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Frost Dates and Planting Windows in Arkansas

The 32°F frost dates at the 112 weather stations in Arkansas with NOAA's 1991–2020 Climate Normals, and the planting windows they give. These are long-term statistics, not a forecast. For the dates at the station nearest you, enter your ZIP code.

The planner uses the weather station nearest your ZIP code.

Frost dates across Arkansas

Each risk level uses a date with a set chance of frost. In spring, it's the chance of a 32°F frost on or after the last-frost date. In fall, it's the chance of the first 32°F frost on or before the first-frost date. At the Typical level (30%), the last frost ranges from March 17 to April 23 across the state, and the first frost from October 15 to November 11.

32°F frost dates: earliest and latest among 112 stations, by risk level
Risk levelEarliest last frostLatest last frostEarliest first frostLatest first frost
Conservative (10%)March 28ARKANSAS POST, AR USMay 12 stationsOctober 6EVENING SHADE 1 NNE, AR USNovember 22 stations
Typical (30%)March 17ARKANSAS POST, AR USApril 232 stationsOctober 15EVENING SHADE 1 NNE, AR USNovember 11ARKANSAS POST, AR US
Aggressive (50%)March 10ARKANSAS POST, AR USApril 152 stationsOctober 20EVENING SHADE 1 NNE, AR USNovember 18ARKANSAS POST, AR US

Growing season length

The growing season is the stretch between the last spring frost and the first fall frost at 32°F. NOAA gives it as a length with a chance of being at least that long. Each risk level uses the length with that chance of a shorter season, so Conservative shows the shortest lengths.

Growing season at 32°F: shortest and longest among 112 stations
Risk levelShortestLongest
Conservative (90% chance of at least this long)167 days3 stations228 daysARKANSAS POST, AR US
Typical (70% chance of at least this long)179 days2 stations242 daysARKANSAS POST, AR US
Aggressive (50% chance of at least this long)188 daysFAYETTEVILLE DRAKE FLD, AR US251 daysARKANSAS POST, AR US
Number of stations by growing season length, Typical (70% chance of at least this long)
Growing seasonStations
160–179 days2
180–199 days17
200–219 days51
220–239 days41
240–259 days1

Planting windows across Arkansas

For each crop, the earliest start and the latest end of its Typical windows among the stations. A window at any one station is shorter and falls inside this span. Transplant dates are for seedlings.

Typical planting windows (30% frost dates): earliest start and latest end among stations
Crop and taskEarliest startLatest endStations
Basil: Transplant outdoorsMarch 31May 7112 of 112
Bean: Sow outdoorsMarch 17April 23112 of 112
Beet: Sow outdoorsFebruary 17April 23112 of 112
Beet: Sow for fallJuly 23September 22112 of 112
Broccoli: Transplant outdoorsFebruary 17April 9112 of 112
Broccoli: Transplant for fallJuly 13September 22112 of 112
Brussels sprouts: Transplant outdoorsFebruary 17April 9112 of 112
Brussels sprouts: Transplant for fallJune 23October 2112 of 112
Cabbage: Transplant outdoorsFebruary 17April 9112 of 112
Cabbage: Transplant for fallJuly 8September 22112 of 112
Cantaloupe: Transplant outdoorsMarch 31May 7112 of 112
Cantaloupe: Sow outdoorsMarch 31May 7112 of 112
Carrot: Sow outdoorsFebruary 17April 23112 of 112
Carrot: Sow for fallJuly 13September 12112 of 112
Cucumber: Transplant outdoorsMarch 24April 30112 of 112
Cucumber: Sow outdoorsMarch 17April 23112 of 112
Eggplant: Transplant outdoorsMarch 31May 7112 of 112
Garlic: Plant for fallOctober 15November 25112 of 112
Lettuce: Transplant outdoorsFebruary 17April 9112 of 112
Lettuce: Sow outdoorsFebruary 17April 9112 of 112
Lettuce: Sow for fallJuly 13October 2112 of 112
Onion: Transplant or plant setsFebruary 17April 9112 of 112
Peas: Sow outdoorsFebruary 17April 9112 of 112
Peas: Sow for fallJuly 21September 22112 of 112
Pepper: Transplant outdoorsMarch 31May 7112 of 112
Potato: Plant seed potatoesFebruary 17April 23112 of 112
Pumpkin: Sow outdoorsMarch 31May 7112 of 112
Radish: Sow outdoorsFebruary 17April 9112 of 112
Radish: Sow for fallAugust 27October 22112 of 112
Spinach: Transplant outdoorsFebruary 17April 9112 of 112
Spinach: Sow outdoorsFebruary 17April 9112 of 112
Spinach: Sow for fallAugust 2October 5112 of 112
Summer squash: Transplant outdoorsMarch 24April 30112 of 112
Summer squash: Sow outdoorsMarch 17April 23112 of 112
Sweet corn: Sow outdoorsMarch 17April 23112 of 112
Sweet potato: Plant slipsMarch 24May 7112 of 112
Tomato: Transplant outdoorsMarch 31May 7112 of 112
Turnip: Sow outdoorsFebruary 17April 9112 of 112
Turnip: Sow for fallAugust 2October 2112 of 112
Watermelon: Transplant outdoorsMarch 31May 7112 of 112
Watermelon: Sow outdoorsMarch 31May 7112 of 112

Weather stations in Arkansas

Every station in Arkansas with NOAA frost-date normals, with its Typical 32°F frost dates and growing season.

Data sources

NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, frost dates, 1991–2020 normals, version 1.0.1
Files: us-climate-normals_1991-2020_v1.0.1_annualseasonal_multivariate_by-station_c20230404.tar.gz, inventory_30yr.txt from NOAA NCEI. Retrieved October 10, 2026.