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

Planting zone for 71018 — Cotton Valley, LA

ZIP code 71018 (Cotton Valley, Webster County) is in USDA zone 8b: the coldest winter night averages 15 to 20 °F. The median last spring frost is March 14 and the first fall frost November 14.

Where ZIP 71018 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.

Zone8b15 to 20 °F
Coldest night−9.4 to −6.7 °C
Last frostMar 14
First frostNov 14
2012 zone8a

Was 8a 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 8b means →

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Cotton Valley, 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 Cotton Valley, LA

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMarch 14median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsApril 1only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostNovember 14median — 10% chance by Oct 31
Growing season246 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around February 28 and returns around November 29.

From the NOAA station Benton 5e, LA — 16 miles away, elevation 200 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 71018

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Jan 31 – Feb 14
SpinachSow outdoors · Jan 31 – Feb 21
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Jan 3 – Jan 17
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Feb 21 – Mar 7
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Feb 14 – Feb 28
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Feb 21 – Mar 7
LettuceSow outdoors · Feb 14 – Feb 28
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Feb 21 – Mar 7
TomatoesStart indoors · Jan 17 – Jan 31
TomatoesTransplant · Mar 21 – Apr 4
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Jan 3 – Jan 17
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · Mar 28 – Apr 11
BeansSow outdoors · Mar 21 – Apr 4
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Mar 21 – Apr 4
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Mar 21 – Apr 4
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Sep 19 – Oct 3
GarlicPlant cloves · Oct 31 – Dec 5
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Mar 14) and first fall frost (Nov 14) 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 71018 came on Feb 8 — 3 days later than the 1991–2020 average (Feb 5).

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 8b in Louisiana

503 plants native to the lower 48 states, recorded in Louisiana, and rated by the USDA to survive 15 °F or colder — the bottom of zone 8b. Each links to its USDA PLANTS profile.

Trees 68

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 105

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 165

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 145

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 Cotton Valley, LA.

Soil in Cotton Valley, LA

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 71018 is Gore — silt loam, moderately well drained.

TextureSilt loama good balance for most vegetables
pH5.3strongly acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageModerately well drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter2.25%moderate
Hydrologic groupDwater soaks in very slowly
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Gore silt loam, 1 to 5 percent slopes, moist.

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 71018; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Cotton Valley, LA

Summer high93 °Faverage high, August
Winter low34 °Faverage low, January
Hot days86days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights42nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days5,922base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day14 h 19 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 59 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growIntermediateday-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully
Precipitation54.4 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall1 inper year; 1 days with snow on the ground

Average high and low, by month

20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°100°32 °FJanuary: average high 55 °F, low 34 °F 55°34° JanFebruary: average high 60 °F, low 38 °F 60°38° FebMarch: average high 68 °F, low 45 °F 68°45° MarApril: average high 75 °F, low 53 °F 75°53° AprMay: average high 82 °F, low 62 °F 82°62° MayJune: average high 89 °F, low 70 °F 89°70° JunJuly: average high 92 °F, low 73 °F 92°73° JulAugust: average high 93 °F, low 72 °F 93°72° AugSeptember: average high 88 °F, low 65 °F 88°65° SepOctober: average high 77 °F, low 53 °F 77°53° OctNovember: average high 65 °F, low 44 °F 65°44° NovDecember: average high 57 °F, low 36 °F 57°36° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″1″2″3″4″5″6″January: 4.49 in precipitation, 0.5 in snowfall 4.5❄1 JanFebruary: 5.56 in precipitation, 0.2 in snowfall 5.6 FebMarch: 5.43 in precipitation 5.4 MarApril: 4.77 in precipitation 4.8 AprMay: 4.78 in precipitation 4.8 MayJune: 4.30 in precipitation 4.3 JunJuly: 3.48 in precipitation 3.5 JulAugust: 2.78 in precipitation 2.8 AugSeptember: 3.99 in precipitation 4.0 SepOctober: 4.99 in precipitation 5.0 OctNovember: 4.27 in precipitation 4.3 NovDecember: 5.52 in precipitation 5.5 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Benton 5e, LA (16 mi away); precipitation: Cotton Valley 5 Nnw, LA (5 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

All 8 nearest ZIP codes share zone 8b.

710718b
Sarepta, LA · 7 mi
710218b
Cullen, LA · 10 mi
710728b
Shongaloo, LA · 11 mi
710758b
Springhill, LA · 12 mi
710558b
Minden, LA · 13 mi
710068b
Benton, LA · 14 mi
710678b
Princeton, LA · 15 mi
710648b
Plain Dealing, LA · 16 mi

Louisiana planting zones →

Questions about 71018

What planting zone is ZIP code 71018?

ZIP code 71018 (Cotton Valley, LA) is in USDA hardiness zone 8b on the 2023 map: the coldest night of an average winter reaches 15 to 20 °F (−9.4 to −6.7 °C).

When is the last frost in Cotton Valley, LA?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 71018 is March 14; after April 1 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Benton 5e station.

When is the first frost in Cotton Valley, LA?

The median first fall frost near 71018 is November 14, giving a median frost-free growing season of 246 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 71018?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Jan 17 – Jan 31 and set transplants outside around Mar 21 – Apr 4, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 71018 get?

About 54.4 inches of precipitation a year and 1 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Cotton Valley 5 Nnw station).

How hot do summers get in Cotton Valley, LA?

The average high peaks at 93 °F in August, with about 86 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 71018 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Gore at the center of ZIP 71018: silt loam, moderately well drained, pH about 5.3 (strongly acidic).

Did spring come early in Cotton Valley, LA in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 71018 came on Feb 8 in 2026, 3 days later than the 1991–2020 average (Feb 5), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Cotton Valley, LA?

Intermediate onions: the longest day near 71018 is 14 h 19 min, so day-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully.

Did the zone for 71018 change?

Yes. The 2012 USDA map put 71018 in zone 8a; the 2023 map puts it in zone 8b. The newer map uses 1991–2020 data and more weather stations.