Frost dates · USDA zone 8a
Frost dates for Little Rock, AR
Little Rock, AR sees its last 32 °F night of spring around March 21 and its first of fall around November 10 — a 234-day freeze-free season in a typical year.
Pick a sauce; the Plan Builder runs this station's dates and hands back the calendar, plant count and gear list.
Freeze odds, by date
| Odds | Last spring freeze after | First fall freeze before |
|---|---|---|
| 9 years in 10 | Mar 2 | Nov 25 |
| Median — 1 year in 2 | Mar 21 | Nov 10 |
| 1 year in 10 | Apr 6 | Oct 29 |
The top row is the risky edge: in 9 years of 10 a spring freeze still comes after it, so tender transplants set out then need cover. The bottom row is the cautious date — only 1 year in 10 freezes after it — and the one to plan uncovered tender transplants against. Freeze-free season: 234 days median, at least 210 in 9 years of 10, at least 257 days in 1 year of 10. NOAA ranks season length year by year, so it is not the gap between two rows above. A hard freeze (28 °F) has a median last date of Mar 8 and first of Nov 21.
Little Rock planting calendar, 2027
Every row runs from the median last frost (Mar 21) and median first frost (Nov 10) above, using each cultivar's days to maturity. Same engine as the Plan Builder.
| Crop | Start indoors | Transplant / plant | First harvest | Days |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hardneck GarlicSiberian (porcelain hardneck) | — | Oct 15prior fall | Jun 12 | 240 from sow |
| Spanish OnionYellow Sweet Spanish (long-day) | Dec 27 | Feb 21 | Jun 11 | 110 from transplant |
| Mustard greensGarnet Giant (Brassica juncea) | Direct sow | Mar 21 | Apr 20 | 30 from sow |
| CilantroSlow Bolt (Coriandrum sativum) | Mar 7 | Mar 7 | Apr 21 | 45 from sow |
| Genovese BasilGenovese | Feb 21 | Apr 4 | Jun 3 | 60 from transplant |
| CayenneLong Slim Cayenne (Capsicum annuum) | Jan 24 | Mar 28 | Jun 11 | 75 from transplant |
| HabaneroOrange Habanero (Capsicum chinense) | Jan 10 | Apr 4 | Jul 8 | 95 from transplant |
| JalapeñoEarly Jalapeño (Capsicum annuum) | Jan 24 | Mar 28 | Jun 11 | 75 from transplant |
| Marconi Red PepperMarconi Red (Capsicum annuum) | Jan 24 | Mar 28 | Jun 16 | 80 from transplant |
| SerranoSerrano Tampiqueño (Capsicum annuum) | Jan 24 | Mar 28 | Jun 16 | 80 from transplant |
| Nantes CarrotScarlet Nantes | Mar 7 | Mar 7 | May 16 | 70 from sow |
| TomatilloToma Verde | Feb 7 | Mar 28 | Jun 6 | 70 from transplant |
| Roma TomatoRoma VF (determinate paste) | Feb 7 | Mar 28 | Jun 11 | 75 from transplant |
| San Marzano TomatoSan Marzano (indeterminate paste) | Feb 7 | Mar 28 | Jun 16 | 80 from transplant |
Tight means first harvest lands within two weeks of the median first fall frost: start that crop indoors on time or cover it in fall.
What sauce can Little Rock grow?
Each sauce, scheduled for a Little Rock container garden: when the first seeds go in and when enough fruit has ripened for one batch.
Little Rock frost questions
When is the last frost in Little Rock, AR?
The median last 32 °F freeze at LITTLE ROCK AP ADAMS FLD, AR is March 21: half of years see a later one. One year in ten, a freeze still comes after April 6; nine years in ten, it comes after March 2. Source: NOAA NCEI 1991–2020 U.S. Climate Normals.
When is the first frost in Little Rock, AR?
The median first 32 °F freeze of fall is November 10. One year in ten it arrives before October 29; nine years in ten, before November 25.
How long is the growing season in Little Rock, AR?
234 days between the last spring and first fall 32 °F freeze in a median year. Nine years in ten the season runs at least 210 days; one year in ten, at least 257 days.
What growing zone is Little Rock, AR?
USDA hardiness zone 8a, per the 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map for ZIP 72204. A zone describes the coldest winter night, not when frost ends, so it is the wrong number for a planting calendar — the frost dates on this page are the right one.
When should I plant tomatoes in Little Rock, AR?
Start Roma VF (determinate paste) seeds indoors around Feb 7 and transplant around Mar 28, 1 week after the median last frost. To cut the freeze risk to one year in ten, wait for Apr 6. First ripe fruit lands around Jun 11.
When should I plant peppers in Little Rock, AR?
Sow jalapeño indoors on a heat mat around Jan 24; transplant no earlier than Mar 28, and wait past it until nights hold above 50 °F — that can run weeks later. First green pods around Jun 11.
Nearby in Arkansas
- North Little Rocklast frost Mar 16
- Conwaylast frost Apr 2
- Jonesborolast frost Apr 1
- Fort Smithlast frost Mar 25
- Fayettevillelast frost Apr 15
- Springdalelast frost Apr 4
All Arkansas frost dates → · How frost-date math drives a sowing calendar →