Bentonville, Arkansas planting calendar and frost dates
Bentonville is in USDA hardiness zone 7a. The last spring frost typically comes around April 8 and the first fall frost around October 28, giving about 203 frost-free days a year.
- Hardiness zone
- Zone 7a
- Typical last frost
- April 8
- Typical first frost
- October 28
- Frost-free season
- 203 days
Frost dates in Bentonville
Last spring frost
- March 21Risky: frost later than this in 9 years out of 10
- April 8Typical: a later frost in half of years
- April 26Safe: a later frost only 1 year in 10
First fall frost
- October 14Risky: frost earlier than this 1 year in 10
- October 28Typical: an earlier frost in half of years
- November 12Late: frost before this in 9 years out of 10
The growing season between the typical last and first frosts is about 203 days. Frost here means a low of 32°F at the weather station. A hard freeze (28°F), which damages most hardy crops too, typically ends around March 27 and returns around November 7.
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Fayetteville Nw Ar Airport, 9.1 miles SSW of the city center. Low-lying and rural spots often frost later in spring and earlier in fall than airports and city centers.
What to plant each month in Bentonville
January
Start indoors: broccoli, cabbages, cauliflower, collard greens, kale, leeks, onions, oregano, parsley, petunias, ranunculus, rosemary, snapdragons
February
Start indoors: black-eyed susans, broccoli, cabbages, cauliflower, celery, chives, cilantro, collard greens, eggplants, ginger, kale, leeks, lettuce, marigolds, nasturtiums, oregano, parsley, peppers, petunias, ranunculus, rosemary, sage, snapdragons, spinach, swiss chard, tomatoes
Plant or sow outdoors: black-eyed susans, blueberries, garlic, grapes, grass seed, hollyhocks, onions, peas, poppies, raspberries, rhubarb, strawberries, turnips, wildflowers
March
Start indoors: basil, cantaloupes, celery, cilantro, cosmos, cucumbers, eggplants, marigolds, nasturtiums, okra, peppers, pumpkins, ranunculus, spinach, swiss chard, tomatoes, watermelons, winter squash, zucchini
Plant or sow outdoors: asparagus, beets, black-eyed susans, blackberries, blueberries, broccoli, cabbages, carrots, cauliflower, chives, cilantro, collard greens, dahlias, dill, figs, garlic, gladioli, grapes, grass seed, green onions, hollyhocks, kale, leeks, lettuce, onions, parsley, peas, poppies, potatoes, radishes, ranunculus, raspberries, rhubarb, roses, snapdragons, spinach, strawberries, swiss chard, turnips, wildflowers
April
Start indoors: cantaloupes, cosmos, cucumbers, okra, pumpkins, watermelons, winter squash, zucchini
Plant or sow outdoors: asparagus, basil, beets, cantaloupes, carrots, cauliflower, chives, cilantro, cucumbers, dahlias, dill, eggplants, figs, garden mums, ginger, gladioli, grapes, green beans, green onions, kentucky bluegrass, lavenders, leeks, lettuce, lilies, marigolds, mints, nasturtiums, oregano, parsley, peppers, perennial ryegrass, petunias, pumpkins, ranunculus, rosemary, roses, sage, snapdragons, spinach, sunflowers, sweet corn, sweet peas, swiss chard, tall fescue, thyme, tomatoes, watermelons, winter squash, zucchini
May
Start indoors: zinnias
Plant or sow outdoors: bermudagrass, cantaloupes, celery, centipedegrass, cosmos, cucumbers, eggplants, garden mums, green beans, green onions, okra, peanuts, peppers, pumpkins, st. augustinegrass, sweet potatoes, tomatoes, watermelons, winter squash, zinnias, zoysiagrass, zucchini
June
Plant or sow outdoors: bermudagrass, centipedegrass, okra, st. augustinegrass, zinnias, zoysiagrass
July
Plant for fall: brussels sprouts, collard greens, lettuce, swiss chard
August
Plant for fall: bearded irises, beets, broccoli, cabbages, carrots, cauliflower, collard greens, daylilies, kale, lettuce, peas, radishes, snapdragons, spinach, swiss chard, turnips
September
Plant for fall: azaleas, bearded irises, beets, broccoli, cabbages, cauliflower, clematis, coneflowers, crocuses, daffodils, daylilies, grass seed, hostas, hyacinths, hydrangeas, kale, kentucky bluegrass, lettuce, lilies, ornamental alliums, peonies, perennial ryegrass, radishes, roses, saffron, snapdragons, spinach, tall fescue, tulips, turnips
October
Plant for fall: crocuses, daffodils, daylilies, garlic, hyacinths, lilies, ornamental alliums, peonies, tulips
November
Plant for fall: crocuses, garlic, hyacinths, ornamental alliums, tulips
December
Start indoors: onions
Frost dates and zones by ZIP code in Bentonville
All 2 of Bentonville's main ZIP codes take their frost dates from Fayetteville Nw Ar Airport, so the dates on this page apply across the city. Every one of them is in zone 7a.
Planting dates for popular crops in Bentonville
| Plant | Start indoors | Plant or sow outdoors | Fall planting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomatoes | Feb 26 to Mar 12 | Apr 23 to May 7 | — |
| Strawberries | — | Feb 25 to Mar 11 | — |
| Lettuce | Feb 11 to 25 | Apr 1 to 15 | Jul 29 to Sep 2 |
| Cilantro | Feb 25 to Mar 11 | Apr 8 to 15 | — |
| Basil | Mar 5 to 19 | Apr 23 to 30 | — |
| Potatoes | — | Mar 18 to 25 | — |
| Garlic | — | Feb 25 to Mar 11 | Oct 28 to Nov 11 |
| Onions | Dec 17 to Jan 28 | Mar 11 to 25 | — |
| Cucumbers | Mar 26 to Apr 9 | Apr 23 to May 7 | — |
| Pumpkins | Mar 26 to Apr 9 | Apr 23 to May 7 | — |
| Peppers | Feb 5 to Mar 5 | Apr 23 to May 7 | — |
| Carrots | — | Mar 18 to Apr 8 | Aug 5 to 26 |
| Sweet Potatoes | — | May 12 to 19 | — |
| Watermelons | Mar 19 to Apr 2 | Apr 23 to May 7 | — |
| Sweet Corn | — | Apr 8 to 22 | — |
| Green Beans | — | Apr 23 to May 7 | — |
| Zucchini | Mar 26 to Apr 9 | Apr 23 to May 7 | — |
| Broccoli | Jan 21 to Feb 11 | Mar 11 to 25 | Aug 12 to Sep 9 |
| Peas | — | Feb 25 to Mar 11 | Aug 5 to 19 |
| Spinach | Feb 25 to Mar 4 | Apr 1 to 15 | Aug 19 to Sep 23 |
| Sunflowers | — | Apr 8 to 29 | — |
| Zinnias | May 1 to 8 | May 29 to Jun 12 | — |
| Tulips | — | — | Sep 16 to Nov 11 |
| Daffodils | — | — | Sep 16 to Oct 28 |
| Grass Seed | — | Feb 25 to Mar 11 | Sep 16 to 30 |
Nearby cities
- Rogers, AR zone 7a, last frost Apr 12
- Springdale, AR zone 7a, last frost Apr 15
- Fayetteville, AR zone 7a, last frost Apr 15
- Joplin, MO zone 7a, last frost Apr 9
- Fort Smith, AR zone 8a, last frost Mar 25
- Springfield, MO zone 6b, last frost Apr 9
Planting in ArkansasAbout zone 7aPrintable calendar for Bentonville
Questions
When is the last frost in Bentonville?
Around April 8 in a typical year, based on NOAA's 1991-2020 records for Fayetteville Nw Ar Airport. There is still a 1 in 10 chance of frost after April 26.
What planting zone is Bentonville in?
USDA hardiness zone 7a (2023 map). The zone tells you which perennials survive the winter; planting dates depend on frost dates instead.
When should I plant tomatoes in Bentonville?
Start seeds indoors February 26 to March 12 and set plants out April 23 to May 7; the safest date to plant out is after April 26.
When is the first frost in Bentonville?
Around October 28 in a typical year, and before October 14 about 1 year in 10.