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When to Plant Mint in Webster Parish, LA

Webster Parish, Louisiana Zone 8b May

Your May game plan for Webster Parish, Louisiana

A quick May briefing for Webster Parish, Louisiana gardeners — what's urgent, what's next, and what can wait.

Avg. last frost March 21
Avg. first frost November 10
Soil temp (4") 71°F
Watering Low
Pest pressure High
Daylight 13.7 hrs
  1. Collect mint at their peak

    If you can't use it all right away, check the food-preservation section of your planner.

Get ahead of June
  • First harvests: mint

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Mint is a vigorous perennial herb with refreshing, aromatic leaves used in teas, cocktails, and cooking. It spreads aggressively by underground runners.

Webster Parish, Louisiana is in USDA Zone 8b. The average last spring frost is March 21 and the first fall frost is November 10, giving you a growing season of approximately 234 days.

At an elevation of 138 feet, Webster Parish receives approximately 57 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly loam soil. Summer highs average 94°F, providing good warmth for Mint during the growing season. Ample rainfall means less supplemental watering, but ensure good drainage to prevent Mint root diseases.

Webster Parish, LA (Zone 8b) Long season
234 days
Last Spring Frost March 21
234 growing days
First Fall Frost November 10
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Webster Parish Soil Profile

Soil Type

Loam

Soil pH

5.8-6.7

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (94 days to spare)
Transplant: Mar 18 🍅 Harvest: May 20 – Jul 29
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (94 days to spare)
Transplant: Mar 28 🍅 Harvest: May 30 – Aug 8
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (88 days to spare)
Transplant: Apr 19 🍅 Harvest: Jun 21 – Aug 30

Percentages indicate frost risk at transplant. The 70% safe window means there is a 30% chance of frost after transplant — suitable for cold-hardy crops or gardeners with frost protection. The 90% safe window is best for tender plants.

Soil Compatibility in Webster Parish

How your county's soil matches Mint's growing requirements.

Soil pH

Your soil pH (5.8–6.7) overlaps with Mint's range (6.0–7.0), though not a perfect match.

Soil Texture

The loam soil in Webster Parish is excellent for Mint — good drainage, moisture retention, and nutrient holding capacity.

Organic Matter

Organic matter is moderate (2.7%). Annual compost additions will help Mint.

How to Plant Mint

0.5"
Planting Depth
8"
Between Plants
12"
Between Rows

Succession Planting Mint

4
successive plantings in your 234-day season

Sow every 6.9 weeks. Last sowing by Aug 12 to harvest before frost.

Plant Water Budget

Plant needs
0.7″/week
Rainfall provides
1.0″/week
Watering frequency Natural rainfall sufficient
Season total 0 gal / 100 sq ft

Monthly Watering Guide for Mint

Mint needs approximately 0.7 inches of water per week (3" per month). Here's how your county's rainfall compares month by month.

Month Mint Needs Rainfall You Supplement Action
Jan 4.5" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Feb 5.1" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Mar 3" 5.5" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Apr 3" 4.6" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
May 3" 4.1" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Jun 3" 5.8" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Jul 3" 5.9" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Aug 3" 5" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Sep 3" 4.2" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Oct 3" 3.7" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Nov 3" 4.4" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Dec 4.3" 0" ❄️ Dormant

Water needs are for active growing months only (Mar–Nov in Webster Parish). Supplement amounts are based on average rainfall — actual needs vary with temperature, soil, and mulching.

Mint Heat Requirements (GDD)

What are Growing Degree Days (GDD)?

Growing Degree Days measure the total warmth your plants receive during the growing season. Think of it as a "heat bank" — every day above 50°F deposits warmth that helps your plants grow.

Each plant needs a certain amount of accumulated heat to mature. If your county provides more GDD than the plant needs, it's a great fit. If it's close, you may want to choose faster-maturing varieties or start seeds indoors to get a head start.

Mint needs ~1,538 GDD — county provides 4,797 GDD Excellent fit

Mint Planting Timeline — Webster Parish, LA

Mint Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Transplant Outdoors March 28 Mar 28 – Apr 11
Harvest May 30 May 30 – Aug 8

Plant 0.5" deep · 8" apart · Rows 12" apart

Month-by-Month Timeline

MonthActivities
January
February
March Transplant Outdoors
April Transplant Outdoors
May Harvest
June Harvest
July Harvest
August Harvest
September
October
November
December
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Growing Conditions

☀️ Sun

Partial Shade (3-6 hours)

💧 Water

0.7"/week · Natural rainfall sufficient

📅 Days to Maturity

60–90 days

🧪 Soil pH

Needs 6–7 · Your soil: acceptable

🗺️ USDA Zone

Zone 8b

📆 Growing Season

234 days in Webster Parish

Growing Tips for Mint in Webster Parish

Direct sow Mint outdoors after March 21 in Webster Parish when soil has warmed and frost danger has passed.

General growing tips

Always grow mint in containers or with underground barriers to control spreading. Harvest regularly to keep plants compact. Cut plants back in late summer for a fresh fall flush.

Companion Planting

Good Companions

Avoid Planting Near

  • Parsley

Check more plant combinations with our Companion Planting Checker →

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I plant Mint in Webster Parish, LA?

Webster Parish is in Zone 8b with an average last frost of March 21. Plan your Mint planting based on this frost date — see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Webster Parish, LA?

Webster Parish, Louisiana is in USDA Hardiness Zone 8b. The average last spring frost is March 21 and first fall frost is November 10.

🌱

Your Webster Parish Garden Planner — Free

A 24-page printable planner built for Webster Parish (Zone 8b). Planting dates, a month-by-month schedule, harvest log, seed inventory, and succession charts — all dialed in for your exact growing season.

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Data sources: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (2023), NOAA 30-Year Climate Normals. Frost dates are based on 50% probability averages for Webster Parish, LA. Local conditions may vary. Last updated: May 2026.

Sources & credits

Every number on this page traces back to a primary horticulture or government data source. Click through to verify.