When to plant in Fort Smith, AR
USDA Zone 8aFort Smith, Arkansas frost dates, USDA zone, and a full-year planting calendar, drawn from the nearest NOAA station and tuned to the local season.
Zone 8a means many perennials and even some tender shrubs overwinter in Fort Smith, while your frost dates still decide when annuals go out.
The average last spring frost in Fort Smith is now 5 days earlier than in the 1981–2010 normals. See how frost dates are shifting nationwide →
Frost probability
FT SMITH RGNL AP · 1991–2020The date the last spring and first fall frost occur, by threshold and probability. A 90% date is later in spring — and earlier in fall — than a 10% date; the 50% · 32°F row is what most gardeners plan around. These are Fort Smith’s own odds, recorded at FT SMITH RGNL AP.
| Threshold | SPRING 10% | SPRING 50% | SPRING 90% | FALL 10% | FALL 50% | FALL 90% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | Apr 25 | Apr 8 | Mar 21 | Oct 16 | Oct 28 | Nov 11 |
| 32°F | Apr 11 | Mar 25 | Mar 4 | Oct 23 | Nov 6 | Nov 21 |
| 28°F | Apr 2 | Mar 11 | Feb 21 | Nov 1 | Nov 17 | Dec 4 |
Download this table as CSV ↓ — every threshold and probability, plus this city’s planting-window dates.
What to plant now
TODAY · JULY 19Full-year planting calendar
Each bar is the exact window to take a planting action in Fort Smith, drawn to the day from the local frost dates. The dashed line is today.
Nearby weather stations
3 within 41 km · complete 32°F normalsWhen stations disagree by more than a few days, that spread is real microclimate variation — elevation, water, urban heat. Judge which station best matches your own yard.
Fort Smith planting FAQ
When is the last spring frost in Fort Smith, AR?
On average, the last spring frost in Fort Smith is around March 25 (50% probability at 32°F, from 1991–2020 NOAA normals). Wait until after this date to set out tender plants like tomatoes and peppers.
When is the first fall frost in Fort Smith, AR?
The first fall frost in Fort Smith typically arrives around November 6 (50% probability at 32°F). Harvest or protect frost-sensitive crops before then.
What hardiness zone is Fort Smith in?
Fort Smith is in USDA hardiness zone 8a. In zone 8a, winters are mild — many tender perennials overwinter here.
How long is the growing season in Fort Smith?
There are roughly 226 frost-free days in Fort Smith (a long growing season), running from the average last frost around March 25 to the first fall frost near November 6.
When should I plant tomatoes in Fort Smith?
In Fort Smith, start tomato seeds indoors around January 28–February 11, then transplant seedlings outdoors around April 1 once the danger of frost has passed.
Never miss a window in Fort Smith
An email when it’s time to start seeds, transplant, and sow — timed to Fort Smith’s frost dates. Double opt-in, one-click unsubscribe, no spam.
Nearby cities
8 within reach- Van Buren · 11 km
- Fayetteville · 82 km
- Tahlequah · 83 km
- Siloam Springs · 94 km
- Springdale · 96 km
- Muskogee · 99 km
- Lowell · 103 km
- Rogers · 110 km
Frost dates recorded at FT SMITH RGNL AP, 2 km from the city center · 1991–2020 NOAA climate normals · zone from the USDA/PRISM 2023 map. How we compute this.
BlissGarden. "When to Plant in Fort Smith, AR — Frost Dates & Zone 8a." Frost normals: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station USW00013964. Retrieved from https://blissgarden.com/arkansas/fort-smith.