When to plant tomatoes 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). Tomato needs 60–85 days to mature, which fits comfortably within Louisiana's growing season.
When to plant tomatoes in Louisiana: the short answer
For a spring planting, plant out Mar 5 – Mar 22, with seeds started indoors Jan 8 – Jan 22. Wait until the soil is at least 50°F and frost is over.
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 tomatoes in Louisiana, step by step
- Start seeds indoors (Jan 8 – Jan 22). Sow seeds ¼ inch deep in seed-starting mix under bright light. They take 5-10 days to sprout, fastest in soil around 80°F. Harden seedlings off for a week before they go outside.
- 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 5.5 and 7.5. Dig in compost before planting.
- Plant out (Mar 5 – Mar 22). Space plants about 24 inches apart in rows 36 inches apart. It is killed by frost, so nothing goes outside until the danger has passed.
- 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: tomato hornworm, aphids, whitefly, flea beetle. Diseases and disorders: early blight, late blight, septoria leaf spot, fusarium wilt, blossom-end rot (calcium disorder).
- Harvest (from about May 11 – Jun 5). Tomato takes 60-85 days to reach harvest. Days to maturity counted from transplant. Bury 2/3 of the stem at transplanting for extra roots. Determinate types suit containers and one big harvest; indeterminate types need staking and produce until frost.
Figures come from our crop data; dates use Louisiana’s average frost dates. More in the full tomato growing guide.
Tomato 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 tomato dates shift with them.
When to plant tomatoes in nearby states
| State | Last frost | Plant out |
|---|---|---|
| Louisiana (this page) | March 5 | Mar 5 – Mar 22 |
| Alabama | March 25 | Mar 25 – Apr 11 |
| Mississippi | March 20 | Mar 20 – Apr 6 |
| Florida | February 12 | Feb 12 – Mar 1 |
| Arkansas | April 3 | Apr 3 – Apr 20 |
Questions gardeners in Louisiana ask
When is the best time to plant tomatoes in Louisiana?
Plant tomato transplants outdoors in Louisiana between March 5 and March 22. That timing is set by Louisiana's average last spring frost of March 5.
When should I start tomato seeds indoors in Louisiana?
Start seeds indoors between January 8 and January 22, about 7 weeks before the last frost, so the seedlings are ready to plant out from March 5.
What is the latest I can plant tomatoes in Louisiana?
About September 16. Tomatoes need at least 60 days to mature after transplanting, and frost around November 15 ends the season, so later plantings risk being cut short.
When will tomatoes planted in Louisiana be ready to harvest?
Planted on time, tomatoes are usually ready from about May 11 to June 5, 60-85 days after transplanting.
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.