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

Planting zone for 71270 — Ruston, LA

ZIP code 71270 (Ruston, Lincoln County) is in USDA zone 8b: the coldest winter night averages 15 to 20 °F. The median last spring frost is March 11 and the first fall frost November 16.

Where ZIP 71270 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 11
First frostNov 16
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 Ruston, 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 Ruston, LA

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMarch 11median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMarch 31only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostNovember 16median — 10% chance by Oct 31
Growing season248 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around February 24 and returns around December 1.

From the NOAA station Ruston La Tech, LA — within 1 mile, elevation 295 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 71270

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Jan 28 – Feb 11
SpinachSow outdoors · Jan 28 – Feb 18
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Dec 31 – Jan 14
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Feb 18 – Mar 4
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Feb 11 – Feb 25
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Feb 18 – Mar 4
LettuceSow outdoors · Feb 11 – Feb 25
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Feb 18 – Mar 4
TomatoesStart indoors · Jan 14 – Jan 28
TomatoesTransplant · Mar 18 – Apr 1
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Dec 31 – Jan 14
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · Mar 25 – Apr 8
BeansSow outdoors · Mar 18 – Apr 1
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Mar 18 – Apr 1
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Mar 18 – Apr 1
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Sep 21 – Oct 5
GarlicPlant cloves · Nov 2 – Dec 7
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Mar 11) and first fall frost (Nov 16) 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 71270 came on Jan 31 — 4 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Feb 4).

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 Ruston, LA.

Soil in Ruston, LA

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 71270 is Bowie — fine sandy loam, well drained.

TextureFine sandy loamdrains and warms fast; dries out and needs more feeding
pH5.5moderately acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter0.75%low — add compost
Hydrologic groupBwater soaks in moderately
Farmland classprime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Bowie fine sandy loam, 1 to 5 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 71270; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Ruston, LA

Summer high93 °Faverage high, August
Winter low35 °Faverage low, January
Hot days85days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights46nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days5,991base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day14 h 17 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day10 h 01 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growShort-daysummer days stay under about 14 h 20 min, so long-day varieties won’t bulb
Precipitation55.6 inper year, rain and melted snow

Average high and low, by month

20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°100°32 °FJanuary: average high 57 °F, low 35 °F 57°35° JanFebruary: average high 61 °F, low 39 °F 61°39° FebMarch: average high 69 °F, low 45 °F 69°45° MarApril: average high 76 °F, low 52 °F 76°52° AprMay: average high 83 °F, low 61 °F 83°61° MayJune: average high 89 °F, low 69 °F 89°69° JunJuly: average high 92 °F, low 72 °F 92°72° JulAugust: average high 93 °F, low 71 °F 93°71° AugSeptember: average high 88 °F, low 65 °F 88°65° SepOctober: average high 78 °F, low 53 °F 78°53° OctNovember: average high 68 °F, low 44 °F 68°44° NovDecember: average high 58 °F, low 38 °F 58°38° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″1″2″3″4″5″6″January: 5.55 in precipitation, 0.2 in snowfall 5.5 JanFebruary: 5.24 in precipitation, 0.2 in snowfall 5.2 FebMarch: 5.38 in precipitation 5.4 MarApril: 5.51 in precipitation 5.5 AprMay: 4.35 in precipitation 4.3 MayJune: 3.85 in precipitation 3.9 JunJuly: 3.61 in precipitation 3.6 JulAugust: 3.81 in precipitation 3.8 AugSeptember: 3.80 in precipitation 3.8 SepOctober: 4.79 in precipitation 4.8 OctNovember: 4.27 in precipitation 4.3 NovDecember: 5.45 in precipitation 5.5 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Ruston La Tech, LA (within 1 mile); precipitation: Ruston La Tech, LA (within 1 mile). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

All 8 nearest ZIP codes share zone 8b.

712728b
Ruston, LA · 3 mi
712458b
Grambling, LA · 5 mi
712738b
Ruston, LA · 8 mi
712758b
Simsboro, LA · 10 mi
712278b
Choudrant, LA · 10 mi
712688b
Quitman, LA · 11 mi
712358b
Dubach, LA · 14 mi
712478b
Hodge, LA · 16 mi

All 3 ZIP codes in Ruston → · Louisiana planting zones →

Questions about 71270

What planting zone is ZIP code 71270?

ZIP code 71270 (Ruston, 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 Ruston, LA?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 71270 is March 11; after March 31 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Ruston La Tech station.

When is the first frost in Ruston, LA?

The median first fall frost near 71270 is November 16, giving a median frost-free growing season of 248 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 71270?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Jan 14 – Jan 28 and set transplants outside around Mar 18 – Apr 1, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 71270 get?

About 55.6 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Ruston La Tech station).

How hot do summers get in Ruston, LA?

The average high peaks at 93 °F in August, with about 85 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 71270 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Bowie at the center of ZIP 71270: fine sandy loam, well drained, pH about 5.5 (moderately acidic).

Did spring come early in Ruston, LA in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 71270 came on Jan 31 in 2026, 4 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Feb 4), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Ruston, LA?

Short-day onions: the longest day near 71270 is 14 h 17 min, so summer days stay under about 14 h 20 min, so long-day varieties won’t bulb.

Did the zone for 71270 change?

Yes. The 2012 USDA map put 71270 in zone 8a; the 2023 map puts it in zone 8b. The newer map uses 1991–2020 data and more weather stations.