When to Sow Autumn Spinach in Louisiana
In Louisiana, the safest window for sowing autumn spinach falls roughly between early October and mid-November, once soil temperatures drop back below 80…
Gardening in Louisiana
Everything we have worked out for Louisiana: what to plant and when, which varieties finish in time, the pests that actually turn up here, and the jobs that pay off month by month. We also cover the rest of the property, from lawns and soil to home care and energy, because a garden rarely stops at the vegetable bed.
The numbers first, because everything else follows from them. Measured at the weather station in New Orleans, the last spring freeze runs January 18 to February 8 and the first fall freeze runs December 17 to January 8, USDA zones 8a-10a, 7,275 growing degree days in the year.
Heat, not frost, is what shortens the season here: above 86 °F tomato pollen goes sterile, so growers run a spring crop and an autumn one rather than a single long season. Garlic is the awkward one: only 0 weeks below 40 °F, where it needs six to split into cloves. Chill the cloves before planting, or grow a softneck type.
Elsewhere on the property in Louisiana: the pests that turn up here.
Figures from NOAA's 1991-2020 climate normals. A state is not one climate: elevation, a large lake or the coast can move these dates by two weeks either way, so check your own county with the extension service before you spend money.
Will Spinach Bolt Early in Louisiana?
Yes, spinach bolts early almost everywhere in Louisiana, and here it’s heat that does most of the damage, not just long days.
Will Louisiana Soil Hold an Asparagus Bed for Fifteen Years?
Yes, in most cases, and the reason has nothing to do with fertility. Asparagus doesn’t ask for rich ground or a particular pH here, it asks for drainage…
When to Plant Asparagus Crowns in Louisiana
Plant asparagus crowns in Louisiana around the tail end of the last frost window, roughly mid-February through early March, once the soil has warmed…
Growing Sweet Corn in Louisiana: Will It Ripen?
Yes, sweet corn ripens in Louisiana, but the calendar that decides it looks nothing like a Northern planting guide.
Growing Asparagus in Louisiana: Fifteen Years in One Spot
Louisiana’s asparagus answer starts with soil, not enthusiasm. A bed you plant this spring will still be producing spears when today’s seedlings are old…
When to Sow Pumpkins in Louisiana
The short version: sow pumpkin seeds directly in the garden once soil tests 65°F in spring, or time a summer sowing so the last flowers open before…
Will Pumpkins Ripen Before Frost in Louisiana?
Yes, in most years, but the reason has little to do with an early cold snap. Louisiana’s first fall freeze doesn’t typically arrive until sometime…
When to Sow Parsnips in Louisiana
Sow parsnip seed directly in the ground in Louisiana between mid-August and early September for a winter harvest, or 2 to 3 weeks before the last frost…
Will Parsnips Sweeten in Louisiana?
Louisiana can grow a full-sized parsnip almost every year, but sweetening it is a separate question entirely.