Conway, Arkansas planting calendar and frost dates
Conway is in USDA hardiness zone 8a. The last spring frost typically comes around April 2 and the first fall frost around November 2, giving about 215 frost-free days a year.
- Hardiness zone
- Zone 8a
- Typical last frost
- April 2
- Typical first frost
- November 2
- Frost-free season
- 215 days
Frost dates in Conway
Last spring frost
- March 13Risky: frost later than this in 9 years out of 10
- April 2Typical: a later frost in half of years
- April 19Safe: a later frost only 1 year in 10
First fall frost
- October 20Risky: frost earlier than this 1 year in 10
- November 2Typical: an earlier frost in half of years
- November 16Late: frost before this in 9 years out of 10
The growing season between the typical last and first frosts is about 215 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 17 and returns around November 11.
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Conway, 3.5 miles N 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 Conway
January
Start indoors: broccoli, cabbages, cauliflower, collard greens, kale, leeks, onions, oregano, parsley, peppers, petunias, ranunculus, rosemary, snapdragons
February
Start indoors: basil, black-eyed susans, broccoli, cabbages, cauliflower, celery, chives, cilantro, collard greens, eggplants, ginger, 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, kale, onions, peas, poppies, raspberries, rhubarb, strawberries, turnips, wildflowers
March
Start indoors: basil, cantaloupes, cilantro, cosmos, cucumbers, marigolds, nasturtiums, okra, pumpkins, ranunculus, 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, kentucky bluegrass, leeks, lettuce, onions, parsley, peas, perennial ryegrass, poppies, potatoes, radishes, ranunculus, raspberries, rhubarb, roses, snapdragons, spinach, strawberries, sweet peas, swiss chard, tall fescue, turnips, wildflowers
April
Start indoors: cosmos, cucumbers, okra, pumpkins, winter squash, zinnias, zucchini
Plant or sow outdoors: asparagus, basil, beets, cantaloupes, carrots, 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
Plant or sow outdoors: bermudagrass, cantaloupes, celery, centipedegrass, cosmos, cucumbers, eggplants, 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, st. augustinegrass, zinnias, zoysiagrass
July
Plant for fall: brussels sprouts, peppers, potatoes, sweet corn, tomatoes
August
Plant for fall: bearded irises, beets, broccoli, brussels sprouts, cabbages, carrots, cauliflower, collard greens, cucumbers, daylilies, green beans, kale, lettuce, peas, peppers, radishes, snapdragons, spinach, sweet corn, swiss chard, turnips, zucchini
September
Plant for fall: azaleas, bearded irises, beets, broccoli, cabbages, cauliflower, clematis, coneflowers, crocuses, daffodils, daylilies, grass seed, hostas, 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, grass seed, hostas, hyacinths, kale, kentucky bluegrass, lilies, ornamental alliums, peonies, perennial ryegrass, radishes, saffron, tall fescue, tulips
November
Plant for fall: crocuses, daffodils, garlic, hyacinths, lilies, ornamental alliums, peonies, tulips
December
Start indoors: onions
Frost dates and zones by ZIP code in Conway
All 3 of Conway's main ZIP codes take their frost dates from Conway, so the dates on this page apply across the city. Every one of them is in zone 8a.
Planting dates for popular crops in Conway
| Plant | Start indoors | Plant or sow outdoors | Fall planting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomatoes | Feb 20 to Mar 6 | Apr 17 to May 1 | Jul 20 to 27 |
| Strawberries | — | Feb 19 to Mar 5 | — |
| Lettuce | Feb 5 to 19 | Mar 26 to Apr 9 | Aug 3 to Sep 7 |
| Cilantro | Feb 19 to Mar 5 | Apr 2 to 9 | — |
| Basil | Feb 27 to Mar 13 | Apr 17 to 24 | — |
| Potatoes | — | Mar 13 to 20 | Jul 13 to 20 |
| Garlic | — | Feb 19 to Mar 5 | Nov 2 to 16 |
| Onions | Dec 11 to Jan 22 | Mar 5 to 19 | — |
| Cucumbers | Mar 20 to Apr 3 | Apr 17 to May 1 | Aug 3 to 17 |
| Pumpkins | Mar 20 to Apr 3 | Apr 17 to May 1 | — |
| Peppers | Jan 30 to Feb 27 | Apr 17 to May 1 | Jul 13 to Aug 10 |
| Carrots | — | Mar 12 to Apr 2 | Aug 10 to 31 |
| Sweet Potatoes | — | May 5 to 12 | — |
| Watermelons | Mar 13 to 27 | Apr 17 to May 1 | — |
| Sweet Corn | — | Apr 2 to 16 | Jul 27 to Aug 10 |
| Green Beans | — | Apr 17 to May 1 | Aug 10 to 17 |
| Zucchini | Mar 20 to Apr 3 | Apr 17 to May 1 | Aug 10 to 24 |
| Broccoli | Jan 15 to Feb 5 | Mar 5 to 19 | Aug 17 to Sep 14 |
| Peas | — | Feb 19 to Mar 5 | Aug 10 to 24 |
| Spinach | Feb 19 to 26 | Mar 26 to Apr 9 | Aug 24 to Sep 28 |
| Sunflowers | — | Apr 2 to 23 | — |
| Zinnias | Apr 23 to 30 | May 21 to Jun 4 | — |
| Tulips | — | — | Sep 21 to Nov 16 |
| Daffodils | — | — | Sep 21 to Nov 2 |
| Grass Seed | — | Feb 19 to Mar 5 | Sep 21 to Oct 5 |
Nearby cities
- North Little Rock, AR zone 8a, last frost Mar 21
- Little Rock, AR zone 8a, last frost Mar 21
- Fort Smith, AR zone 8a, last frost Mar 25
- Jonesboro, AR zone 8a, last frost Mar 23
- Fayetteville, AR zone 7a, last frost Apr 15
- Springdale, AR zone 7a, last frost Apr 15
Planting in ArkansasAbout zone 8aPrintable calendar for Conway
Questions
When is the last frost in Conway?
Around April 2 in a typical year, based on NOAA's 1991-2020 records for Conway. There is still a 1 in 10 chance of frost after April 19.
What planting zone is Conway in?
USDA hardiness zone 8a (2023 map). The zone tells you which perennials survive the winter; planting dates depend on frost dates instead.
When should I plant tomatoes in Conway?
Start seeds indoors February 20 to March 6 and set plants out April 17 to May 1; the safest date to plant out is after April 19.
When is the first frost in Conway?
Around November 2 in a typical year, and before October 20 about 1 year in 10.