Jonesboro, Arkansas planting calendar and frost dates
Jonesboro is in USDA hardiness zone 8a. The last spring frost typically comes around March 23 and the first fall frost around November 9, giving about 230 frost-free days a year.
- Typical last frost
- March 23
- Typical first frost
- November 9
- Frost-free season
- 230 days
Frost dates in Jonesboro
Last spring frost
- March 7Risky: frost later than this in 9 years out of 10
- March 23Typical: a later frost in half of years
- April 9Safe: a later frost only 1 year in 10
First fall frost
- October 27Risky: frost earlier than this 1 year in 10
- November 9Typical: an earlier frost in half of years
- November 26Late: frost before this in 9 years out of 10
The growing season between the typical last and first frosts is about 230 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 10 and returns around November 20.
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Jonesboro Muni Airport, 3.8 miles W 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 Jonesboro
January
Start indoors: black-eyed susans, broccoli, cabbages, cauliflower, chives, collard greens, ginger, kale, leeks, lettuce, marigolds, onions, oregano, parsley, peppers, petunias, ranunculus, rosemary, sage, snapdragons
February
Start indoors: basil, black-eyed susans, cabbages, cauliflower, celery, chives, cilantro, collard greens, eggplants, ginger, lettuce, marigolds, nasturtiums, peppers, ranunculus, sage, snapdragons, spinach, swiss chard, tomatoes
Plant or sow outdoors: beets, black-eyed susans, blackberries, blueberries, broccoli, cauliflower, chives, cilantro, collard greens, figs, garlic, gladioli, grapes, grass seed, hollyhocks, kale, leeks, onions, peas, poppies, radishes, ranunculus, raspberries, rhubarb, roses, spinach, strawberries, swiss chard, turnips, wildflowers
March
Start indoors: basil, cantaloupes, cosmos, cucumbers, okra, pumpkins, ranunculus, tomatoes, watermelons, winter squash, zucchini
Plant or sow outdoors: asparagus, beets, black-eyed susans, blackberries, broccoli, cabbages, carrots, cauliflower, chives, cilantro, collard greens, dahlias, dill, figs, garden mums, ginger, gladioli, grapes, green onions, kentucky bluegrass, lavenders, leeks, lettuce, lilies, marigolds, mints, nasturtiums, onions, oregano, parsley, perennial ryegrass, petunias, potatoes, radishes, ranunculus, rosemary, roses, sage, snapdragons, spinach, sunflowers, sweet corn, sweet peas, swiss chard, tall fescue, thyme, turnips
April
Start indoors: cosmos, okra, zinnias
Plant or sow outdoors: asparagus, basil, bermudagrass, cantaloupes, celery, centipedegrass, cosmos, cucumbers, eggplants, garden mums, ginger, grapes, green beans, green onions, kentucky bluegrass, lavenders, lilies, marigolds, mints, nasturtiums, okra, oregano, parsley, peanuts, peppers, perennial ryegrass, petunias, pumpkins, rosemary, sage, st. augustinegrass, sunflowers, sweet corn, sweet peas, sweet potatoes, tall fescue, thyme, tomatoes, watermelons, winter squash, zoysiagrass, zucchini
May
Plant or sow outdoors: bermudagrass, celery, centipedegrass, cosmos, green onions, okra, peanuts, st. augustinegrass, sweet potatoes, zinnias, zoysiagrass
June
Plant or sow outdoors: bermudagrass, centipedegrass, st. augustinegrass, zoysiagrass
July
August
Plant for fall: bearded irises, beets, broccoli, brussels sprouts, cabbages, carrots, cauliflower, collard greens, cucumbers, green beans, lettuce, peas, peppers, radishes, snapdragons, spinach, sweet corn, swiss chard, tomatoes, turnips, zucchini
September
Plant for fall: azaleas, bearded irises, beets, broccoli, cabbages, carrots, 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, swiss chard, tall fescue, tulips, turnips
October
Plant for fall: cabbages, cauliflower, crocuses, daffodils, daylilies, grass seed, hostas, hyacinths, kale, kentucky bluegrass, lilies, ornamental alliums, peonies, perennial ryegrass, radishes, saffron, spinach, tall fescue, tulips
November
Plant for fall: crocuses, daffodils, garlic, hyacinths, lilies, ornamental alliums, peonies, tulips
December
Start indoors: collard greens, leeks, onions, petunias, ranunculus
Frost dates and zones by ZIP code in Jonesboro
Jonesboro's 3 main ZIP codes take their frost dates from 2 different NOAA stations: the typical last frost ranges from March 23 in 72401 to April 1 in 72405. The hardiness zone is 7b in 72405, and 8a in 72401, 72404.
Planting dates for popular crops in Jonesboro
| Plant | Start indoors | Plant or sow outdoors | Fall planting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomatoes | Feb 17 to Mar 3 | Apr 14 to 28 | Jul 27 to Aug 3 |
| Strawberries | — | Feb 9 to 23 | — |
| Lettuce | Jan 26 to Feb 9 | Mar 16 to 30 | Aug 10 to Sep 14 |
| Cilantro | Feb 9 to 23 | Mar 23 to 30 | — |
| Basil | Feb 24 to Mar 10 | Apr 14 to 21 | — |
| Potatoes | — | Mar 13 to 20 | Jul 20 to 27 |
| Garlic | — | Feb 9 to 23 | Nov 9 to 23 |
| Onions | Dec 1 to Jan 12 | Feb 23 to Mar 9 | — |
| Cucumbers | Mar 17 to 31 | Apr 14 to 28 | Aug 10 to 24 |
| Pumpkins | Mar 17 to 31 | Apr 14 to 28 | — |
| Peppers | Jan 27 to Feb 24 | Apr 14 to 28 | Jul 20 to Aug 17 |
| Carrots | — | Mar 2 to 23 | Aug 17 to Sep 7 |
| Sweet Potatoes | — | Apr 30 to May 7 | — |
| Watermelons | Mar 10 to 24 | Apr 14 to 28 | — |
| Sweet Corn | — | Mar 23 to Apr 6 | Aug 3 to 17 |
| Green Beans | — | Apr 14 to 28 | Aug 17 to 24 |
| Zucchini | Mar 17 to 31 | Apr 14 to 28 | Aug 17 to 31 |
| Broccoli | Jan 5 to 26 | Feb 23 to Mar 9 | Aug 24 to Sep 21 |
| Peas | — | Feb 9 to 23 | Aug 17 to 31 |
| Spinach | Feb 9 to 16 | Mar 16 to 30 | Aug 31 to Oct 5 |
| Sunflowers | — | Mar 23 to Apr 13 | — |
| Zinnias | Apr 17 to 24 | May 15 to 29 | — |
| Tulips | — | — | Sep 28 to Nov 23 |
| Daffodils | — | — | Sep 28 to Nov 9 |
| Grass Seed | — | Feb 9 to 23 | Sep 28 to Oct 12 |
Nearby cities
- Bartlett, TN zone 8a, last frost Mar 16
- Memphis, TN zone 8a, last frost Mar 16
- Southaven, MS zone 8a, last frost Mar 16
- Collierville, TN zone 8a, last frost Mar 29
- Jackson, TN zone 7b, last frost Apr 2
- Conway, AR zone 8a, last frost Apr 2
Planting in ArkansasAbout zone 8aPrintable calendar for Jonesboro
Questions
When is the last frost in Jonesboro?
Around March 23 in a typical year, based on NOAA's 1991-2020 records for Jonesboro Muni Airport. There is still a 1 in 10 chance of frost after April 9.
What planting zone is Jonesboro in?
USDA hardiness zone 8a (2023 map), with parts of the city in zone 7b. The zone tells you which perennials survive the winter; planting dates depend on frost dates instead.
When should I plant tomatoes in Jonesboro?
Start seeds indoors February 17 to March 3 and set plants out April 14 to 28.
When is the first frost in Jonesboro?
Around November 9 in a typical year, and before October 27 about 1 year in 10.