In Little Rock, AR, the average last spring frost is Mar 21 and the average first fall frost is Nov 10, which leaves about 234 frost-free days for the garden. These dates come from NOAA climate normals for the Little Rock Ap Adams Fld, AR weather station, at 258 feet above sea level.
A long season lets you do more than one planting: a spring crop, a second planting of quick crops in summer, and a fall garden. Succession planting works well here. Frost timing varies from year to year: in about 1 spring in 10 the last frost falls as late as Apr 6, and in about 1 fall in 10 the first frost arrives as early as Oct 29.
Frost dates for Little Rock, AR
| Chance of a freeze (32°F) after or before this date | Last spring frost | First fall frost | Freeze-free season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Optimistic (about 1 year in 10) | Mar 2 | Nov 25 | 268 days |
| Average (half of years) | Mar 21 | Nov 10 | 234 days |
| Cautious (9 years in 10 are safe) | Apr 6 | Oct 29 | 206 days |
Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals, 1991 to 2020. Use the cautious dates for tender crops such as tomatoes and peppers.
When to plant in Little Rock, AR
These windows count weeks forward and back from the average frost dates above. They are planning guides: check the forecast before planting tender crops, and see our what to plant now tool for today's date.
| Crop | Start seeds indoors | Plant outdoors in spring | Plant in fall |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomatoes | Jan 24 to Feb 7 | Mar 28 to Apr 4 | – |
| Peppers | Jan 10 to Jan 24 | Apr 4 to Apr 11 | – |
| Eggplant | Jan 10 to Jan 24 | Apr 4 to Apr 11 | – |
| Onions | Jan 10 to Jan 24 | Feb 21 to Mar 7 | – |
| Parsley | Jan 10 to Jan 24 | Mar 21 to Mar 28 | – |
| Broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower | Jan 24 to Feb 7 | Mar 7 to Mar 14 | Aug 18 to Sep 15 |
| Basil | Feb 7 to Feb 7 | Mar 28 to Apr 4 | – |
| Peas | Sow outdoors | Feb 7 to Feb 21 | Aug 18 to Sep 15 |
| Spinach | Sow outdoors | Feb 7 to Feb 21 | Sep 15 to Oct 13 |
| Radishes | Sow outdoors | Feb 7 to Feb 21 | Sep 15 to Oct 13 |
| Lettuce | Sow outdoors | Feb 21 to Mar 7 | Sep 15 to Oct 13 |
| Carrots | Sow outdoors | Feb 21 to Mar 7 | Aug 18 to Sep 15 |
| Beets | Sow outdoors | Feb 21 to Mar 7 | Aug 18 to Sep 15 |
| Potatoes | Sow outdoors | Feb 21 to Mar 7 | – |
| Kale | Sow outdoors | Feb 21 to Mar 7 | Aug 18 to Sep 15 |
| Swiss chard | Sow outdoors | Mar 7 to Mar 21 | – |
| Cilantro | Sow outdoors | Mar 7 to Mar 21 | Sep 15 to Oct 13 |
| Dill | Sow outdoors | Mar 21 to Mar 28 | – |
| Bush beans | Sow outdoors | Mar 28 to Apr 4 | Aug 7 to Aug 21 |
| Pole beans | Sow outdoors | Mar 28 to Apr 4 | – |
| Sweet corn | Sow outdoors | Mar 28 to Apr 4 | – |
| Cucumbers | Sow outdoors | Mar 28 to Apr 4 | Jul 28 to Aug 11 |
| Zucchini and summer squash | Sow outdoors | Mar 28 to Apr 4 | Aug 7 to Aug 21 |
| Winter squash | Sow outdoors | Mar 28 to Apr 4 | – |
| Sweet potatoes (slips) | Sow outdoors | Apr 4 to Apr 18 | – |
| Okra | Sow outdoors | Apr 4 to Apr 18 | – |
A dash in the fall column means the crop is not usually planted in fall, or the season is too short.
Overnight lows this week
The National Weather Service forecast shows frost risk on: Sat 14 night (36°F), Mon 16 night (36°F). Cover tender plants before dark on those nights.
| Night | Forecast low | Frost risk |
|---|---|---|
| Sat 14 night | 36°F | Frost possible |
| Sun 15 night | 40°F | No frost expected |
| Mon 16 night | 36°F | Frost possible |
| Tue 17 night | 38°F | No frost expected |
| Wed 18 night | 46°F | No frost expected |
| Thu 19 night | 50°F | No frost expected |
| Fri 20 night | 52°F | No frost expected |
Live forecast for the station location, from the National Weather Service. For your own ZIP code, use our garden weather forecast.
More garden tools for Little Rock, AR
- Frost dates by ZIP code for your exact location
- What to plant now, based on today's date
- Garden weather forecast by ZIP code
- Safe transplant date calculator
Frequently asked questions
When is the last frost in Little Rock, AR?
The average last spring frost is Mar 21. A late frost as far out as Apr 6 happens in about 1 year in 10, so tender plants such as tomatoes and peppers are safest after that cautious date.
When is the first frost in Little Rock, AR?
The average first fall frost is Nov 10. It can arrive as early as Oct 29 in about 1 year in 10, so plan to harvest tender crops before then.
How long is the growing season in Little Rock, AR?
The average freeze-free season is about 234 days, between the average last spring frost and the average first fall frost.
Where do these dates come from?
They come from the NOAA 1991 to 2020 U.S. Climate Normals for the Little Rock Ap Adams Fld, AR station. Hills, valleys, lakes and city heat can shift frost by a week or more, so compare with neighbors who garden near you.