When to plant in Arkansas
Most of Arkansas sees its last spring frost between Mar 16 and Apr 9, and its first fall frost between Oct 28 and Nov 12. The middle of the state is around March 27 and November 6: that's what the dates below use.
Hardiness zones in Arkansas: 7a (11%), 7b (22%), 8a (54%), 8b (13%).
Planting dates for common crops
| Crop | Start indoors | Plant outside | Harvest | Plant for fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tomato | Feb 23 | Apr 13 – Apr 27 | Jun 22 – Sep 14 | — |
| Pepper | Feb 9 | Apr 13 – Apr 27 | Jun 27 – Sep 19 | — |
| Cucumber | — | Apr 13 – Apr 27 | Jun 7 – Jul 26 | — |
| Zucchini / Summer squash | — | Apr 13 – Apr 27 | Jun 2 – Aug 11 | — |
| Winter squash | — | Apr 13 – Apr 27 | Jul 17 – Aug 21 | — |
| Green beans (bush) | — | Apr 13 – Apr 27 | Jun 7 – Jul 19 | — |
| Peas | — | Feb 13 – Feb 27 | Apr 14 – May 19 | Aug 17 – Aug 31 |
| Sweet corn | — | Apr 13 – Apr 27 | Jun 27 – Jul 25 | — |
| Lettuce | — | Feb 27 – Mar 13 | Apr 13 – May 25 | Sep 8 – Sep 22 |
| Spinach | — | Feb 13 – Feb 27 | Mar 25 – May 6 | Sep 27 – Oct 11 |
| Kale | Jan 16 | Feb 27 – Mar 13 | Apr 23 – Jul 16 | Sep 26 – Oct 10 |
| Broccoli | Jan 23 | Mar 6 – Mar 20 | May 5 – Jun 9 | Aug 31 – Sep 14 |
| Cabbage | Jan 16 | Feb 27 – Mar 13 | May 8 – Jun 12 | Aug 28 – Sep 11 |
| Carrot | — | Mar 6 – Mar 20 | May 15 – Jun 26 | Aug 28 – Sep 11 |
| Beet | — | Mar 6 – Mar 20 | Apr 30 – Jun 11 | Sep 5 – Sep 19 |
| Radish | — | Feb 20 – Mar 6 | Mar 17 – Apr 14 | Sep 28 – Oct 12 |
| Onion (sets) | — | Feb 20 – Mar 6 | May 31 – Jul 5 | — |
| Garlic | — | Oct 30 – Nov 20 (fall) | May 25 – Jun 15 next year | — |
| Potato | — | Mar 6 – Mar 20 | Jun 4 – Jul 9 | — |
| Sweet potato | Mar 6 | Apr 17 – May 1 | Jul 26 – Aug 23 | — |
| Watermelon | — | Apr 17 – May 1 | Jul 11 – Aug 15 | — |
| Basil | Mar 2 | Apr 13 – Apr 27 | May 13 – Aug 19 | — |
| Strawberry (June-bearing) | — | Mar 6 – Mar 20 | Apr 24 – May 22 (once established) | — |
| Sunflower | — | Apr 13 – Apr 27 | Jul 2 – Aug 6 | — |
Dates for a typical spot in Arkansas. Colder and higher places plant later, warmer ones earlier: enter your ZIP code for yours, or see the calendar for your zone.
Frost dates around Arkansas
| Place | Zone | Last frost | First frost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Little Rock | 8a | Mar 21 | Nov 10 |
| Fort Smith | 8a | Mar 25 | Nov 6 |
| North Little Rock | 8a | Mar 21 | Nov 16 |
| Hot Springs National Park | 8a | Mar 19 | Nov 13 |
| Fayetteville | 7a | Apr 15 | Oct 31 |
| Jonesboro | 8a | Apr 1 | Nov 9 |
| Pine Bluff | 8b | Mar 14 | Nov 16 |
| Russellville | 8a | Mar 29 | Nov 2 |
| Springdale | 7a | Apr 4 | Oct 31 |
| Benton | 8a | Mar 24 | Nov 7 |
Average dates from the nearest NOAA weather stations (1991–2020). Click a place for its full planting calendar.