When Is the Last Frost in Arkansas?
The average last spring frost in Arkansas falls between March 16 and April 9 for most ZIP codes, with a statewide median of March 28. At the average date a later frost is still a coin flip, so tender plants wait for the safer 90% date.
| City | Last frost | 90% safe after | First frost | Growing season |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Little Rock | Mar 21 | Apr 6 | Nov 10 | 234 days |
| Fayetteville | Apr 15 | May 1 | Oct 21 | 188 days |
| Fort Smith | Mar 25 | Apr 11 | Nov 6 | 224 days |
| Springdale | Apr 4 | Apr 22 | Oct 31 | 209 days |
| Jonesboro | Apr 1 | Apr 18 | Nov 1 | 215 days |
| Rogers | Apr 12 | Apr 29 | Oct 26 | 195 days |
| Conway | Apr 2 | Apr 19 | Nov 2 | 215 days |
| North Little Rock | Mar 16 | Apr 2 | Nov 16 | 245 days |
| Bentonville | Apr 12 | Apr 29 | Oct 26 | 195 days |
| Pine Bluff | Mar 14 | Apr 2 | Nov 16 | 245 days |
| Benton | Mar 24 | Apr 13 | Nov 7 | 229 days |
| Hot Springs | Mar 19 | Apr 7 | Nov 13 | 239 days |
| Paragould | Mar 26 | Apr 10 | Nov 6 | 227 days |
| Russellville | Mar 29 | Apr 13 | Nov 2 | 219 days |
| Texarkana | Mar 13 | Apr 3 | Nov 13 | 246 days |
| Cabot | Apr 4 | Apr 20 | Oct 31 | 209 days |
| Searcy | Mar 27 | Apr 12 | Nov 8 | 228 days |
| West Memphis | Mar 19 | Apr 7 | Nov 10 | 235 days |
Last and first frost: 50% (median) dates of the last spring and first fall 32 °F night. 90% safe after: only a 10% chance of a later spring frost. First frost dates in January fall in the following winter. Each city uses the NOAA station nearest the ZIP code closest to its center.
Across all 112 Arkansas weather stations with frost records, median last frost dates run from March 10 at Arkansas Post, AR to April 15 at Lead Hill, AR. Elevation, valleys that collect cold air and distance from large water bodies explain most of the spread, so a garden a few miles from a listed city can differ by a week or more. The ZIP code lookup above uses the same NOAA data as the frost date calculator for every US ZIP code.
When Is the First Frost in Arkansas?
The average first fall frost in Arkansas arrives between October 28 and November 12 for most ZIP codes, with a median of November 5. Tomatoes, peppers, basil and squash are damaged at 32 °F, so harvest or cover them before then.
Fall frost can come early: Little Rock has a 10% chance of frost before October 29, Fayetteville has a 10% chance of frost before October 8 and Fort Smith has a 10% chance of frost before October 23. Hardy crops such as kale, spinach and cabbage tolerate light frosts and keep producing after the first frost date.
When to Plant Tomatoes in Arkansas?
Transplant tomatoes in Arkansas 1 to 2 weeks after the local average last frost, once nights stay above about 50 °F: Mar 28 – Apr 4 in Little Rock, Apr 22 – Apr 29 in Fayetteville and Apr 1 – Apr 8 in Fort Smith. Start seeds indoors 6 to 8 weeks before the last frost.
| City | Start seeds indoors | Transplant outdoors | Lowest-risk transplant |
|---|---|---|---|
| Little Rock | Jan 24 – Feb 7 | Mar 28 – Apr 4 | after Apr 6 |
| Fayetteville | Feb 18 – Mar 4 | Apr 22 – Apr 29 | after May 1 |
| Fort Smith | Jan 28 – Feb 11 | Apr 1 – Apr 8 | after Apr 11 |
| Springdale | Feb 7 – Feb 21 | Apr 11 – Apr 18 | after Apr 22 |
| Jonesboro | Feb 4 – Feb 18 | Apr 8 – Apr 15 | after Apr 18 |
| Rogers | Feb 15 – Mar 1 | Apr 19 – Apr 26 | after Apr 29 |
| Conway | Feb 5 – Feb 19 | Apr 9 – Apr 16 | after Apr 19 |
| North Little Rock | Jan 19 – Feb 2 | Mar 23 – Mar 30 | after Apr 2 |
| Bentonville | Feb 15 – Mar 1 | Apr 19 – Apr 26 | after Apr 29 |
| Pine Bluff | Jan 17 – Jan 31 | Mar 21 – Mar 28 | after Apr 2 |
| Benton | Jan 27 – Feb 10 | Mar 31 – Apr 7 | after Apr 13 |
| Hot Springs | Jan 22 – Feb 5 | Mar 26 – Apr 2 | after Apr 7 |
| Paragould | Jan 29 – Feb 12 | Apr 2 – Apr 9 | after Apr 10 |
| Russellville | Feb 1 – Feb 15 | Apr 5 – Apr 12 | after Apr 13 |
| Texarkana | Jan 16 – Jan 30 | Mar 20 – Mar 27 | after Apr 3 |
| Cabot | Feb 7 – Feb 21 | Apr 11 – Apr 18 | after Apr 20 |
| Searcy | Jan 30 – Feb 13 | Apr 3 – Apr 10 | after Apr 12 |
| West Memphis | Jan 22 – Feb 5 | Mar 26 – Apr 2 | after Apr 7 |
Indoors: 6–8 weeks before the average last frost. Outdoors: 1–2 weeks after it. Lowest-risk: after the date with only a 10% chance of a later frost. Rules of thumb; check the 10-day forecast and wait for soil near 60 °F.
Tomatoes stall below about 50 °F at night and are killed by frost, so a week or two of waiting after the average date costs little. The tomato plant care guide covers light, watering and feeding once plants are in the ground.
What Can You Plant in Little Rock and When?
Little Rock's average last frost of March 21 anchors its spring planting calendar: peas and spinach go in from February 7, broccoli and lettuce transplants from February 21, and tomatoes, peppers and squash after March 28.
| Crop | Start seeds indoors | Plant outdoors | Frost tolerance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Peas | — | Feb 7 – Feb 21direct sow, 4–6 weeks before last frost | hardy |
| Spinach | — | Feb 7 – Feb 28direct sow, 3–6 weeks before last frost | hardy |
| Radishes | — | Feb 14 – Feb 28direct sow, 3–5 weeks before last frost | hardy |
| Onions (sets) | — | Feb 21 – Mar 7plant, 2–4 weeks before last frost | hardy |
| Potatoes | — | Feb 21 – Mar 7plant, 2–4 weeks before last frost | half-hardy |
| Broccoli & cabbage | Jan 24 – Feb 7 | Feb 21 – Mar 7transplant, 2–4 weeks before last frost | hardy |
| Lettuce | Feb 7 – Feb 21 | Feb 21 – Mar 7transplant, 2–4 weeks before last frost | hardy |
| Beets | — | Feb 21 – Mar 7direct sow, 2–4 weeks before last frost | half-hardy |
| Carrots | — | Feb 28 – Mar 7direct sow, 2–3 weeks before last frost | half-hardy |
| Tomatoes | Jan 24 – Feb 7 | Mar 28 – Apr 4transplant, 1–2 weeks after last frost | tender |
| Basil | Jan 24 – Feb 7 | Mar 28 – Apr 11transplant, 1–3 weeks after last frost | tender |
| Peppers | Jan 10 – Jan 24 | Apr 4 – Apr 11transplant, 2–3 weeks after last frost | tender |
| Eggplant | Jan 10 – Jan 24 | Apr 4 – Apr 11transplant, 2–3 weeks after last frost | tender |
| Green beans | — | Mar 28 – Apr 11direct sow, 1–3 weeks after last frost | tender |
| Sweet corn | — | Mar 28 – Apr 11direct sow, 1–3 weeks after last frost | tender |
| Cucumbers | Feb 21 – Feb 28 | Mar 28 – Apr 11transplant, 1–3 weeks after last frost | tender |
| Squash & zucchini | Feb 21 – Feb 28 | Mar 28 – Apr 11transplant, 1–3 weeks after last frost | tender |
| Watermelon | Feb 21 – Feb 28 | Apr 4 – Apr 11transplant, 2–3 weeks after last frost | tender |
Dates for Little Rock (last frost Mar 21, NOAA station Little Rock AP Adams Fld, AR, 7 miles from ZIP 72204). General rules of thumb; wait for soil near 50 °F for most seeds and 60 °F for beans, corn and squash.
How Long Is the Growing Season in Arkansas?
The frost-free growing season in Arkansas lasts about 201 to 242 days for most ZIP codes, with a median of 224 days. Among the listed cities, Fayetteville has the shortest season at 188 days and Texarkana the longest at 246.
Season length decides which varieties ripen: compare it with the “days to maturity” on seed packets, counted from transplanting for tomatoes and peppers. NOAA stations in Arkansas range from 188 days at Fayetteville Drake Fld, AR to 251 days at Arkansas Post, AR. Planning beds before the season starts helps in short seasons — a plant spacing calculator for vegetable beds shows how many transplants fit.
What Hardiness Zones Are in Arkansas?
Arkansas spans USDA hardiness zones 7a to 8b, with zone 8a the most common. Zones describe winter cold and decide which perennials survive, while frost dates set when to plant annual vegetables and flowers.
The Arkansas planting zone map with the zone of each city shows how the zones are spread across the state and which plants are hardy in all of them.
Frequently Asked Questions
- When is the last frost in Arkansas?
- The average last spring frost in Arkansas falls between March 16 and April 9 for most ZIP codes, with a statewide median of March 28. Among major cities it ranges from March 13 in Texarkana to April 15 in Fayetteville.
- When is the last frost in Little Rock, Arkansas?
- Little Rock's average last spring frost is March 21, and by April 6 the chance of a later frost drops to 10%. Its first fall frost averages November 10, giving a 234-day growing season (NOAA station Little Rock AP Adams Fld, AR).
- When should you plant tomatoes in Arkansas?
- Transplant tomatoes in Arkansas 1 to 2 weeks after the local average last frost, once nights stay above about 50 °F: Mar 28 – Apr 4 in Little Rock, Apr 22 – Apr 29 in Fayetteville and Apr 1 – Apr 8 in Fort Smith. Start seeds indoors 6 to 8 weeks before the last frost.
- When is the first frost in Arkansas?
- The average first fall frost in Arkansas arrives between October 28 and November 12 for most ZIP codes, with a median of November 5. Harvest tender crops such as tomatoes, peppers and basil before then or cover them on cold nights.
- How long is the growing season in Arkansas?
- The frost-free growing season in Arkansas lasts about 201 to 242 days for most ZIP codes, with a median of 224 days, from 188 days in Fayetteville to 246 days in Texarkana.
Frost data: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, 1991–2020 U.S. Climate Normals (32 °F freeze dates by probability). ZIP code and city locations and populations: U.S. Census Bureau Gazetteer files and Vintage 2024 population estimates. Planting windows are general rules of thumb. PlantoScan is not affiliated with or endorsed by these agencies.