When to plant in Hot Springs, AR
USDA Zone 8aHere are the average frost dates, USDA hardiness zone, and a month-by-month planting calendar for Hot Springs, Arkansas — all computed from Hot Springs's nearest NOAA weather station.
Zone 8a means many perennials and even some tender shrubs overwinter in Hot Springs, while your frost dates still decide when annuals go out.
Frost probability
HOT SPRINGS 1 NNE · 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 Hot Springs’s own odds, recorded at HOT SPRINGS 1 NNE.
| Threshold | SPRING 10% | SPRING 50% | SPRING 90% | FALL 10% | FALL 50% | FALL 90% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | Apr 19 | Apr 2 | Mar 14 | Oct 19 | Nov 3 | Nov 19 |
| 32°F | Apr 7 | Mar 19 | Mar 1 | Oct 28 | Nov 13 | Dec 3 |
| 28°F | Mar 26 | Mar 6 | Feb 13 | Nov 7 | Nov 27 | Dec 18 |
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 Hot Springs, drawn to the day from the local frost dates. The dashed line is today.
Nearby weather stations
3 within 22 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.
Hot Springs planting FAQ
When is the last spring frost in Hot Springs, AR?
Plan for the last spring frost in Hot Springs around March 19 (the date it has a 50% chance of a 32°F freeze). Anything frost-sensitive should go out after it.
When is the first fall frost in Hot Springs, AR?
Expect Hot Springs's first fall frost near November 13 — a 50% chance of 32°F by that date. Bring in or cover tender crops ahead of it.
What hardiness zone is Hot Springs in?
Hot Springs is in USDA hardiness zone 8a. In zone 8a, winters are mild — many tender perennials overwinter here.
How long is the growing season in Hot Springs?
There are roughly 239 frost-free days in Hot Springs (a long growing season), running from the average last frost around March 19 to the first fall frost near November 13.
When should I plant tomatoes in Hot Springs?
In Hot Springs, start tomato seeds indoors around January 22–February 5, then transplant seedlings outdoors around March 26 once the danger of frost has passed.
Never miss a window in Hot Springs
An email when it’s time to start seeds, transplant, and sow — timed to Hot Springs’s frost dates. Double opt-in, one-click unsubscribe, no spam.
Nearby cities
8 within reach- Hot Springs Village · 20 km
- Malvern · 25 km
- Arkadelphia · 40 km
- Benton · 45 km
- Bryant · 53 km
- Little Rock · 69 km
- Maumelle · 72 km
- North Little Rock · 81 km
Frost dates recorded at HOT SPRINGS 1 NNE, 3 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 Hot Springs, AR — Frost Dates & Zone 8a." Frost normals: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station USC00033466. Retrieved from https://blissgarden.com/arkansas/hot-springs.