 29 and returns around December 24.

From the NOAA station Jeanerette 5 Nw, LA — 5 miles away, 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 70544

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Jan 4 – Jan 18
SpinachSow outdoors · Jan 4 – Jan 25
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Dec 7 – Dec 21
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Jan 25 – Feb 8
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Jan 18 – Feb 1
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Jan 25 – Feb 8
LettuceSow outdoors · Jan 18 – Feb 1
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Jan 25 – Feb 8
TomatoesStart indoors · Dec 21 – Jan 4
TomatoesTransplant · Feb 22 – Mar 8
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Dec 7 – Dec 21
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · Mar 1 – Mar 15
BeansSow outdoors · Feb 22 – Mar 8
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Feb 22 – Mar 8
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Feb 22 – Mar 8
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Oct 8 – Oct 22
GarlicPlant cloves · Nov 19 – Dec 24
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Feb 15) and first fall frost (Dec 3) 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 70544 came on Jan 11 — 13 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Jan 24).

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 9b in Louisiana

519 plants native to the lower 48 states, recorded in Louisiana, and rated by the USDA to survive 25 °F or colder — the bottom of zone 9b. 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 170

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 Jeanerette, LA.

Soil in Jeanerette, LA

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 70544 is Baldwin — silty clay loam, poorly drained.

TextureSilty clay loamholds water and nutrients; slow to drain and warm up
pH5.7moderately acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainagePoorly drainedconsider raised beds
Organic matter2.25%moderate
Hydrologic groupDwater soaks in very slowly
Farmland classprime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Baldwin silty clay 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 70544; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Jeanerette, LA

Summer high90 °Faverage high, July
Winter low42 °Faverage low, January
Hot days66days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights14nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days6,733base 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
Precipitation65.5 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 42 °F 61°42° JanFebruary: average high 65 °F, low 46 °F 65°46° FebMarch: average high 71 °F, low 52 °F 71°52° MarApril: average high 77 °F, low 58 °F 77°58° AprMay: average high 83 °F, low 65 °F 83°65° 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 70 °F, low 49 °F 70°49° NovDecember: average high 63 °F, low 44 °F 63°44° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″2″4″6″8″January: 5.12 in precipitation 5.1 JanFebruary: 4.00 in precipitation 4.0 FebMarch: 3.86 in precipitation 3.9 MarApril: 4.81 in precipitation 4.8 AprMay: 5.06 in precipitation 5.1 MayJune: 7.46 in precipitation 7.5 JunJuly: 7.85 in precipitation 7.8 JulAugust: 7.28 in precipitation 7.3 AugSeptember: 6.56 in precipitation 6.6 SepOctober: 4.61 in precipitation 4.6 OctNovember: 4.10 in precipitation 4.1 NovDecember: 4.74 in precipitation 4.7 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Jeanerette 5 Nw, LA (5 mi away); precipitation: Jeanerette 5 Nw, LA (5 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

3 of the 8 nearest ZIP codes are in a different zone — elevation and distance from water change winter lows quickly.

705149b
Baldwin, LA · 7 mi
705699a
Lydia, LA · 8 mi
705239b
Charenton, LA · 8 mi
705529a
Loreauville, LA · 10 mi
705639a
New Iberia, LA · 10 mi
705629b
New Iberia, LA · 12 mi
705389b
Franklin, LA · 12 mi
705609b
New Iberia, LA · 13 mi

Louisiana planting zones →

Questions about 70544

What planting zone is ZIP code 70544?

ZIP code 70544 (Jeanerette, LA) is in USDA hardiness zone 9b on the 2023 map: the coldest night of an average winter reaches 25 to 30 °F (−3.9 to −1.1 °C).

When is the last frost in Jeanerette, LA?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 70544 is February 15; after March 13 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Jeanerette 5 Nw station.

When is the first frost in Jeanerette, LA?

The median first fall frost near 70544 is December 3, giving a median frost-free growing season of 294 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 70544?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Dec 21 – Jan 4 and set transplants outside around Feb 22 – Mar 8, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 70544 get?

About 65.5 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Jeanerette 5 Nw station).

How hot do summers get in Jeanerette, LA?

The average high peaks at 90 °F in July, with about 66 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 70544 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Baldwin at the center of ZIP 70544: silty clay loam, poorly drained, pH about 5.7 (moderately acidic).

Did spring come early in Jeanerette, LA in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 70544 came on Jan 11 in 2026, 13 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Jan 24), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Jeanerette, LA?

Short-day onions: the longest day near 70544 is 14 h 04 min, so summer days stay under about 14 h 20 min, so long-day varieties won’t bulb.

Did the zone for 70544 change?

Yes. The 2012 USDA map put 70544 in zone 9a; the 2023 map puts it in zone 9b. The newer map uses 1991–2020 data and more weather stations.