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

Planting zone for 70733 — French Settlement, LA

ZIP code 70733 (French Settlement, Livingston County) is in USDA zone 9a: the coldest winter night averages 20 to 25 °F. The median last spring frost is February 21 and the first fall frost December 5.

Where ZIP 70733 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.

Zone9a20 to 25 °F
Coldest night−6.7 to −3.9 °C
Last frostFeb 21
First frostDec 5
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 French Settlement, 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 French Settlement, LA

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostFebruary 21median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMarch 15only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostDecember 5median — 10% chance by Nov 14
Growing season291 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around February 1 and returns around December 28.

From the NOAA station Donaldsonville 4 Sw, LA — 20 miles away, elevation 30 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 70733

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Jan 10 – Jan 24
SpinachSow outdoors · Jan 10 – Jan 31
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Dec 13 – Dec 27
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Jan 31 – Feb 14
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Jan 24 – Feb 7
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Jan 31 – Feb 14
LettuceSow outdoors · Jan 24 – Feb 7
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Jan 31 – Feb 14
TomatoesStart indoors · Dec 27 – Jan 10
TomatoesTransplant · Feb 28 – Mar 14
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Dec 13 – Dec 27
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · Mar 7 – Mar 21
BeansSow outdoors · Feb 28 – Mar 14
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Feb 28 – Mar 14
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Feb 28 – Mar 14
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 21) 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 70733 came on Jan 11 — 15 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Jan 26).

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 French Settlement, LA.

Soil in French Settlement, LA

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 70733 is Barbary — mucky muck, very poorly drained.

TextureMucky mucktop layer
pH5.7moderately acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageVery poorly drainedconsider raised beds
Organic matter50%high
Hydrologic groupDwater soaks in very slowly
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Barbary muck, 0 to 1 percent slopes, frequently flooded.

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 70733; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in French Settlement, LA

Summer high91 °Faverage high, July
Winter low42 °Faverage low, January
Hot days80days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights16nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days6,896base 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
Precipitation65.7 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 42 °F 62°42° 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 89 °F, low 72 °F 89°72° JunJuly: average high 91 °F, low 74 °F 91°74° JulAugust: average high 91 °F, low 73 °F 91°73° AugSeptember: average high 88 °F, low 69 °F 88°69° SepOctober: average high 80 °F, low 59 °F 80°59° OctNovember: average high 71 °F, low 49 °F 71°49° NovDecember: average high 64 °F, low 44 °F 64°44° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″2″4″6″8″January: 5.86 in precipitation 5.9 JanFebruary: 4.48 in precipitation 4.5 FebMarch: 4.66 in precipitation 4.7 MarApril: 5.13 in precipitation 5.1 AprMay: 5.86 in precipitation 5.9 MayJune: 7.12 in precipitation 7.1 JunJuly: 6.43 in precipitation 6.4 JulAugust: 6.40 in precipitation 6.4 AugSeptember: 5.18 in precipitation 5.2 SepOctober: 4.79 in precipitation 4.8 OctNovember: 4.43 in precipitation 4.4 NovDecember: 5.37 in precipitation 5.4 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Donaldsonville 4 Sw, LA (20 mi away); precipitation: Gonzales, LA (9 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

All 8 nearest ZIP codes share zone 9a.

707279a
Denham Springs, LA · 4 mi
707749a
Saint Amant, LA · 6 mi
707079a
Gonzales, LA · 7 mi
707189a
Brittany, LA · 7 mi
704499a
Maurepas, LA · 8 mi
707699a
Prairieville, LA · 8 mi
707549a
Livingston, LA · 9 mi
707379a
Gonzales, LA · 9 mi

Louisiana planting zones →

Questions about 70733

What planting zone is ZIP code 70733?

ZIP code 70733 (French Settlement, 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 French Settlement, LA?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 70733 is February 21; after March 15 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Donaldsonville 4 Sw station.

When is the first frost in French Settlement, LA?

The median first fall frost near 70733 is December 5, giving a median frost-free growing season of 291 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 70733?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Dec 27 – Jan 10 and set transplants outside around Feb 28 – Mar 14, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 70733 get?

About 65.7 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Gonzales station).

How hot do summers get in French Settlement, LA?

The average high peaks at 91 °F in July, with about 80 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 70733 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Barbary at the center of ZIP 70733: mucky muck, very poorly drained, pH about 5.7 (moderately acidic).

Did spring come early in French Settlement, LA in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 70733 came on Jan 11 in 2026, 15 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Jan 26), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in French Settlement, LA?

Short-day onions: the longest day near 70733 is 14 h 06 min, so summer days stay under about 14 h 20 min, so long-day varieties won’t bulb.