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Frost dates and planting calendar for Conway, Arkansas

Updated October 30, 2026. Based on USDA, NOAA and Colorado State University Extension data. Published by Humblebee.

USDA hardiness zone
8a[1]
Median last spring frost
Apr 2[2]
Median first fall frost
Nov 2[3]
Growing season, median
215 days[4]

Conway, Arkansas sits in USDA hardiness zone 8a[1]. The median last spring frost is April 2, which means a last frost after that date in half of years[2].

Frost dates

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecLast spring frost: 9 in 10 years after Mar 13, half of years Apr 2, 1 in 10 years after Apr 19Last frostmedian Apr 2First fall frost: 9 in 10 years before Nov 16, half of years Nov 2, 1 in 10 years before Oct 20First frostmedian Nov 2Frost riskHardyHardy vegetables: plant Mar 5 to Mar 19Mar 5 to Mar 19Semi-hardySemi-hardy vegetables: plant Mar 19 to Apr 2Mar 19 to Apr 2TenderTender vegetables: plant around Apr 2around Apr 2Very tenderVery tender vegetables: plant from Apr 16from Apr 16
Shaded: the span between the dates frost passes in 9 of 10 years and 1 of 10 years[2][3]. Green: planting windows from the CSU rules applied to the median last frost (GardenFacts calculation)[6]. Exact dates are in the tables below.

These frost dates are odds from NOAA records for 1991 to 2020, not a forecast. In 9 of 10 years the last spring frost comes after March 13, and in 1 of 10 years it comes after April 19[2]. In half of years the first fall frost comes before November 2, and in 1 of 10 years it comes before October 20[3]. The numbers come from the NOAA weather station in Conway[5]. Any year can be earlier or later.

Frost Likely (9 in 10 years) Even odds (5 in 10) Unlikely (1 in 10)
Last spring frost (32°F)[2] after March 13 after April 2 after April 19
First fall frost (32°F)[3] before October 20 before November 2 before November 16
  • Hard freeze (28°F): median last spring date March 17, median first fall date November 11[7].
  • Frost-free growing season: at least 194 days in 9 of 10 years, 215 days in half of years and 237 days in 1 of 10 years[4].
  • The low reached 32°F or colder in 100% of years and 28°F or colder in 100% of years[8].
  • Weather station: Conway (USC00031596), 2.4 miles from the city center, 312 feet, 26 years of 1991 to 2020 records[5].

When to plant vegetables

Colorado State University Extension's planting guide was written for Colorado, so these dates are a simple calculation and not local advice[6]. Hardy vegetables such as broccoli, lettuce and peas can go in as early as 2 to 4 weeks before the median last frost, which is March 5 to March 19[6]. Semi-hardy vegetables such as carrots and potatoes can go in as early as 2 weeks before it, which is March 19[9]. Tender vegetables such as snap beans and sweet corn can start from seed around April 2[10]. Very tender vegetables such as tomatoes and peppers typically wait 2 or more weeks after the median last frost, so the earliest start is April 16[11].

  • Hardy (broccoli, cabbage, kohlrabi, lettuce, onions, peas, radishes, spinach, turnips): as early as 2 to 4 weeks before the median last frost (April 2) is March 5 to March 19[6]
  • Semi-hardy (beets, carrots, cauliflower, parsnips, potatoes, Swiss chard): as early as 2 weeks before the median last frost (April 2) is March 19, up to the median date itself[9]
  • Tender (snap beans, sweet corn, cucumbers, summer squash): from seed around the median last frost date, April 2[10]
  • Very tender (cantaloupe, eggplant, peppers, tomatoes, winter squash, watermelon): the earliest start, two weeks after the median last frost (April 2), is April 16[11]
Vegetable (CSU group) Plant from First harvest around
Broccoli (hardy)[12] Mar 5 May 9 (from transplants)
Cabbage (hardy)[12] Mar 5 May 29 (from transplants)
Kohlrabi (hardy)[12] Mar 5 Apr 24
Lettuce (hardy)[12] Mar 5 May 4
Onions (hardy)[12] Mar 5 Jun 23
Peas (hardy)[12] Mar 5 May 9
Radishes (hardy)[12] Mar 5 Apr 4
Spinach (hardy)[12] Mar 5 Apr 14
Turnips (hardy)[12] Mar 5 Apr 24
Beets (semi-hardy)[12] Mar 19 May 18
Carrots (semi-hardy)[12] Mar 19 May 28
Cauliflower (semi-hardy)[12] Mar 19 not listed
Parsnips (semi-hardy)[12] Mar 19 May 28
Potatoes (semi-hardy)[12] Mar 19 Jul 22
Swiss chard (semi-hardy)[12] Mar 19 May 18
Snap beans (tender)[12] Apr 2 Jun 1
Sweet corn (tender)[12] Apr 2 Jun 1
Cucumbers (tender)[12] Apr 2 May 27
Summer squash (tender)[12] Apr 2 May 22
Cantaloupe (very tender)[12] Apr 16 Jul 10
Eggplant (very tender)[12] Apr 16 Jun 15 (from transplants)
Peppers (very tender)[12] Apr 16 Jun 25 (from transplants)
Tomatoes (very tender)[12] Apr 16 Jun 20 (from transplants)
Winter squash (very tender)[12] Apr 16 Jul 25
Watermelon (very tender)[12] Apr 16 Jul 10
Spacing, depth and soil temperature (CSU Extension)
Vegetable Min. soil temp Depth Spacing Days to harvest
Broccoli[13] 40°F 1/2 in 18 in 65
Cabbage[13] 40°F 1/2 in 18 in 85
Kohlrabi[13] 40°F 1/2 in 7-9 in 50
Lettuce[13] 35°F 1/4 in 7-9 in 60
Onions[13] 35°F 1/4 in (seed), 1-2 in (sets) 4-6 in 110
Peas[13] 40°F 1 in 4-6 in 65
Radishes[13] 40°F 1/2 in 2-3 in 30
Spinach[13] 40°F 1/2 in 4-6 in 40
Turnips[13] 40°F 1/2 in 4-6 in 50
Beets[13] 40°F 3/4-1 in 4-6 in 60
Carrots[13] 40°F 1/4 in 2-3 in 70
Cauliflower[13] 40°F 1/2 in 18 in –
Parsnips[13] 35°F 1/2 in 5-6 in 70
Potatoes[13] 45°F – – 125
Swiss chard[13] 40°F 1 in 7-9 in 60
Snap beans[13] 55°F 1-1 1/2 in 6 in 60
Sweet corn[13] 50°F 1-1 1/2 in 12 x 30 in or 9 x 36 in 60-90
Cucumbers[13] 60°F 1 in 6 in trellised, 24-36 in untrellised 55
Summer squash[13] 60°F 1-1 1/2 in 36-48 in 50
Cantaloupe[13] 60°F 1-1 1/2 in 36-48 in 85
Eggplant[13] 60°F 1/4 in 18-24 in 60
Peppers[13] 60°F 1/4 in 15-18 in 70
Tomatoes[13] 50°F 1/4 in 24 in trellised 65
Winter squash[13] 60°F 1-1 1/2 in 36-48 in 100
Watermelon[13] 60°F 1-1 1/2 in 36-48 in 85

Hardiness zone

The 2023 USDA map puts the center of Conway in zone 8a, which means an average coldest night of 10°F to 15°F[1]. The zone comes from winter lows, not from frost dates or summer heat[14]. All of the city's land area lies in ZIP code areas rated 8a, so the city does not span more than one zone[15].

Zone 8a: average annual extreme minimum temperature 10°F to 15°F (1991 to 2020)[1]. Modeled value at the city center: 11.5°F[1].

Share of the city's land area by ZIP code zone: zone 8a 100%[15].

All towns in zone 8a and what zone 8a means

Zone by ZIP code
ZIP code Zone Coldest night range
72034[15] 8a 10 to 15°F
72032[15] 8a 10 to 15°F
72106[15] 8a 10 to 15°F

Questions people ask

What growing zone is Conway, Arkansas?
The center of Conway is in USDA zone 8a[1]. All of the city's land area is in ZIP code areas rated 8a[15].
When is the last frost in Conway?
The median last spring frost is April 2, so in half of years the last frost comes after that date[2]. In 1 of 10 years it comes after April 19[2].
When is the first frost in Conway?
The median first fall frost is November 2, so in half of years the first frost comes before that date[3]. In 1 of 10 years it comes before October 20[3].
When to plant tomatoes in Conway?
CSU Extension typically says very tender vegetables like tomatoes wait 2 or more weeks after the average last frost, which gives an earliest start of April 16[11]. That guide was written for Colorado[11].
How long is the growing season in Conway?
The season between the last spring and first fall frost is at least 215 days in half of years[4]. It is at least 194 days in 9 of 10 years[4].

Facts and sources

  1. The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map puts the center of Conway, Arkansas in zone 8a. Zone 8a means an average annual extreme minimum temperature of 10°F to 15°F over 1991 to 2020. The map's modeled value at the city center is 11.5°F. USDA zone map 2023 (PRISM, OSU)
  2. Last spring frost (32°F) at this station: in 9 of 10 years the last frost comes after March 13, in half of years after April 2, and in 1 of 10 years after April 19 (NOAA 1991 to 2020 normals). The median last frost date is April 2. NOAA Climate Normals 1991-2020
  3. First fall frost (32°F) at this station: in 1 of 10 years the first frost comes before October 20, in half of years before November 2, and in 9 of 10 years before November 16 (NOAA 1991 to 2020 normals). The median first frost date is November 2. NOAA Climate Normals 1991-2020
  4. Growing season (days between the last spring and first fall 32°F frost) at this station: at least 194 days in 9 of 10 years, at least 215 days in half of years, and at least 237 days in 1 of 10 years. NOAA Climate Normals 1991-2020
  5. Frost dates on this page come from NOAA climate normals for the Conway weather station (USC00031596), 2.4 miles from the center of Conway at 312 feet, using 26 years of records from 1991 to 2020. NOAA Climate Normals 1991-2020
  6. Colorado State University Extension's vegetable planting guide (written for Colorado) groups broccoli, cabbage, kohlrabi, lettuce, onions, peas, radishes, spinach, turnips as hardy vegetables, with this rule: as early as 2-4 weeks before the average last... CSU Extension GardenNotes #720
  7. Hard freeze (28°F) at this station: the median last spring date is March 17 and the median first fall date is November 11. NOAA Climate Normals 1991-2020
  8. At this station the low reached 32°F or colder in 100% of years from 1991 to 2020, and 28°F or colder in 100% of years. NOAA Climate Normals 1991-2020
  9. Colorado State University Extension's vegetable planting guide (written for Colorado) groups beets, carrots, cauliflower, parsnips, potatoes, Swiss chard as semi-hardy vegetables, with this rule: as early as 0-2 weeks before the average last spring frost.... CSU Extension GardenNotes #720
  10. Colorado State University Extension's vegetable planting guide (written for Colorado) groups snap beans, sweet corn, cucumbers, summer squash as tender vegetables, with this rule: from seed around the average last spring frost; cucumber and summer squash... CSU Extension GardenNotes #720
  11. Colorado State University Extension's vegetable planting guide (written for Colorado) groups cantaloupe, eggplant, peppers, tomatoes, winter squash, watermelon as very tender vegetables, with this rule: typically 2 or more weeks after the average last... CSU Extension GardenNotes #720
  12. GardenFacts calculation: earliest planting date plus CSU days to harvest (table on this page), from the station's median last frost. NOAA Climate Normals 1991-2020
  13. CSU Extension vegetable table: soil temperature, depth, spacing, days to harvest (table on this page). CSU Extension GardenNotes #720
  14. USDA hardiness zones are based on the average annual extreme minimum winter temperature (the coldest night of each winter, averaged over 1991 to 2020 for the 2023 map), not on summer heat or frost dates. Each zone spans 10°F and each half zone (a or b)... USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map
  15. Conway, Arkansas overlaps 3 ZIP code areas. By land area, 100% lies in ZIP code areas rated zone 8a. USDA zone map 2023 (PRISM, OSU)

Frost dates are probabilities from 1991 to 2020 weather records at one NOAA station, not a forecast. Any year can be earlier or later. The hardiness zone describes the average coldest winter night, not frost dates or summer heat. Spots inside the city can differ (ZIP table). Planting rules come from Colorado State University Extension's guide, written for Colorado. A local extension office may give dates tuned to the area. Planting and harvest dates marked GardenFacts calculation are simple arithmetic from the facts above, not advice from the source.

Hardiness zone data: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (2023), USDA Agricultural Research Service and PRISM Group, Oregon State University, prism.oregonstate.edu, accessed October 30, 2026. This is not the official USDA map. Frost data: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020. Planting rules: Colorado State University Extension.