When to plant potatoes in Louisiana
Louisiana’s average last spring frost is March 5, and the first fall frost typically arrives around November 15 — about 255 frost-free days (USDA zones 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b). Potato needs 70–120 days to mature, which fits comfortably within Louisiana's growing season.
When to plant potatoes in Louisiana: the short answer
For a spring planting, sow Feb 14 – Mar 5. Seeds germinate in soil from 45 to 80°F.
Windows are ~1–2 week bands around each date. Frost dates are a statewide average from NOAA/NCEI normals; your town may differ by two weeks or more. Calendar year 2026.
How to grow potatoes in Louisiana, step by step
- Prepare the bed. They need at least six to eight hours of direct sun a day and loose soil at least 18 inches deep, with a pH between 4.8 and 6.5. Dig in compost before planting.
- Sow outdoors (Feb 14 – Mar 5). Space plants about 12 inches apart in rows 32 inches apart, sowing seed 4 inches deep. It tolerates a light frost but not a hard freeze. As a cool-season crop it does best before summer heat arrives in Louisiana.
- Water and feed. Give it steady, even moisture, about an inch of water a week from rain or the hose.
- Watch for pests and problems. Pests: Colorado potato beetle, flea beetle, wireworm, aphids. Diseases and disorders: late blight, early blight, common scab, blackleg.
- Harvest (from about Apr 30 – Jun 19). Potato takes 70-120 days to reach harvest. Plant certified seed potatoes, not grocery-store ones. Hill soil or mulch over the stems as they grow to stop greening. New potatoes ~10 weeks in; storage potatoes after the tops die back.
Figures come from our crop data; dates use Louisiana’s average frost dates. More in the full potato growing guide.
Potato planting dates by USDA zone in Louisiana
Louisiana spans USDA zones 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b. Colder zones, usually higher or further inland, have a later last spring frost and an earlier first fall frost than the state average, so the potato dates shift with them.
When to plant potatoes in nearby states
| State | Last frost | Sow |
|---|---|---|
| Louisiana (this page) | March 5 | Feb 14 – Mar 5 |
| Alabama | March 25 | Mar 6 – Mar 25 |
| Mississippi | March 20 | Mar 1 – Mar 20 |
| Florida | February 12 | Jan 24 – Feb 12 |
| Arkansas | April 3 | Mar 15 – Apr 3 |
Questions gardeners in Louisiana ask
When is the best time to plant potatoes in Louisiana?
Sow potatoes in Louisiana between February 14 and March 5. That timing is set by Louisiana's average last spring frost of March 5.
When will potatoes planted in Louisiana be ready to harvest?
Planted on time, potatoes are usually ready from about April 30 to June 19, 70-120 days after sowing.
When is the last frost in Louisiana?
On average around March 5, with the first fall frost around November 15 - about 255 frost-free days. Your town may differ by two weeks or more.