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

Planting zone for 71279 — Start, LA

ZIP code 71279 (Start, Richland County) is in USDA zone 8b: the coldest winter night averages 15 to 20 °F. The median last spring frost is February 28 and the first fall frost November 26.

Where ZIP 71279 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 frostFeb 28
First frostNov 26
2012 zone8b

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 8b means →

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Start, 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 Start, LA

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostFebruary 28median — 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 season271 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around February 9 and returns around December 11.

From the NOAA station Rayville, LA — 6 miles away, elevation 89 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 71279

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Jan 17 – Jan 31
SpinachSow outdoors · Jan 17 – Feb 7
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Dec 20 – Jan 3
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Feb 7 – Feb 21
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Jan 31 – Feb 14
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Feb 7 – Feb 21
LettuceSow outdoors · Jan 31 – Feb 14
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Feb 7 – Feb 21
TomatoesStart indoors · Jan 3 – Jan 17
TomatoesTransplant · Mar 7 – Mar 21
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Dec 20 – Jan 3
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · Mar 14 – Mar 28
BeansSow outdoors · Mar 7 – Mar 21
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Mar 7 – Mar 21
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Mar 7 – Mar 21
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 28) 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 71279 came on Jan 31 — about the same time as the 1991–2020 average (Feb 2).

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 Start, LA.

Soil in Start, LA

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 71279 is Gilbert — silt loam, poorly drained.

TextureSilt loama good balance for most vegetables
pH5.3strongly acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainagePoorly drainedconsider raised beds
Organic matter2.25%moderate
Hydrologic groupDwater soaks in very slowly
Farmland classprime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Gilbert silt loam.

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 71279; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Start, LA

Summer high94 °Faverage high, August
Winter low38 °Faverage low, January
Hot days84days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights35nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days6,548base 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
Precipitation60 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall1 inper year

Average high and low, by month

30°40°50°60°70°80°90°100°32 °FJanuary: average high 57 °F, low 38 °F 57°38° JanFebruary: average high 62 °F, low 41 °F 62°41° FebMarch: average high 70 °F, low 48 °F 70°48° MarApril: average high 78 °F, low 56 °F 78°56° AprMay: average high 84 °F, low 64 °F 84°64° MayJune: average high 90 °F, low 71 °F 90°71° JunJuly: average high 93 °F, low 74 °F 93°74° JulAugust: average high 94 °F, low 74 °F 94°74° AugSeptember: average high 89 °F, low 67 °F 89°67° SepOctober: average high 80 °F, low 56 °F 80°56° OctNovember: average high 68 °F, low 46 °F 68°46° NovDecember: average high 60 °F, low 40 °F 60°40° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″2″4″6″January: 5.54 in precipitation, 0.3 in snowfall 5.5 JanFebruary: 5.11 in precipitation, 0.4 in snowfall 5.1 FebMarch: 5.65 in precipitation 5.7 MarApril: 6.70 in precipitation 6.7 AprMay: 5.25 in precipitation 5.3 MayJune: 4.75 in precipitation 4.8 JunJuly: 4.16 in precipitation 4.2 JulAugust: 3.88 in precipitation 3.9 AugSeptember: 3.82 in precipitation 3.8 SepOctober: 4.63 in precipitation 4.6 OctNovember: 4.73 in precipitation 4.7 NovDecember: 5.78 in precipitation 5.8 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Rayville, LA (6 mi away); precipitation: Rayville, LA (6 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

All 8 nearest ZIP codes share zone 8b.

712698b
Rayville, LA · 5 mi
712648b
Oak Ridge, LA · 9 mi
712188b
Archibald, LA · 10 mi
712298b
Collinston, LA · 10 mi
712038b
Monroe, LA · 11 mi
712128b
Monroe, LA · 13 mi
712028b
Monroe, LA · 13 mi
712178b
Monroe, LA · 13 mi

Louisiana planting zones →

Questions about 71279

What planting zone is ZIP code 71279?

ZIP code 71279 (Start, 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 Start, LA?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 71279 is February 28; after March 19 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Rayville station.

When is the first frost in Start, LA?

The median first fall frost near 71279 is November 26, giving a median frost-free growing season of 271 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 71279?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Jan 3 – Jan 17 and set transplants outside around Mar 7 – Mar 21, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 71279 get?

About 60 inches of precipitation a year and 1 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Rayville station).

How hot do summers get in Start, LA?

The average high peaks at 94 °F in August, with about 84 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 71279 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Gilbert at the center of ZIP 71279: silt loam, poorly drained, pH about 5.3 (strongly acidic).

Did spring come early in Start, LA in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 71279 came on Jan 31 in 2026, about the same as the 1991–2020 average (Feb 2), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Start, LA?

Short-day onions: the longest day near 71279 is 14 h 17 min, so summer days stay under about 14 h 20 min, so long-day varieties won’t bulb.