USDA zone 8a in Arkansas
USDA plant hardiness zone 8a covers 64 locations across Arkansas (average annual extreme minimum 10 to 15 °F): Acorn, AR, Arkadelphia, AR, Blytheville, AR, Boles, AR, Bono, AR, Booneville, AR, and 58 more. Average last spring frost across this group ranges March 11 (Gregory) to April 9 (Mulberry), and growing seasons run 198–247 days (Guy to Gregory) — even within one state, because hardiness sets winter survival, not planting dates. The table below gives every Arkansas location's own frost dates; the printable planting calendar uses Hope, this group's median-season location.
- USDA zone
- 8a10 to 15 °F
- Last frost range
- Mar 11–Apr 9avg, 32°F
- First frost range
- Oct 25–Nov 16avg, 32°F
- Growing season range
- 198–247days
Locations in this group
Every location below shares this zone and a nearby weather station, but keeps its own frost dates — find your town for its own numbers, or use the ZIP planner on the home page for an instant personalized answer.
| Location | Also covers | Nearest station | Last frost | First frost | Season (days) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Acorn | Vandervoort | Mena | Apr 5 | Nov 1 | 208 |
| Arkadelphia | Gum Springs | Arkadelphia 2 N | Mar 26 | Nov 4 | 225 |
| Blytheville | Dell, Luxora, Rives | Blytheville | Mar 18 | Nov 14 | 240 |
| Boles | — | Waldron | Apr 8 | Oct 28 | 203 |
| Bono | — | Jonesboro 2 Ne | Apr 1 | Nov 1 | 215 |
| Booneville | Branch, Boles | Booneville 3 Sse | Apr 4 | Nov 1 | 210 |
| Brinkley | Goodwin, Palestine, Wheatley, Cotton Plant, Moro, Monroe, +1 more | Brinkley | Mar 18 | Nov 11 | 237 |
| Brookland | Monette, Leachville, Arbyrd, Cardwell, Black Oak | Paragould 1s | Mar 26 | Nov 6 | 227 |
| Bryant | Avilla, Tull, Salem, Sardis | Benton | Mar 24 | Nov 7 | 229 |
| Cabot | Beebe, Ward, El Paso, Austin | Cabot | Apr 4 | Oct 31 | 209 |
| Camden | Chidester, Louann | Camden 1 | Mar 21 | Nov 6 | 230 |
| Carthage | Leola | Leola | Apr 2 | Nov 2 | 215 |
| Charleston | Alix | Ozark 2 | Mar 30 | Nov 6 | 222 |
| Clarendon | De Valls Bluff | Clarendon | Mar 15 | Nov 11 | 241 |
| Clarksville | — | Clarksville 2n | Mar 24 | Nov 10 | 233 |
| Coal Hill | Subiaco, Ratcliff, New Blaine, Hartman, Morrison Bluff, Scranton | Subiaco | Mar 28 | Nov 5 | 223 |
| Conway | Roland, Vilonia, Greenbrier, Wooster, Enola, Menifee, +4 more | Conway | Apr 2 | Nov 2 | 215 |
| Crystal Springs | Mountain Pine, Pearcy | Blakely Mtn Dam | Apr 3 | Nov 4 | 216 |
| Fordyce | Ivan, New Edinburg, Thornton, Bearden, Kingsland | Fordyce | Mar 26 | Nov 6 | 226 |
| Fort Smith | Pocola, Van Buren, Greenwood, Barling, Arkoma, Roland, +3 more | Ft Smith Rgnl Ap | Mar 25 | Nov 6 | 224 |
| Glenwood | Mount Ida, Norman, Oden, Pencil Bluff, Black Springs | Mount Ida Asos | Apr 2 | Oct 31 | 213 |
| Grannis | De Queen, Eagletown, Lockesburg, Wickes, Foreman, Horatio, +2 more | Dequeen | Mar 29 | Nov 5 | 222 |
| Gregory | Hazen, Des Arc, Augusta, Fredonia (Biscoe), Griffithville | Des Arc | Mar 11 | Nov 14 | 247 |
| Guy | — | Greenbrier | Apr 9 | Oct 25 | 198 |
| Hagarville | — | Clarksville 6 Ne | Mar 25 | Nov 10 | 232 |
| Hampton | Harrell | Calion L&d | Mar 18 | Nov 7 | 235 |
| Harrisburg | — | Poinsett Sp | Mar 28 | Nov 7 | 224 |
| Helena-West Helena | Dundee, Oneida, Friars Point, Lula, Falcon, Coahoma | Helena | Mar 15 | Nov 16 | 246 |
| Hope * | Emmet, Washington | Hope 3 Ne | Mar 26 | Nov 6 | 226 |
| Hot Springs | Lake Hamilton | Hot Springs 1 Nne | Mar 19 | Nov 13 | 239 |
| Jonesboro | Brookland, Payneway, Lake, Bay | Jonesboro Muni Ap | Mar 23 | Nov 9 | 230 |
| Keo | Carlisle, Lonoke, Woodson, Scott, Redfield, England, +1 more | Keo | Mar 21 | Nov 9 | 235 |
| Knoxville | London, Centerville, New Blaine | Dardanelle | Apr 1 | Nov 2 | 215 |
| Little Rock | North Little Rock, Jacksonville, Maumelle, Gibson, Natural Steps, Cammack | Little Rock | Mar 16 | Nov 16 | 245 |
| Little Rock | North Little Rock, East End, Avilla, Shannon Hills, Wrightsville, McAlmont, +1 more | Little Rock Ap Adams Fld | Mar 21 | Nov 10 | 234 |
| Magness | — | Batesville L&d 1 | Mar 30 | Nov 5 | 221 |
| Malvern | Traskwood, Poyen | Malvern | Mar 31 | Nov 5 | 220 |
| Marianna | Madison, Marvell, Poplar Grove, Haynes, Aubrey, LaGrange | Marianna 2 S | Mar 18 | Nov 11 | 238 |
| McCrory | Weiner, Beedeville, Patterson, Hickory Ridge, Fisher, Tupelo, +1 more | Beedeville 4 Ne | Mar 23 | Nov 5 | 227 |
| Midway | Bismarck, Alpine, Friendship | Hot Springs Asos | Mar 24 | Nov 9 | 230 |
| Minturn | Swifton, Alicia, Cash, Egypt | Alicia 2nne | Mar 27 | Nov 5 | 224 |
| Morrilton | Atkins, Hattieville, Houston, Adona, Perry | Morrilton | Mar 30 | Nov 2 | 219 |
| Mulberry | Alma, Dyer | Mountainburg 2 Ne | Apr 9 | Oct 28 | 201 |
| Murfreesboro | Newhope, Daisy, McCaskill, Delight | Murfreesboro 1w | Apr 5 | Nov 1 | 209 |
| Nashville | Ben Lomond, Saratoga, Mineral Springs, Dierks, Ozan | Nashville | Mar 26 | Nov 9 | 227 |
| Newhope | — | Big Fk 1 Sse | Mar 26 | Nov 12 | 235 |
| Newport | Tuckerman, Newark, Bradford, Grubbs, Jacksonport, Oil Trough | Newport | Mar 18 | Nov 11 | 240 |
| Osceola | Etowah, Marked Tree, Manila, Caraway, Lepanto, Tyronza, +6 more | Keiser | Mar 23 | Nov 6 | 229 |
| Prescott | Rosston, Gurdon, Bluff, Blevins, Antoine, Beirne, +1 more | Prescott 2 Nnw | Mar 29 | Nov 6 | 224 |
| Rison | — | Rison | Mar 17 | Nov 14 | 241 |
| Roland | Avilla, Aplin, Lonsdale | Alum Fk | Mar 28 | Nov 8 | 226 |
| Rover | Corinth, Belleville, Magazine, Havana | Blue Mtn Dam | Mar 31 | Nov 1 | 215 |
| Rover | Ola, Casa | Nimrod Dam | Mar 22 | Nov 11 | 233 |
| Russellville | Pottsville | Russellville Muni Ap | Mar 29 | Nov 2 | 219 |
| Searcy | Bald Knob, Floyd, Kensett, Garner, McRae, West Point, +1 more | Searcy | Mar 27 | Nov 8 | 228 |
| Sheridan | Redfield, Staves, Prattsville | Sheridan | Apr 1 | Nov 3 | 218 |
| Smackover | — | El Dorado S Ar Rgnl Ap | Mar 24 | Nov 7 | 230 |
| Sparkman | — | Sparkman | Mar 29 | Nov 4 | 223 |
| Stephens | — | Magnolia | Mar 31 | Nov 2 | 218 |
| Tumbling Shoals | Rose Bud, Quitman, Mount Vernon, Pangburn | Greers Ferry Dam | Mar 31 | Nov 6 | 222 |
| Walnut Ridge | — | Pocahontas 1 | Mar 31 | Nov 1 | 214 |
| Warren | Banks | Warren 2 Wsw | Mar 20 | Nov 11 | 235 |
| White Hall | Sulphur Springs | Pine Bluff | Mar 14 | Nov 16 | 245 |
| Wynne | Earle, Caldwell, Parkin, Madison, Colt, Vanndale, +2 more | Wynne | Mar 23 | Nov 7 | 231 |
* Hope is this group's median-season location — the calendar below is computed from its data.
Data: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 (public domain) and USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map 2023. Planting windows synthesized from U.S. Cooperative Extension guides.
Planting calendar (Hope, representative)
Computed from Hope's average frost dates — the median-season location in this Arkansaszone 8a group. hatched = start seeds indoors, solid green = plant out, teal = a fall sowing, and the terracotta dot marks the estimated first harvest. Ranges are extension-guide planning guidance, not guarantees — your own location's dates may run a week or two earlier or later (see the table above).
- Start indoors
- Plant out
- Fall sowing
- First harvest
| Crop | Frost tolerance | Start indoors | Plant out | First harvest | Fall planting | Season fit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tomato | Tender | Jan 29 – Feb 12 | Apr 2 – Apr 9 | Jun 1 – Jun 21 | — | matures comfortably |
| Pepper | Very tender | Jan 15 – Jan 29 | Apr 9 – Apr 16 | Jun 8 – Jul 8 | — | matures comfortably |
| Cucumber | Tender | Feb 26 – Mar 5 | Apr 2 – Apr 9 | May 22 – Jun 11 | — | matures comfortably |
| Summer squash / zucchini | Tender | — | Apr 2 – Apr 9 | May 17 – Jun 1 | — | matures comfortably |
| Bush bean | Tender | — | Apr 2 – Apr 9 | May 22 – Jun 1 | Sep 7 – Sep 17 | matures comfortably |
| Sweet corn | Tender | — | Mar 26 – Apr 9 | May 25 – Jun 24 | — | matures comfortably |
| Basil | Very tender | Feb 12 – Feb 26 | Apr 2 – Apr 9 | May 2 – May 17 | — | matures comfortably |
| Lettuce | Half-hardy | Feb 12 – Feb 26 | Feb 26 – Mar 12 | Apr 12 – Apr 27 | Aug 24 – Sep 8 | matures comfortably |
| Pea | Hardy | — | Feb 12 – Feb 26 | Apr 8 – Apr 23 | Aug 14 – Aug 29 | matures comfortably |
| Spinach | Hardy | — | Feb 12 – Feb 26 | Mar 24 – Apr 3 | Sep 3 – Sep 13 | matures comfortably |
| Carrot | Half-hardy | — | Mar 5 – Mar 12 | May 4 – May 24 | Aug 4 – Aug 24 | matures comfortably |
| Broccoli | Half-hardy | Jan 29 – Feb 12 | Feb 26 – Mar 12 | Apr 22 – May 12 | Aug 9 – Aug 29 | matures comfortably |
Which crops fit this growing season
Using Hope's own 226-day growing season (32°F, NOAA 1991–2020 median) against each crop's real days-to-maturity range: 12 of 12 crops mature here with comfortable margin. A different location in the table above with a longer or shorter season will get a different mix — the ZIP planner on the home page gives your own.
Frost & freeze dates (Hope)
From NOAA's 1991–2020 Climate Normals at station USC00033428. The median (p50) is the average date; the 90%-safe column is the date the freeze has passed in about 9 years out of 10 — the conservative date to plant after or harvest before.
| Threshold | Last spring — avg | Last spring — 90%-safe | First fall — avg | First fall — 90%-safe | Season (days) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | Apr 7 | Apr 24 | Oct 29 | Nov 12 | 203 |
| 32°F (freeze) | Mar 26 | Apr 13 | Nov 6 | Nov 26 | 226 |
| 28°F | Mar 11 | Mar 31 | Nov 17 | Dec 6 | 254 |
| 24°F | Feb 24 | Mar 14 | Dec 1 | Dec 29 | 282 |
Growing degree days
Growing degree days (GDD) accumulate warmth above a base temperature over the year — a better predictor of crop development than the calendar alone. This group's median GDD (base 50°F) across all 64 locations is 5,189; Hope's own reading is shown below.
| Model | °F·days | Used for |
|---|---|---|
| Base 50°F (warm-season) | 5,402 | standard warm-season base (tomato, corn, beans) |
| Base 40°F (cool-season) | 8,411 | cool-season crops (brassicas, greens) |
Hardiness zone 8a in Arkansas
Zone 8a means an average annual extreme minimum winter temperature of about 10 to 15 °F on the USDA's 2023 map — the number that tells you which perennials, shrubs, and trees reliably survive an average winter here. It does not set your planting dates, which come from the frost calendar above. Arkansas spans 4 hardiness zones in this dataset — see all Arkansas locations for the full range, including zones7a, 7b, 8b.
Explore zone 8a in other states at zone 8a, or see all USDA hardiness zones.
Frequently asked questions
- What does USDA hardiness zone 8a mean in Arkansas?
- Zone 8a means an average annual extreme minimum winter temperature of 10 to 15 °F — the standard USDA measure of which perennials survive winter. 64 locations in Arkansas fall in this zone. It does not set planting dates; see the frost calendar below for that.
- Where in Arkansas's zone 8a is the growing season longest?
- Gregory runs the longest season on this page at about 247 days; Guy is shortest at about 198 days — they share the same hardiness zone, but they sit at different weather stations, so their frost calendars differ.
- When should I plant tomatoes in Arkansas's zone 8a?
- Using Hope's frost dates (this page's median-season location): start seeds indoors about Jan 29 – Feb 12, then transplant outside about Apr 2 – Apr 9. Your own location in the table above may differ by a week or two — use the ZIP planner on the home page for your exact station's dates.
- Does every location in Arkansas's zone 8a have the same frost dates?
- No — they do not all share a weather station, so frost dates vary by a week or more across the 64 locations listed (see the table above for each location's own dates).
Sources & method
Frost, freeze, growing-season, and growing-degree-day figures are NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, one reading per location's own nearest station (see the table above). The hardiness zone is the USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map 2023, matched to each location's ZIP. Planting windows are computed by counting from the average last and first frost using per-crop offsets synthesized from U.S. Cooperative Extension guides — the full method and citations are on the methodology page.