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New Orleans, Louisiana · vegetable planting calendar
What to plant now in New Orleans
This month's sowing list for New Orleans, what is ready to pick, when to plant the favourites, the planting year at a glance and the local frost dates.
October
33 vegetables to sow or plant now
28 of them are at their best time to start. New Orleans gets a few frosts most winters, rarely after about February 20.
Quick, easy wins this month: radish, arugula, bok choy, cilantro, scallions and Swiss chard.
Sow or plant in New Orleans in October
Start seeds indoors
- Broccoli
- Brussels sprouts
- Cabbage
- Cauliflower
- Celeriac
- Chives
- Kale
- Leek
- Onion
- Parsley
- Zucchini
Direct sow
- Arugula
- Beets
- Bok choy
- Carrot
- Chives
- Cilantro
- Dill
- Kale
- Lettuce
- Parsley
- Parsnip
- Peas
- Radish
- Rutabaga
- Scallions
- Swiss chard
- Turnip
- Bush beans
- Zucchini Late
Transplant
- Broccoli
- Brussels sprouts
- Cabbage
- Cauliflower
- Celeriac
- Celery
- Chives
- Garlic
- Kale
- Leek
- Onion
- Parsley
- Potato
- Strawberry
- Basil
- Cucumber
- Sweet corn
- Zucchini Late
Names with a dashed outline can be started now, but it is not their best time. Late ones give only a short harvest.
Last month to start: basil, bush beans, cucumber, potato, sweet corn and zucchini.
Ready to pick in October
- Arugula
- Basil
- Beets
- Bell pepper
- Bok choy
- Bush beans
- Cantaloupe
- Chives
- Cucumber
- Dill
- Eggplant
- Hot pepper
- Kale
- Okra
- Parsley
- Pole beans
- Radish
- Scallions
- Sweet corn
- Sweet potato
- Swiss chard
- Tomato
- Watermelon
- Winter squash
- Zucchini
Coming up in November
- Fava beans
- Spinach
When to plant the favourites in New Orleans
Tomatoes
Start seeds indoors: January to March and June to August.
Transplant: March to April and August to September.
Best time to start: March to April and August.
Pick: May to December.
First pick about 16 weeks after starting.
Potatoes
Plant: January to March and October.
Best time to start: January to March and October.
Pick: April to June and December to January.
First pick about 10 weeks after starting.
Garlic
Plant: October to December.
Best time to start: October to December.
Pick: April to July.
First pick about 24 weeks after starting.
Lettuce
Direct sow: October to March.
Best time to start: October to March.
Pick: November to May.
First pick about 7 weeks after starting.
Carrots
Direct sow: September to March.
Best time to start: September to March.
Pick: November to May.
First pick about 9 weeks after starting.
Bush beans
Direct sow: March to April and August to October.
Best time to start: March to April and August to September.
Pick: May to July and September to December.
First pick about 7 weeks after starting.
Onions
Start seeds indoors: August to January.
Transplant: October to March.
Best time to start: October to March.
Pick: January to June.
First pick about 22 weeks after starting.
Strawberries
Plant: October to March.
Best time to start: October to March.
Pick: February to September.
First pick about 17 weeks after starting.
Winter squash
Start seeds indoors: February to August.
Direct sow: March to August.
Transplant: March to September.
Best time to start: March to August.
Pick: May to December.
First pick about 12 weeks after starting.
Zucchini
Start seeds indoors: February to October.
Direct sow: March to October.
Transplant: March to October.
Best time to start: March to September.
Pick: April to December.
First pick about 6 weeks after starting.
The planting year in New Orleans
- Start seeds indoors
- Direct sow
- Transplant
- Pick
- Paler: possible, but not the best time
| Vegetable | O | N | D | J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | First pick |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arugula | S | S | S | S | S | S | about 4 weeks | ||||||
| Basil | P | T | T | S | S | S | S | S | S | S | about 6 weeks | ||
| Beets | S | S | S | S | S | S | S | S | about 7 weeks | ||||
| Bell pepper | T | T | P | P | P | P | P | P | P | about 15 weeks | |||
| Bok choy | S | S | S | S | S | S | S | S | S | S | S | S | about 4 weeks |
| Broccoli | P | P | P | P | P | P | T | P | about 13 weeks | ||||
| Brussels sprouts | P | P | T | P | about 22 weeks | ||||||||
| Bush beans | S | S | S | S | S | about 7 weeks | |||||||
| Cabbage | P | P | P | P | P | P | T | P | about 14 weeks | ||||
| Cantaloupe | T | S | S | S | S | S | S | P | about 8 weeks | ||||
| Carrot | S | S | S | S | S | S | S | about 9 weeks | |||||
| Cauliflower | P | P | P | P | T | P | about 16 weeks | ||||||
| Celeriac | P | P | P | P | P | T | T | about 25 weeks | |||||
| Celery | P | T | T | P | P | P | T | T | about 20 weeks | ||||
| Chives | S | S | S | S | S | S | S | P | T | P | about 9 weeks | ||
| Cilantro | S | S | S | S | S | S | about 6 weeks | ||||||
| Cucumber | P | T | S | S | S | S | S | S | S | about 5 weeks | |||
| Dill | S | S | S | S | S | S | S | about 6 weeks | |||||
| Eggplant | T | T | P | P | P | P | P | P | about 16 weeks | ||||
| Fava beans | S | S | about 13 weeks | ||||||||||
| Garlic | P | P | P | about 24 weeks | |||||||||
| Hot pepper | T | T | P | P | P | P | P | P | about 17 weeks | ||||
| Kale | S | S | S | S | S | S | P | T | S | about 7 weeks | |||
| Leek | P | P | P | P | P | P | T | T | about 20 weeks | ||||
| Lettuce | S | S | S | S | S | S | about 7 weeks | ||||||
| Okra | S | S | S | S | S | S | about 6 weeks | ||||||
| Onion | P | P | P | P | P | P | T | T | about 22 weeks | ||||
| Parsley | S | S | S | S | S | S | S | T | S | about 9 weeks | |||
| Parsnip | S | S | S | S | about 16 weeks | ||||||||
| Peas | S | S | S | S | S | S | about 9 weeks | ||||||
| Pole beans | S | S | S | S | about 8 weeks | ||||||||
| Potato | P | P | P | P | about 10 weeks | ||||||||
| Radish | S | S | S | S | S | S | S | S | about 3 weeks | ||||
| Runner beans | S | about 10 weeks | |||||||||||
| Rutabaga | S | S | S | S | about 13 weeks | ||||||||
| Scallions | S | S | S | S | S | S | S | S | S | S | about 6 weeks | ||
| Spinach | S | S | S | S | about 6 weeks | ||||||||
| Strawberry | P | P | P | P | P | P | about 17 weeks | ||||||
| Sweet corn | P | T | S | S | S | S | S | S | S | about 8 weeks | |||
| Sweet potato | P | P | P | P | P | P | about 10 weeks | ||||||
| Swiss chard | S | S | S | S | S | S | S | S | about 6 weeks | ||||
| Tomato | T | T | P | P | T | T | P | P | about 16 weeks | ||||
| Turnip | S | S | S | S | S | S | about 7 weeks | ||||||
| Watermelon | P | S | S | S | S | S | about 9 weeks | ||||||
| Winter squash | T | S | S | S | S | S | S | P | about 12 weeks | ||||
| Zucchini | S | T | S | S | S | S | S | S | S | about 6 weeks |
The chart starts at October. "First pick" is the usual time from starting to the first harvest.
New Orleans season by season
Spring March to May
Time to start: bush beans, okra, pole beans, sweet potato and watermelon.
Last chance for: arugula, beets, broccoli, bush beans, cabbage, carrot, celery, chives, cilantro, dill, kale, leek, lettuce, onion, parsley, peas, pole beans, potato, radish, strawberry, Swiss chard, tomato and turnip.
Summer June to August
Time to start: broccoli, Brussels sprouts, bush beans, cabbage, cauliflower, celeriac, celery, chives, kale, leek, onion, parsley, pole beans and tomato.
Last chance for: celery, eggplant, hot pepper, scallions, sweet potato and watermelon.
Fall September to November
Time to start: arugula, beets, carrot, celery, cilantro, dill, fava beans, garlic, lettuce, parsnip, peas, potato, radish, runner beans, rutabaga, scallions, spinach, strawberry, Swiss chard and turnip.
Last chance for: basil, bell pepper, Brussels sprouts, bush beans, cantaloupe, cucumber, okra, pole beans, potato, runner beans, sweet corn, tomato, winter squash and zucchini.
Winter December to February
Time to start: basil, bell pepper, cantaloupe, cucumber, eggplant, hot pepper, potato, sweet corn, tomato, winter squash and zucchini.
Last chance for: cauliflower, celeriac, fava beans, garlic, parsnip, rutabaga and spinach.
Any time of year: bok choy.
Frost in New Orleans
- Frost nights in a year
- about 6, none in some winters
- Frost is unlikely after
- about February 20
Frosts in New Orleans are few, but they do come. On a still, clear night the grass and low plants can frost while the air a little higher stays just above freezing, so plants in the open may see more frosts than this count. A low corner where cold air settles gets it first, and later into spring. The end of frost is not the time to plant: tender vegetables also need warmth, so go by the months for each vegetable above.
Questions about planting in New Orleans
What can I plant now in New Orleans?
In October, 33 vegetables can be sown or planted in New Orleans, including arugula, basil, beets, bok choy, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, bush beans and cabbage. The full list is at the top of this page and changes every month.
When should I plant tomatoes in New Orleans?
In New Orleans, sow tomatoes indoors from January to March and from June to August and transplant them from March to April and from August to September. The best time to start is from March to April and in August. Picking runs from May to December.
When should I plant potatoes in New Orleans?
In New Orleans, plant potatoes from January to March and in October. The best time to start is from January to March and in October. Picking runs from April to June and from December to January.
When should I plant garlic in New Orleans?
In New Orleans, plant garlic from October to December. The best time to start is from October to December. Picking runs from April to July.
When is the last frost in New Orleans?
New Orleans gets a few frosts most winters: about 6 nights in a typical year, and none at all in some winters. Frost is unlikely after about February 20, but warmth, not frost, decides when tender vegetables go in: go by the months for each vegetable on this page.
Which vegetables are quickest to grow in New Orleans?
The quick ones are radish (about 3 weeks), arugula (about 4 weeks), bok choy (about 4 weeks), cucumber (about 5 weeks), basil (about 6 weeks), cilantro (about 6 weeks), scallions (about 6 weeks) and spinach (about 6 weeks). The time is from starting to the first pick.
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These dates are estimates for general guidance, based on the usual weather in New Orleans. Seasons vary from year to year, so check the seed packet and local advice as well.
Temperatures: Source: Meteostat and its data providers (CC BY 4.0). Crop temperature ranges checked against FAO ECOCROP (CC BY 4.0).