Fayetteville, Arkansas planting calendar and frost dates
Fayetteville is in USDA hardiness zone 7a. The last spring frost typically comes around April 15 and the first fall frost around October 21, giving about 188 frost-free days a year.
- Hardiness zone
- Zone 7a
- Typical last frost
- April 15
- Typical first frost
- October 21
- Frost-free season
- 188 days
Frost dates in Fayetteville
Last spring frost
- March 31Risky: frost later than this in 9 years out of 10
- April 15Typical: a later frost in half of years
- May 1Safe: a later frost only 1 year in 10
First fall frost
- October 8Risky: frost earlier than this 1 year in 10
- October 21Typical: an earlier frost in half of years
- November 3Late: frost before this in 9 years out of 10
The growing season between the typical last and first frosts is about 188 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 April 3 and returns around October 31.
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Fayetteville Drake Fld, 3.7 miles S of the city center and 156 feet lower. 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 Fayetteville
January
Start indoors: broccoli, cauliflower, collard greens, kale, leeks, onions, petunias, ranunculus
February
Start indoors: black-eyed susans, broccoli, cabbages, cauliflower, celery, chives, collard greens, eggplants, ginger, kale, leeks, lettuce, marigolds, onions, oregano, parsley, peppers, petunias, ranunculus, rosemary, sage, snapdragons
March
Start indoors: basil, black-eyed susans, cabbages, cantaloupes, celery, chives, cilantro, collard greens, cucumbers, eggplants, ginger, lettuce, marigolds, nasturtiums, peppers, ranunculus, sage, snapdragons, spinach, swiss chard, tomatoes, watermelons, zucchini
Plant or sow outdoors: asparagus, beets, black-eyed susans, blackberries, blueberries, broccoli, cabbages, carrots, cauliflower, chives, cilantro, collard greens, figs, garlic, gladioli, grapes, grass seed, green onions, hollyhocks, kale, leeks, lettuce, onions, parsley, peas, poppies, potatoes, radishes, ranunculus, raspberries, rhubarb, roses, spinach, strawberries, swiss chard, turnips, wildflowers
April
Start indoors: cantaloupes, cosmos, cucumbers, okra, pumpkins, ranunculus, watermelons, winter squash, zucchini
Plant or sow outdoors: asparagus, basil, beets, black-eyed susans, blackberries, broccoli, cabbages, 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, onions, oregano, parsley, peppers, perennial ryegrass, petunias, potatoes, pumpkins, radishes, ranunculus, rosemary, roses, sage, snapdragons, spinach, sunflowers, sweet corn, sweet peas, swiss chard, tall fescue, thyme, tomatoes, turnips, watermelons, winter squash, zucchini
May
Start indoors: zinnias
Plant or sow outdoors: asparagus, basil, bermudagrass, cantaloupes, celery, centipedegrass, cosmos, cucumbers, eggplants, garden mums, ginger, green beans, green onions, okra, peanuts, peppers, pumpkins, st. augustinegrass, sunflowers, sweet potatoes, tomatoes, watermelons, winter squash, zoysiagrass, zucchini
June
Plant or sow outdoors: bermudagrass, centipedegrass, okra, st. augustinegrass, zinnias, zoysiagrass
July
Plant for fall: bearded irises, brussels sprouts, carrots, collard greens, lettuce, peas, snapdragons, swiss chard
August
Plant for fall: azaleas, bearded irises, beets, broccoli, cabbages, carrots, cauliflower, clematis, collard greens, coneflowers, daylilies, hostas, hydrangeas, kale, lettuce, peas, radishes, roses, saffron, 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, lilies, ornamental alliums, peonies, perennial ryegrass, radishes, roses, saffron, spinach, tall fescue, tulips, turnips
October
Plant for fall: crocuses, daffodils, 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 Fayetteville
All 3 of Fayetteville's main ZIP codes take their frost dates from Fayetteville Drake Fld, so the dates on this page apply across the city. Every one of them is in zone 7a.
| ZIP code | Zone | Weather station | Typical last frost | Typical first frost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 72701 | 7a | Fayetteville Drake Fld, 3.7 mi S | Apr 15 | Oct 21 |
| 72703 | 7a | Fayetteville Drake Fld, 3.7 mi S | Apr 15 | Oct 21 |
| 72704 | 7a | Fayetteville Drake Fld, 3.7 mi S | Apr 15 | Oct 21 |
Fayetteville Drake Fld also supplies the frost dates for Springdale, so their planting calendars match Fayetteville's.
Planting dates for popular crops in Fayetteville
| Plant | Start indoors | Plant or sow outdoors | Fall planting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomatoes | Mar 2 to 16 | Apr 27 to May 11 | — |
| Strawberries | — | Mar 4 to 18 | — |
| Lettuce | Feb 18 to Mar 4 | Apr 8 to 22 | Jul 22 to Aug 26 |
| Cilantro | Mar 4 to 18 | Apr 15 to 22 | — |
| Basil | Mar 9 to 23 | Apr 27 to May 4 | — |
| Potatoes | — | Mar 25 to Apr 1 | — |
| Garlic | — | Mar 4 to 18 | Oct 21 to Nov 4 |
| Onions | Dec 24 to Feb 4 | Mar 18 to Apr 1 | — |
| Cucumbers | Mar 30 to Apr 13 | Apr 27 to May 11 | — |
| Pumpkins | Apr 1 to 15 | Apr 29 to May 13 | — |
| Peppers | Feb 9 to Mar 9 | Apr 27 to May 11 | — |
| Carrots | — | Mar 25 to Apr 15 | Jul 29 to Aug 19 |
| Sweet Potatoes | — | May 15 to 22 | — |
| Watermelons | Mar 23 to Apr 6 | Apr 27 to May 11 | — |
| Sweet Corn | — | Apr 15 to 29 | — |
| Green Beans | — | Apr 27 to May 11 | — |
| Zucchini | Mar 30 to Apr 13 | Apr 27 to May 11 | — |
| Broccoli | Jan 28 to Feb 18 | Mar 18 to Apr 1 | Aug 5 to Sep 2 |
| Peas | — | Mar 4 to 18 | Jul 29 to Aug 12 |
| Spinach | Mar 4 to 11 | Apr 8 to 22 | Aug 12 to Sep 16 |
| Sunflowers | — | Apr 15 to May 6 | — |
| Zinnias | May 4 to 11 | Jun 1 to 15 | — |
| Tulips | — | — | Sep 9 to Nov 4 |
| Daffodils | — | — | Sep 9 to Oct 21 |
| Grass Seed | — | Mar 4 to 18 | Sep 9 to 23 |
Nearby cities
- Springdale, AR zone 7a, last frost Apr 15
- Rogers, AR zone 7a, last frost Apr 12
- Bentonville, AR zone 7a, last frost Apr 8
- Fort Smith, AR zone 8a, last frost Mar 25
- Joplin, MO zone 7a, last frost Apr 9
- Broken Arrow, OK zone 7b, last frost Mar 31
Planting in ArkansasAbout zone 7aPrintable calendar for Fayetteville
Questions
When is the last frost in Fayetteville?
Around April 15 in a typical year, based on NOAA's 1991-2020 records for Fayetteville Drake Fld. There is still a 1 in 10 chance of frost after May 1.
What planting zone is Fayetteville 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 Fayetteville?
Start seeds indoors March 2 to 16 and set plants out April 27 to May 11; the safest date to plant out is after May 1.
When is the first frost in Fayetteville?
Around October 21 in a typical year, and before October 8 about 1 year in 10.