Local planting guide · Southeast
zip 70004
Metairie is in USDA hardiness zone 9b, with average winter lows of 25°F to 30°F. The local growing season runs roughly 01/24 through 01/02 (~341 days). This zip falls within the Southeast growing region.
- USDA zone
- 9b 25°F to 30°F
- Last spring frost
- 01/24
- First fall frost
- 01/02
- Growing season
- 341 days
- Compatible crops
- 37
- Growing region
- Southeast
Right now in Metairie
Week 18 priorities
On the docket: transplant out after last frost · direct sow after last frost. See the full calendar →
Gardening in Metairie
Metairie's defining advantage is an unusually long growing season of 341 days, with frost risk confined to a narrow window in early January. The last spring frost arrives as late as January 24, and the first fall frost is January 2, leaving nearly year-round cultivation windows for heat-loving crops. This subtropical climate favors warm-season fruits, particularly figs, Asian persimmons, pomegranates, and jujubes, which thrive where temperate zones struggle.
Tomatoes and peppers produce prolifically through long summers, though humidity-driven disease pressure requires careful variety selection and spacing. The defining constraint is heat and humidity rather than cold. Cooling-season crops like lettuce and brassicas are feasible only in late fall and brief windows in winter and early spring, compressed by the narrow January frost window and the rapid warming that follows. Gardeners new to Metairie's subtropical rhythm often overthink frost protection; the real work is managing the extended growing season and selecting varieties bred for heat and humidity tolerance.
Regional context · Southeast
What the Southeast brings to Metairie
Hot, humid, long growing season. Disease-resistant variety selection is the difference between a productive and a failed planting. Strong region for muscadines, blueberries, peaches, persimmons, figs, and warm-season vegetables.
Common challenges
Issues that most often defeat home gardeners in zone 9b, drawn from the broader USDA zone profile.
- ▸ Heat stress in summer
- ▸ Insufficient chill for most apples
- ▸ Salt spray near coasts
What defeats new gardeners in Metairie
Summer fungal diseases dominate the pest landscape in Metairie. Early blight on tomatoes, powdery mildew on peppers and squash, and anthracnose on warm-season crops accelerate in the high humidity from June through September. The narrow frost window (January 2 to 24) is manageable with careful variety selection, but tender transplants set out too early in January risk setback. Blossom-end rot on tomatoes and sunscald on peppers occur regularly during peak summer heat, reflecting both heat stress and calcium uptake issues under variable moisture. Soil pH tends acidic in the Gulf region, which affects nutrient availability for many crops. These challenges are manageable with fungicide rotation, proper spacing for air circulation, and heat-tolerant varieties, but they require vigilance rather than luck.
Crops that grow in Metairie
37 crops from our catalog match zone 9b, grouped by type.
Tree fruit
11 crops
zone 9b Fig
Ficus carica
zones 7a–10b
zone 9b Asian Persimmon
Diospyros kaki
zones 7a–10a
zone 9b Pomegranate
Punica granatum
zones 7b–10a
zone 9b Jujube
Ziziphus jujuba
zones 6a–9b
zone 9b Lemon
Citrus limon
zones 9a–11b
zone 9b Orange
Citrus sinensis
zones 9a–11b
zone 9b Lime
Citrus aurantiifolia
zones 9b–11b
zone 9b Grapefruit
Citrus paradisi
zones 9a–11b
Berries
2 crops
Vegetables
18 crops
zone 9b Tomato
Solanum lycopersicum
zones 3a–10b
zone 9b Sweet Pepper
Capsicum annuum
zones 4a–10b
zone 9b Hot Pepper
Capsicum species
zones 4a–10b
zone 9b Eggplant
Solanum melongena
zones 5a–10b
zone 9b Cabbage
Brassica oleracea var. capitata
zones 3a–9b
zone 9b Kale
Brassica oleracea var. acephala
zones 3a–9b
zone 9b Collards
Brassica oleracea var. acephala
zones 4a–9b
zone 9b Cucumber
Cucumis sativus
zones 3b–10a
Herbs
6 crops
Plan the year
Planting calendar for Metairie
Year-view of seed starting, transplanting, planting, pruning, fertilizing, harvest, and pest-watch windows tuned to Metairie's local frost dates.
Week ? · loading
This week in Metairie, LA (zone 9b)
Quiet week in Metairie, LA (zone 9b). this week is a good time to step back and plan ahead.
Nothing critical on the calendar this week.
187 bars · 37 crops
Calendar logic combines NOAA frost normals with crop-specific timing data. Local microclimate and weather always overrules the calendar; use this as a starting point.
Top pests for zone 9b
Ranked by how many crops in your zone they affect. Click through for IPM controls and signs to watch for.
Multiple species (Aphididae)
Small soft-bodied sap-sucking insects that reproduce explosively in spring. Excrete honeydew that supports sooty mold and attracts ants. Transmit viral diseases.
Multiple species (Aleyrodidae)
Tiny white moth-like flying insects that feed on plant sap and excrete honeydew. Transmit numerous viral diseases including tomato yellow leaf curl virus.
Meloidogyne species
Microscopic soil-dwelling worm that forms galls on roots, reducing vigor and yield.
Tetranychus urticae
Tiny mite that feeds on leaf undersides, causing stippling and webbing during hot dry weather.
Multiple species (Chrysomelidae)
Tiny black or bronze jumping beetles that put hundreds of small holes in seedling leaves. Most damaging on direct-seeded brassicas and young eggplant.
Odocoileus species
Whitetail and mule deer browse can devastate orchards and gardens, particularly in winter when food is scarce. Antler rub on young trunks kills saplings outright.
Pseudococcidae spp.
Soft white waxy insects that cluster at leaf joints, fruit stems, and root crowns. Honeydew secretion supports sooty mold; root mealybugs cause decline that mimics drought.
Coccoidea spp.
Sap-sucking insects that attach to bark, leaves, and fruit, secreting honeydew that fuels sooty mold. Heavy infestations weaken trees and cause leaf yellowing.
Top diseases for zone 9b
Ranked by how many crops in your zone they affect. Click through for symptoms, controls, and resistant varieties.
Pseudoperonospora cubensis (cucurbits) and others
Water mold (oomycete, not a true fungus) that thrives in cool damp conditions. Spreads rapidly through cucurbit and brassica plantings on wind-borne spores.
Cucumber mosaic virus, Tobacco mosaic virus, and others
Family of plant viruses producing mottled yellow-and-green leaf patterns. Vectored primarily by aphids; some are seed-transmitted or spread by handling tools and tobacco products.
Pythium and Rhizoctonia species
Soil-borne complex of water molds and fungi that kill seedlings before or shortly after emergence. The single most common cause of seed-starting failures.
Fusarium oxysporum
Soil-borne fungal disease that plugs vascular tissue and kills affected plants. Persists in soil for many years; impossible to eliminate once established.
Sclerotium rolfsii
Soil-borne fungal disease most damaging in warm humid Southern conditions. White mycelial fans and small mustard-seed-sized sclerotia at the soil line are diagnostic.
Calcium deficiency physiological disorder
Not a true disease but a calcium-uptake disorder caused by inconsistent soil moisture during fruit development. The dominant cause of damaged first-fruit on home tomato plantings.
Capnodium spp.
Black fungal coating that grows on honeydew secreted by aphids, scale, mealybugs, and whiteflies. Doesn't infect plant tissue directly but blocks photosynthesis and disfigures fruit.
Tomato spotted wilt orthotospovirus (TSWV)
Virus vectored by thrips, particularly western flower thrips. Wide host range and growing global distribution. No cure once infected.
Companion planting suggestions
Beneficial pairings drawn from companion data, filtered to crops that grow in zone 9b.
- Fig + Rosemary
Rosemary tolerates the dry sites figs prefer and provides aromatic pest deterrence.
- Tomato + Basil
The classic Italian pairing. Basil's volatile oils are reported to repel hornworms and whiteflies, and the two crops share the same warm-season schedule and water needs. Plant basil between tomato cages.
- Sweet Pepper + Basil
Same warm-season culture, same watering schedule. Basil reportedly improves pepper flavor and repels aphids and thrips that are pepper's primary pests.
- Hot Pepper + Basil
Compatible heat-loving culture, similar water needs. Basil interplanted between hot pepper plants supports beneficial insects and reduces aphid pressure.
- Lettuce + Tomato
Lettuce planted at tomato's base benefits from afternoon shade as the tomato grows, extending the lettuce harvest into early summer. Different root depths avoid competition.
- Cabbage + Onion
Onion smell confuses cabbage moth. Both prefer similar moisture and fertility. The onion-cabbage interplanting is a Northern European tradition.
Soil types reference
Soil texture and pH decide what grows easily on your specific lot. Find the closest match below for crop recommendations and amendment guidance.
Practical tips for Metairie
Plant frost-tender crops like tomatoes and peppers after January 24 to avoid late-winter frost and capture the full 341-day growing season. Late January timing allows spring transplants to mature through a long, warm summer. Select disease-resistant varieties bred for humid southern climates, as high humidity from June onward drives fungal pressure; heat-tolerant cultivars developed for the South outperform generic supermarket varieties. Succession-plant cool-season crops in two narrow windows: October through November for fall harvest, and February through March for early spring, bookended by the frost dates; mid-January plantings of lettuce and greens often bolt within weeks as temperatures rise.
Frequently asked questions
- When should I plant tomatoes in Metairie?
Plant after the last spring frost on January 24 to avoid frost damage to young transplants. Late-January or early-February planting gives plants the full 341-day growing season.
- What fruits grow best in zone 9b Metairie?
Figs, Asian persimmons, pomegranates, and jujubes thrive in the long warm season and minimal winter cold. These crops produce heavily with little dormancy stress.
- Why do my tomatoes get early blight every summer?
Metairie's high humidity from June through September creates ideal conditions for early blight fungus. Space plants 24 inches apart for air circulation, remove lower leaves to reduce spore splash, and choose resistant varieties.
- When is the frost season in Metairie?
Frost risk is narrow: first fall frost is January 2, last spring frost is January 24. Based on NOAA Climate Normals 1991-2020, frost dates can vary by 1-2 weeks year to year.
- Can I grow peppers in summer?
Yes, peppers thrive in Metairie's long warm season but require afternoon shade and consistent water during peak heat (July-August) to prevent sunscald and blossom-end rot.
- What about cool-season crops like lettuce?
Lettuce and greens have two brief windows: October-November and February-March. Mid-January plantings bolt quickly as temperatures rise; the subtropical summer is unsuitable for cool-season crops.
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Frost data: NOAA Climate Normals 1991-2020, station USW00012930. Local microclimates can shift these dates by a week or more.
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