Shreveport, LA Frost Dates
Average frost dates, USDA hardiness zone, and growing season length for Shreveport, Louisiana.
Gardening in Shreveport
Northwest Louisiana's climate bridges the Deep South and East Texas — Shreveport gardens experience both Southern humidity and prairie exposure. The Red River bottomland is fertile and productive.
Your 247-day growing season is generous. Shreveport's location in the ark-la-tex region means weather patterns from three states converge here. The Red River provides rich alluvial soil, and the long growing season supports two robust planting windows.
Shreveport's food traditions draw from Cajun, soul food, and East Texas barbecue cultures — and the gardens that supply them grow the peppers, okra, and greens that make all three possible.
What This Means for Shreveport Gardeners
The average last spring frost in Shreveport is around March 10, and the average first fall frost arrives around November 12. That gives you approximately 247 frost-free days to work with.
That's a generous season. You have time for full-size tomatoes, long-season peppers, and even watermelons without the anxiety of racing the frost. Start warm-season seeds indoors 6-8 weeks before your last frost to hit the ground running. Fall planting is your second opportunity — garlic, kale, lettuce, and broccoli all go in 8-10 weeks before your first frost for harvest into late autumn.
These dates are based on NOAA 30-year Climate Normal data for the Shreveport area. Your actual frost dates could shift 2-3 weeks in either direction in any given year. Learn more about our data sources.
What to Grow in Shreveport
Shreveport's 247-day growing season is generous — long enough for two full growing windows (spring and fall) with warm-season crops between them. You can grow the full range of vegetables, herbs, and flowers with proper timing. Focus on heat-tolerant varieties for midsummer and cool-season crops for extended fall harvests. Recommended starting points: tomatoes, peppers, beans, cucumbers, squash, garlic, kale, and sunflowers.
See the full Louisiana planting guide for all 40 plants: Louisiana Planting Calendar. Or enter your zip code for exact planting dates personalized to Shreveport.
More About Zone 8A
Shreveport is in USDA Hardiness Zone 8A, which means average annual extreme minimum temperatures between 10°F to 15°F. View the full Zone 8A planting guide.
See the complete planting calendar for Louisiana: Louisiana Planting Calendar.
Other Cities in Louisiana
Frequently Asked Questions
These dates are based on NOAA's 30-year Climate Normal data for the Shreveport area. They represent historical averages, not predictions. In any given year, the actual last frost could be 2-3 weeks earlier or later. Microclimates within Shreveport (urban heat islands, hilltops, low-lying valleys) can also shift your local frost dates by a week or more.
Cool-season crops go in 3-4 weeks before your last frost (March 10). Warm-season crops wait until 2 weeks after. You have time for a fall round too — plant cool-season crops again in late summer for harvest into autumn. Enter your zip code for exact dates.