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

Planting zone for 71473 — Sikes, LA

ZIP code 71473 (Sikes, Winn County) is in USDA zone 8b: the coldest winter night averages 15 to 20 °F. The median last spring frost is March 13 and the first fall frost November 10.

Where ZIP 71473 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 13
First frostNov 10
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 Sikes, 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 Sikes, LA

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMarch 13median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsApril 5only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostNovember 10median — 10% chance by Oct 27
Growing season242 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around February 28 and returns around November 23.

From the NOAA station Winnfield 3 N, LA — 15 miles away, elevation 161 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 71473

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Jan 30 – Feb 13
SpinachSow outdoors · Jan 30 – Feb 20
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Jan 2 – Jan 16
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Feb 20 – Mar 6
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Feb 13 – Feb 27
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Feb 20 – Mar 6
LettuceSow outdoors · Feb 13 – Feb 27
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Feb 20 – Mar 6
TomatoesStart indoors · Jan 16 – Jan 30
TomatoesTransplant · Mar 20 – Apr 3
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Jan 2 – Jan 16
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · Mar 27 – Apr 10
BeansSow outdoors · Mar 20 – Apr 3
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Mar 20 – Apr 3
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Mar 20 – Apr 3
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Sep 15 – Sep 29
GarlicPlant cloves · Oct 27 – Dec 1
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Mar 13) and first fall frost (Nov 10) 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 71473 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 Sikes, LA.

Soil in Sikes, LA

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 71473 is Frizzell — silt loam, somewhat poorly drained.

TextureSilt loama good balance for most vegetables
pH5.0strongly acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageSomewhat poorly drainedconsider raised beds
Organic matter1.25%low — add compost
Hydrologic groupCwater soaks in slowly
Farmland classprime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Frizzell-Guyton complex, 0 to 2 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 71473; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Sikes, LA

Summer high93 °Faverage high, July
Winter low36 °Faverage low, January
Hot days89days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights45nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days6,116base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day14 h 15 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day10 h 03 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growShort-daysummer days stay under about 14 h 20 min, so long-day varieties won’t bulb
Precipitation57.7 inper year, rain and melted snow

Average high and low, by month

30°40°50°60°70°80°90°100°32 °FJanuary: average high 57 °F, low 36 °F 57°36° JanFebruary: average high 62 °F, low 38 °F 62°38° FebMarch: average high 71 °F, low 46 °F 71°46° MarApril: average high 78 °F, low 53 °F 78°53° AprMay: average high 85 °F, low 61 °F 85°61° MayJune: average high 90 °F, low 69 °F 90°69° JunJuly: average high 93 °F, low 72 °F 93°72° JulAugust: average high 93 °F, low 71 °F 93°71° AugSeptember: average high 89 °F, low 64 °F 89°64° SepOctober: average high 80 °F, low 53 °F 80°53° OctNovember: average high 68 °F, low 43 °F 68°43° NovDecember: average high 59 °F, low 38 °F 59°38° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″2″4″6″January: 5.44 in precipitation, 0.2 in snowfall 5.4 JanFebruary: 4.50 in precipitation 4.5 FebMarch: 6.09 in precipitation 6.1 MarApril: 6.30 in precipitation 6.3 AprMay: 4.49 in precipitation 4.5 MayJune: 4.21 in precipitation 4.2 JunJuly: 4.50 in precipitation 4.5 JulAugust: 3.44 in precipitation 3.4 AugSeptember: 3.64 in precipitation 3.6 SepOctober: 4.61 in precipitation 4.6 OctNovember: 4.87 in precipitation 4.9 NovDecember: 5.60 in precipitation, 0.1 in snowfall 5.6 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Winnfield 3 N, LA (15 mi away); precipitation: Winnfield 3 N, LA (15 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

All 8 nearest ZIP codes share zone 8b.

712268b
Chatham, LA · 13 mi
714408b
Joyce, LA · 13 mi
714228b
Dodson, LA · 13 mi
714798b
Tullos, LA · 15 mi
714808b
Urania, LA · 16 mi
714358b
Grayson, LA · 17 mi
714158b
Clarks, LA · 17 mi
712518b
Jonesboro, LA · 18 mi

Louisiana planting zones →

Questions about 71473

What planting zone is ZIP code 71473?

ZIP code 71473 (Sikes, 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 Sikes, LA?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 71473 is March 13; after April 5 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Winnfield 3 N station.

When is the first frost in Sikes, LA?

The median first fall frost near 71473 is November 10, giving a median frost-free growing season of 242 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 71473?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Jan 16 – Jan 30 and set transplants outside around Mar 20 – Apr 3, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 71473 get?

About 57.7 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Winnfield 3 N station).

How hot do summers get in Sikes, LA?

The average high peaks at 93 °F in July, with about 89 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 71473 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Frizzell at the center of ZIP 71473: silt loam, somewhat poorly drained, pH about 5.0 (strongly acidic).

Did spring come early in Sikes, LA in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 71473 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 Sikes, LA?

Short-day onions: the longest day near 71473 is 14 h 15 min, so summer days stay under about 14 h 20 min, so long-day varieties won’t bulb.