When is the last frost in Little Rock, AR?

The average (50% probability) last spring frost in Little Rock is March 21, based on NOAA 1991–2020 normals. A 1-in-10 risk remains until April 6.

When is the first frost in Little Rock?

The average first fall frost in Little Rock is November 10, with a growing season of about 234 days.

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Little Rock, Arkansas frost dates

Average last spring frost: March 21. Average first fall frost: November 10. That gives a growing season of about 234 days. For frost-tender plants, a safer planting date is April 6, after which a freeze happens in only 1 year in 10.

Last frost (50%)

Mar 21

1-in-10 risk after Apr 6

First frost (50%)

Nov 10

1-in-10 risk before Oct 29

Growing season

234 days

median frost-free days

Hard freeze (28°F)

Mar 8

median last 28°F in spring

Frost risk by date

Chance of frost	Spring: frost after	Fall: frost before
90%	March 2	November 25
70%	March 13	November 17
50%	March 21	November 10
30%	March 28	November 4
10%	April 6	October 29

Read the spring column like this: there is a 10% chance of a 32°F freeze after April 6. These are NOAA probabilities for the Little Rock Airport Adams Fld weather station (USW00013963, elevation 79 m), 1991–2020.

Little Rock vegetable planting calendar

Dates count from the 50% last-frost date (March 21). For tomatoes, peppers and other frost-tender crops, waiting until the 10% date (Apr 6) is the cautious choice.

Crop	Start seeds indoors	Plant out
Beans	Feb 28	Mar 28 (usually sown directly in the garden)
Broccoli	Jan 10	Feb 21
Brussels sprouts	Jan 10	Feb 21
Cabbage	Jan 3	Feb 14
Cauliflower	Jan 24	Mar 7
Sweet corn	Feb 21	Mar 21 (usually sown directly in the garden)
Cucumbers	Mar 7	Mar 28
Kale	Jan 3	Feb 14
Leeks	Dec 6	Feb 14
Lettuce	Jan 31	Mar 7
Melons	Mar 14	Apr 4
Onions	Nov 29	Feb 7 (from seed; sets and transplants go out at the same time)
Peas	Jan 24	Feb 21 (usually sown directly in the garden)
Peppers	Feb 7	Apr 4
Squash	Mar 14	Apr 4
Tomatoes	Jan 24	Mar 21

Offsets from Oregon State University Extension's seed-starting table. "Plant out" means transplant, or sow directly for crops usually grown from seed.

Fall frost and season extension

The first fall freeze usually arrives around November 10. There's a 1-in-10 chance it comes before October 29. Harvest tender crops such as basil, tomatoes, peppers and squash before then, or cover them on cold nights. Cool-season crops like kale, cabbage and Brussels sprouts handle light frost, and often taste sweeter after it. A hard freeze (28°F) typically comes around November 21.

Nearby cities

City	Last frost (50%)	First frost (50%)	Distance
Shreveport, LA	Mar 9	Nov 18	~292 km
Springfield, MO	Apr 9	Oct 27	~298 km
Jackson, MS	Mar 14	Nov 14	~332 km
Tulsa, OK	Mar 31	Nov 4	~371 km
Baton Rouge, LA	Feb 25	Nov 26	~476 km
St. Louis, MO	Apr 2	Nov 4	~478 km

More: all Arkansas frost dates