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

Planting zone for 70598 — Lafayette, LA

ZIP code 70598 (Lafayette, Lafayette County) is in USDA zone 9a: the coldest winter night averages 20 to 25 °F. The median last spring frost is February 26 and the first fall frost November 28.

Where ZIP 70598 is

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
Coldest night−6.7 to −3.9 °C
Last frostFeb 26
First frostNov 28
2012 zone9a

Same zone as on the 2012 map. The zone is the one at the center of the ZIP code; hilly ZIPs can span two zones. What zone 9a means →

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Lafayette, 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 Lafayette, LA

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostFebruary 26median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMarch 20only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostNovember 28median — 10% chance by Nov 7
Growing season279 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around February 5 and returns around December 14.

From the NOAA station Lafayette, LA — 2 miles away, elevation 26 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 70598

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Jan 15 – Jan 29
SpinachSow outdoors · Jan 15 – Feb 5
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Dec 18 – Jan 1
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Feb 5 – Feb 19
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Jan 29 – Feb 12
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Feb 5 – Feb 19
LettuceSow outdoors · Jan 29 – Feb 12
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Feb 5 – Feb 19
TomatoesStart indoors · Jan 1 – Jan 15
TomatoesTransplant · Mar 5 – Mar 19
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Dec 18 – Jan 1
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · Mar 12 – Mar 26
BeansSow outdoors · Mar 5 – Mar 19
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Mar 5 – Mar 19
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Mar 5 – Mar 19
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Oct 3 – Oct 17
GarlicPlant cloves · Nov 14 – Dec 19
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Feb 26) and first fall frost (Nov 28) 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 70598 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 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 Lafayette, LA.

Soil in Lafayette, LA

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 70598 is Patoutville — 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 groupC/Dslow when drained; wet otherwise
Farmland classprime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Patoutville 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 70598; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Lafayette, LA

Summer high92 °Faverage high, August
Winter low41 °Faverage low, January
Hot days81days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights18nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days6,879base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day14 h 06 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day10 h 12 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growShort-daysummer days stay under about 14 h 20 min, so long-day varieties won’t bulb
Precipitation64.7 inper year, rain and melted snow

Average high and low, by month

30°40°50°60°70°80°90°100°32 °FJanuary: average high 62 °F, low 41 °F 62°41° JanFebruary: average high 66 °F, low 45 °F 66°45° FebMarch: average high 72 °F, low 51 °F 72°51° MarApril: average high 78 °F, low 57 °F 78°57° AprMay: average high 85 °F, low 65 °F 85°65° MayJune: average high 90 °F, low 72 °F 90°72° JunJuly: average high 91 °F, low 73 °F 91°73° JulAugust: average high 92 °F, low 73 °F 92°73° AugSeptember: average high 88 °F, low 69 °F 88°69° SepOctober: average high 81 °F, low 59 °F 81°59° OctNovember: average high 71 °F, low 49 °F 71°49° NovDecember: average high 64 °F, low 43 °F 64°43° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″2″4″6″8″January: 6.09 in precipitation 6.1 JanFebruary: 4.45 in precipitation 4.5 FebMarch: 3.76 in precipitation 3.8 MarApril: 5.50 in precipitation 5.5 AprMay: 4.87 in precipitation 4.9 MayJune: 7.02 in precipitation 7.0 JunJuly: 6.32 in precipitation 6.3 JulAugust: 6.54 in precipitation 6.5 AugSeptember: 5.21 in precipitation 5.2 SepOctober: 5.00 in precipitation 5.0 OctNovember: 4.75 in precipitation 4.8 NovDecember: 5.23 in precipitation 5.2 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Lafayette, LA (2 mi away); precipitation: Lafayette, LA (2 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

All 8 nearest ZIP codes share zone 9a.

705939a
Lafayette, LA · <1 mi
705069a
Lafayette, LA · 1 mi
705039a
Lafayette, LA · 4 mi
705299a
Duson, LA · 4 mi
705839a
Scott, LA · 4 mi
705059a
Lafayette, LA · 5 mi
705029a
Lafayette, LA · 5 mi
705969a
Lafayette, LA · 5 mi

All 11 ZIP codes in Lafayette → · Louisiana planting zones →

Questions about 70598

What planting zone is ZIP code 70598?

ZIP code 70598 (Lafayette, LA) is in USDA hardiness zone 9a on the 2023 map: the coldest night of an average winter reaches 20 to 25 °F (−6.7 to −3.9 °C).

When is the last frost in Lafayette, LA?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 70598 is February 26; after March 20 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Lafayette station.

When is the first frost in Lafayette, LA?

The median first fall frost near 70598 is November 28, giving a median frost-free growing season of 279 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 70598?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Jan 1 – Jan 15 and set transplants outside around Mar 5 – Mar 19, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 70598 get?

About 64.7 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Lafayette station).

How hot do summers get in Lafayette, LA?

The average high peaks at 92 °F in August, with about 81 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 70598 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Patoutville at the center of ZIP 70598: silt loam, somewhat poorly drained, pH about 5.5 (moderately acidic).

Did spring come early in Lafayette, LA in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 70598 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 Lafayette, LA?

Short-day onions: the longest day near 70598 is 14 h 06 min, so summer days stay under about 14 h 20 min, so long-day varieties won’t bulb.