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

Planting zone for 70822 — Baton Rouge, LA

ZIP code 70822 (Baton Rouge, East Baton Rouge Parish) is in USDA zone 9a: the coldest winter night averages 20 to 25 °F. The median last spring frost is February 25 and the first fall frost November 26.

Where ZIP 70822 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 25
First frostNov 26
2012 zone8b

Was 8b 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 9a means →

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Baton Rouge, 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 Baton Rouge, LA

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostFebruary 25median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMarch 19only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostNovember 26median — 10% chance by Nov 7
Growing season276 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around February 6 and returns around December 11.

From the NOAA station Baton Rouge Ryan Airport, LA — 4 miles away, elevation 66 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 70822

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Jan 14 – Jan 28
SpinachSow outdoors · Jan 14 – Feb 4
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Dec 17 – Dec 31
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Feb 4 – Feb 18
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Jan 28 – Feb 11
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Feb 4 – Feb 18
LettuceSow outdoors · Jan 28 – Feb 11
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Feb 4 – Feb 18
TomatoesStart indoors · Dec 31 – Jan 14
TomatoesTransplant · Mar 4 – Mar 18
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Dec 17 – Dec 31
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · Mar 11 – Mar 25
BeansSow outdoors · Mar 4 – Mar 18
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Mar 4 – Mar 18
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Mar 4 – Mar 18
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Oct 1 – Oct 15
GarlicPlant cloves · Nov 12 – Dec 17
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Feb 25) and first fall frost (Nov 26) 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 70822 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 Baton Rouge, LA.

Soil in Baton Rouge, LA

The center of ZIP 70822 is mapped as Water: built-over ground without natural soil data. Garden soil here is usually imported or disturbed — test before you plant.

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 70822; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Baton Rouge, LA

Summer high92 °Faverage high, July
Winter low42 °Faverage low, January
Hot days96days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights18nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days6,997base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day14 h 07 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day10 h 10 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 62 °F, low 42 °F 62°42° JanFebruary: average high 67 °F, low 45 °F 67°45° FebMarch: average high 73 °F, low 51 °F 73°51° MarApril: average high 79 °F, low 57 °F 79°57° AprMay: average high 86 °F, low 65 °F 86°65° MayJune: average high 91 °F, low 72 °F 91°72° JunJuly: average high 92 °F, low 74 °F 92°74° JulAugust: average high 92 °F, low 73 °F 92°73° AugSeptember: average high 89 °F, low 69 °F 89°69° SepOctober: average high 81 °F, low 58 °F 81°58° OctNovember: average high 71 °F, low 48 °F 71°48° NovDecember: average high 64 °F, low 43 °F 64°43° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″2″4″6″8″January: 6.12 in precipitation 6.1 JanFebruary: 4.86 in precipitation 4.9 FebMarch: 5.11 in precipitation 5.1 MarApril: 5.23 in precipitation 5.2 AprMay: 5.83 in precipitation 5.8 MayJune: 6.58 in precipitation 6.6 JunJuly: 5.99 in precipitation 6.0 JulAugust: 7.03 in precipitation 7.0 AugSeptember: 4.33 in precipitation 4.3 SepOctober: 4.67 in precipitation 4.7 OctNovember: 4.12 in precipitation 4.1 NovDecember: 5.65 in precipitation 5.7 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Baton Rouge Ryan Airport, LA (4 mi away); precipitation: Brownfields 4.0 E, LA (3 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

All 8 nearest ZIP codes share zone 9a.

707049a
Baker, LA · <1 mi
708239a
Baton Rouge, LA · <1 mi
708269a
Baton Rouge, LA · <1 mi
708319a
Baton Rouge, LA · <1 mi
708339a
Baton Rouge, LA · <1 mi
708359a
Baton Rouge, LA · <1 mi
708379a
Baton Rouge, LA · <1 mi
708799a
Baton Rouge, LA · <1 mi

All 41 ZIP codes in Baton Rouge → · Louisiana planting zones →

Questions about 70822

What planting zone is ZIP code 70822?

ZIP code 70822 (Baton Rouge, 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 Baton Rouge, LA?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 70822 is February 25; after March 19 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Baton Rouge Ryan Airport station.

When is the first frost in Baton Rouge, LA?

The median first fall frost near 70822 is November 26, giving a median frost-free growing season of 276 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 70822?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Dec 31 – Jan 14 and set transplants outside around Mar 4 – Mar 18, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 70822 get?

About 65.5 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Brownfields 4.0 E station).

How hot do summers get in Baton Rouge, LA?

The average high peaks at 92 °F in July, with about 96 days a year at 90 °F or more.

Did spring come early in Baton Rouge, LA in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 70822 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 Baton Rouge, LA?

Short-day onions: the longest day near 70822 is 14 h 07 min, so summer days stay under about 14 h 20 min, so long-day varieties won’t bulb.

Did the zone for 70822 change?

Yes. The 2012 USDA map put 70822 in zone 8b; the 2023 map puts it in zone 9a. The newer map uses 1991–2020 data and more weather stations.