In the garden now (2 November 2026)
Sow or plant outside
PumpkinsPeasLettuceSpinachKaleCabbageBroccoliCarrotsBeetsRadishesOnionsPotatoesSwiss chardCilantroParsley
Start indoors
No indoor sowing due this week.
Ready to pick
TomatoesPeppersEggplantCucumbersZucchiniPumpkinsWatermelonsSweet cornGreen beansLettuceKaleBeetsRadishesSwiss chardBasil
Coming up in the next 4 weeks
No new outdoor sowings start in the next four weeks.
New Orleans planting calendar
Bars show when each crop can go in and when a planting from that window is ready. Hover or tap a crop for details.
Sow indoorsSow or plant outdoorsHarvestToday
Swipe sideways to see the whole year →
Dates by crop
| Crop | Sow indoors | Sow / plant outdoors | Harvest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomato | Jan 1 – Feb 5, Jun 6 – Jul 11 | Feb 26 – May 18, Aug 1 – Oct 2 plant out | Sep 19 – Jan 7, May 5 – Aug 30 |
| Pepper | Jan 4 – Feb 8 | Mar 15 – Sep 28 plant out | May 17 – Jan 7 |
| Eggplant (aubergine) | Jan 14 – Feb 18 | Mar 25 – Sep 25 plant out | May 27 – Jan 7 |
| Cucumber | Feb 7 – Mar 6 | Mar 7 – Oct 12 sow | Apr 29 – Jan 7 |
| Zucchini (courgette) | Jan 29 – Feb 25 | Feb 26 – Oct 16 sow | Apr 21 – Jan 7 |
| Pumpkin and winter squash | Jan 29 – Feb 25 | Feb 26 – Dec 2 sow | Jan 1 – Dec 31 |
| Watermelon | Feb 25 – Mar 24 | Mar 25 – Sep 17 sow | May 30 – Jan 2 |
| Sweet corn | – | Feb 7 – Sep 26 sow | May 6 – Jan 7 |
| Green beans | – | Feb 26 – May 25, Aug 9 – Oct 12 sow | Sep 17 – Jan 7, Apr 25 – Aug 6 |
| Peas | – | Oct 8 – Feb 21 sow | Nov 29 – May 12 |
| Lettuce | Aug 20 – Sep 17 | Sep 24 – Mar 16 sow | Oct 31 – May 20 |
| Spinach | – | Oct 21 – Mar 10 sow | Nov 27 – May 11 |
| Kale | Aug 4 – Sep 8 | Sep 15 – Apr 15 sow | Oct 29 – Aug 6 |
| Cabbage | Jul 28 – Sep 1 | Sep 15 – Mar 17 plant out | Nov 10 – Jun 8 |
| Broccoli | Aug 6 – Sep 10 | Sep 24 – Mar 24 plant out | Nov 12 – Jun 7 |
| Carrots | – | Sep 15 – May 6 sow | Nov 6 – Aug 21 |
| Beets (beetroot) | – | Sep 15 – May 13 sow | Oct 29 – Aug 6 |
| Radishes | – | Oct 8 – Mar 31 sow | Oct 29 – May 4 |
| Onions | Jul 7 – Aug 11 | Sep 15 – Jun 2 plant out | Dec 3 – Sep 11 |
| Garlic | Garlic needs about six weeks below 10 °C to form bulbs; winters here are too mild for most varieties. | ||
| Potatoes | – | Oct 1 – May 12 sow | Dec 22 – Aug 31 |
| Swiss chard | – | Jul 29 – May 15 sow | Jan 1 – Dec 31 |
| Basil | Feb 1 – Mar 1 | Mar 15 – Oct 30 plant out | Apr 14 – Jan 7 |
| Cilantro (coriander) | – | Oct 8 – Mar 23 sow | Nov 7 – May 19 |
| Parsley | Jul 21 – Aug 25 | Sep 15 – May 3 sow | Nov 10 – Oct 16 |
Dates are for a typical year and the middle of the window is the safest. Sow a little at a time across a window rather than all at once. Cold snaps, heat waves, frost pockets and city warmth all shift the real dates; watch the forecast.
Frost dates in New Orleans
New Orleans sees a frost only in some winters: half of all years have their last frost by January 24 and their first by January 2, so the risky stretch is a few weeks around midwinter. Keep fleece handy for tender plants then.
Source: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, New Orleans Audubon (7 km from the city centre).
Climate at a glance
- Hardiness zone
- 9b from station records
- Average coldest winter night
- -2°C29°F
- Warmest month
- July, highs 34°C92°F
- Coldest month
- January, lows 6°C44°F
- Crops with an outdoor window
- 24 of 25
The zone follows the USDA scheme: bands of the average lowest temperature of the year, 10 °F wide, split into a and b halves. Worked out from the coldest night of each year 1991–2020 at the NOAA station. It tells you which perennials survive winter, not when to sow.
Temperature and rain by month
Average highAverage lowRainFreezing point
| Month | High | Low | Mean | Rain |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 18°C64°F | 6°C44°F | 12°C54°F | 137 mm5.4 in |
| February | 20°C68°F | 8°C47°F | 14°C57°F | 152 mm6.0 in |
| March | 23°C74°F | 12°C53°F | 17°C63°F | 112 mm4.4 in |
| April | 27°C80°F | 15°C59°F | 21°C69°F | 118 mm4.7 in |
| May | 30°C87°F | 19°C67°F | 25°C77°F | 125 mm4.9 in |
| June | 33°C91°F | 22°C72°F | 28°C82°F | 195 mm7.7 in |
| July | 34°C92°F | 24°C74°F | 29°C83°F | 186 mm7.3 in |
| August | 34°C92°F | 24°C75°F | 29°C83°F | 198 mm7.8 in |
| September | 32°C89°F | 22°C71°F | 27°C80°F | 155 mm6.1 in |
| October | 28°C82°F | 16°C62°F | 22°C72°F | 97 mm3.8 in |
| November | 23°C73°F | 11°C52°F | 17°C62°F | 110 mm4.4 in |
| December | 19°C66°F | 8°C46°F | 13°C56°F | 127 mm5.0 in |
Monthly averages 1991–2020 from TerraClimate (about 4 km grid).