DeRidder, LA planting zone & frost dates
DeRidder is in USDA hardiness zone 9a. The last spring frost usually comes around March 1 and the first fall frost around November 25, for a growing season of about 269 days.
Planting calendar for DeRidder
Dates are counted from the average last spring frost (March 1) using the typical timing recommended by U.S. extension services. Warm-season crops go out only after the danger of frost has passed and the soil has warmed.
| Crop | When |
|---|---|
| Tomatoes | Start seeds indoors: Jan 4 – Jan 18 Transplant outdoors: Mar 8 – Mar 15 |
| Peppers | Start seeds indoors: Dec 21 – Jan 4 Transplant outdoors: Mar 15 – Mar 22 |
| Eggplant | Start seeds indoors: Dec 21 – Jan 4 Transplant outdoors: Mar 15 – Mar 22 |
| Broccoli | Start seeds indoors: Dec 21 – Jan 4 Transplant outdoors: Feb 1 – Feb 15 |
| Cabbage | Start seeds indoors: Dec 21 – Jan 4 Transplant outdoors: Feb 1 – Feb 15 |
| Onions (sets) | Plant outdoors: Feb 1 – Feb 15 |
| Peas | Sow outdoors: Jan 18 – Feb 1 |
| Spinach | Sow outdoors: Jan 18 – Feb 1 |
| Lettuce | Sow outdoors: Feb 1 – Feb 15 |
| Carrots | Sow outdoors: Feb 1 – Feb 15 |
| Potatoes | Plant outdoors: Feb 1 – Feb 15 |
| Beans | Sow outdoors: Mar 8 – Mar 15 |
| Sweet corn | Sow outdoors: Mar 8 – Mar 15 |
| Cucumbers | Sow outdoors: Mar 8 – Mar 15 |
| Squash & zucchini | Sow outdoors: Mar 8 – Mar 15 |
| Basil | Start seeds indoors: Jan 18 – Feb 1 Transplant outdoors: Mar 8 – Mar 15 |
Fall garden: cool-season crops like lettuce, spinach and kale can be sown again around Sep 30 (8 weeks before the average first fall frost on Nov 25).
Useful for zone 9a gardens
- Seed starting kit with dome — to start seeds indoors before the last frost
- LED grow light for seedlings — stops leggy seedlings
- Frost cloth / plant covers — for late spring and early fall frosts
- Soil thermometer — warm-season crops need soil above 60°F
- Shade cloth — for hot summers
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Frost risk in detail
| 90% chance | 50% chance | 10% chance | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Last 32°F frost in spring is after | Feb 2 | Mar 1 | Mar 25 |
| First 32°F frost in fall is before | Dec 13 | Nov 25 | Nov 8 |
How to read it: in spring there is a 10% chance of a frost after March 25, so that is a safe date for tender plants. In fall there is a 10% chance of frost before November 8. A hard freeze (28°F) usually ends around February 12.
Hardiness zone by ZIP code in DeRidder
- 70634 zone 9a
Nearby cities
- Moss Bluff zone 9a, last frost Mar 2
- Sulphur zone 9a, last frost Mar 2
- Lake Charles zone 9a, last frost Feb 14
- Jennings zone 9a, last frost Feb 19
- Natchitoches zone 9a, last frost Feb 28
- Eunice zone 9a, last frost Feb 26
- Alexandria zone 9a, last frost Feb 27
- Pineville zone 9a, last frost Feb 27
Questions
What growing zone is DeRidder, LA?
DeRidder is in USDA Plant Hardiness Zone 9a (average extreme winter low 20°F to 25°F), according to the USDA 2023 map.
When is the last frost in DeRidder?
The average last spring frost (32°F) in DeRidder is March 1. There is still a 10% chance of frost until March 25.
When can I plant tomatoes in DeRidder?
Transplant tomatoes outdoors 1–2 weeks after the average last frost: around Mar 8 – Mar 15. Start seeds indoors 6–8 weeks before the last frost.
Frost dates: NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station De Ridder, LA (USC00162367), 0.4 km (0.2 mi) from the city center, elevation 58 m, based on 24 years of records. Hardiness zone: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map 2023 for the ZIP code nearest to the city center. Microclimates (valleys, hills, cities, coasts) can be warmer or colder: check the local forecast before planting. How we calculate the data.