Fall in zone 8bPhoto: George Chernilevsky, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Frost dates for ZIP 71674 (Watson, AR)
Average last spring and first fall frost dates with 10%, 50% and 90% odds, from NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the nearest weather station, Rohwer 2 NNE, AR (6 miles away).
- Average last spring frostMar 1250% chance of a 32°F freeze after this date
- Average first fall frostNov 1450% chance of a 32°F freeze by this date
- Growing season (frost-free)247 daysmedian, 32°F threshold
- USDA hardiness zone8b15 to 20°F avg. coldest night
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This week in your yard
As of Oct 18, 2026, from your frost dates, zone and soil temperature. Lawn timing · Vegetables · Pruning · Plants
Soil temperature now
2-inch depth
68°F 55°F or warmer
24-hour average · latest 66°F, as of Oct 18, 2:00 AM CDT
Measured at USDA NRCS SCAN station Scott, 15 mi away. Daily averages: Thu 76°, Fri 73°, Sat 68°.
4-inch depth
70°F 55°F or warmer
24-hour average · latest 68°F, as of Oct 18, 2:00 AM CDT
Measured at USDA NRCS SCAN station Scott, 15 mi away. Daily averages: Thu 76°, Fri 74°, Sat 70°.
Fall: Texas A&M AgriLife times fall pre-emergent (for winter weeds such as annual bluegrass) to soil cooling to about 70°F for several days. The 50–55°F band is the spring trigger. Always read and follow the product label.
7-day forecast and frost risk
The latest National Weather Service 7-day forecast and any Frost Advisory or Freeze Warning for 71674 load here. You can also open the NWS forecast for this ZIP.
Pre-emergent
Soil is 70°F at 4 inches. Fall pre-emergent (annual bluegrass, winter weeds): window open as soil cools through the 70s and 60s.
Fertilizer window
Lawn region: South Central plains. Timing only; always follow the product label.
- Bermudagrass (warm-season): Spring: Several weeks after the lawn is fully green (April–May) (about Apr 27 here, using green-up about 3–4 weeks after your average last frost); Summer: Every 4–6 weeks through mid-August (heaviest feeder of the group); Late: Light, low-nitrogen/high-potassium feeding about 4 weeks before first frost, or skip. Avoid: Heavy late-fall nitrogen (linked to spring dead spot).
- Tall fescue (cool-season): Early fall: September (main feeding); Late fall: November, while still green; Late winter: Optional light feeding February–March. Avoid: Feeding after mid-spring and through summer in the transition zone (stress and brown patch).
Plant now
Prune now
No frost-timed pruning windows are open this week.
Your average first frost is Nov 14: skip heavy pruning in the 6–8 weeks before it, because new growth may not harden off in time.
Spring-flowering shrubs are pruned right after their flowers fade, not by date. See the pruning guide.
Last spring frost odds
| Chance of a 32°F freeze after this date | Date |
|---|---|
| 90% (early: most years still freeze after this) | Feb 21 |
| 50% (the "average" last frost) | Mar 12 |
| 10% (cautious: only 1 year in 10 freezes later) | Mar 31 |
Most gardeners plant frost-tender crops (tomatoes, peppers, basil) after the 50% date, and closer to the 10% date for less risk.
First fall frost odds
| Chance the first 32°F freeze has happened by this date | Date |
|---|---|
| 10% (early: 1 year in 10 freezes this soon) | Oct 29 |
| 50% (the "average" first frost) | Nov 14 |
| 90% (late: most years have frozen by now) | Dec 3 |
Light frost, freeze and hard freeze
| Threshold | Last spring (50%) | First fall (50%) |
|---|---|---|
| 36°F (light frost possible on clear, calm nights) | Mar 26 | Nov 1 |
| 32°F (freeze) | Mar 12 | Nov 14 |
| 28°F (hard freeze) | Feb 28 | Nov 28 |
n/a means NOAA did not publish a date at that threshold for this station (usually because it rarely gets that cold).
Vegetable planting calendar for 71674
Dates count from your average last spring frost (Mar 12) and first fall frost (Nov 14). Half of years have a frost after the spring date, so give tender crops (tomatoes, peppers, squash) some slack.
| Crop | Start indoors | Spring planting | Fall planting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomato | Jan 15–29 | Mar 19–Apr 2 (transplant) | Jul 18–Aug 15 (transplant) |
| Pepper (sweet and hot) | Jan 1–15 | Mar 26–Apr 9 (transplant) | Jul 25–Aug 15 (transplant) |
| Eggplant | Jan 1–15 | Mar 26–Apr 9 (transplant) | Jul 25–Aug 15 (transplant) |
| Tomatillo | Jan 15–29 | Mar 19–Apr 2 (transplant) | – |
| Lettuce | Jan 15–29 | Feb 19–Mar 12 (transplant) Feb 12–Mar 26 (sow outdoors) | Sep 19–Oct 10 (transplant) Sep 5–Oct 3 (sowing) |
| Spinach | – | Jan 29–Feb 19 (sow outdoors) | Sep 19–Oct 10 (sowing) |
| Kale | Jan 15–29 | Feb 12–26 (transplant) Feb 12–26 (sow outdoors) | Aug 22–Sep 19 (transplant) Aug 8–Sep 5 (sowing) |
| Collards | Jan 15–29 | Feb 12–Mar 12 (transplant) Feb 12–Mar 12 (sow outdoors) | Aug 22–Sep 19 (transplant) Aug 8–Sep 5 (sowing) |
| Broccoli | Jan 1–15 | Feb 12–26 (transplant) | Aug 8–Sep 5 (transplant) |
| Cabbage | Jan 1–15 | Feb 12–26 (transplant) | Aug 8–Sep 5 (transplant) |
| Cauliflower | Jan 1–15 | Feb 26–Mar 12 (transplant) | Aug 8–Sep 5 (transplant) |
| Brussels sprouts | Dec 18–Jan 1 | Feb 12–26 (transplant) | Jul 25–Aug 15 (transplant) |
| Kohlrabi | Jan 15–29 | Feb 12–26 (transplant) Feb 12–26 (sow outdoors) | Sep 5–19 (sowing) |
| Bok choy / Asian greens | – | Feb 12–26 (sow outdoors) | Sep 19–Oct 3 (sowing) |
| Arugula | – | Feb 12–Mar 12 (sow outdoors) | Sep 19–Oct 17 (sowing) |
| Mustard greens | – | Feb 12–Mar 5 (sow outdoors) | Sep 19–Oct 3 (sowing) |
| Swiss chard | Jan 29–Feb 12 | Feb 26–Mar 19 (transplant) Feb 26–Mar 26 (sow outdoors) | Sep 5–19 (sowing) |
| Beet | – | Feb 12–Mar 12 (sow outdoors) | Sep 5–19 (sowing) |
| Carrot | – | Feb 19–Mar 19 (sow outdoors) | Aug 22–Sep 5 (sowing) |
| Radish | – | Feb 5–Mar 19 (sow outdoors) | Oct 3–17 (sowing) |
| Turnip | – | Feb 12–Mar 5 (sow outdoors) | Sep 5–19 (sowing) |
| Parsnip | – | Feb 19–Mar 12 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pea (garden, snap, snow) | – | Jan 15–Feb 12 (sow outdoors) | Aug 22–Sep 5 (sowing) |
| Onion (bulbing) | Dec 18–Jan 1 | Jan 29–Feb 12 (transplant) | – |
| Green onion / scallion | – | Jan 29–Feb 26 (sow outdoors) | Sep 5–19 (sowing) |
| Leek | Dec 18–Jan 1 | Feb 12–26 (transplant) | – |
| Garlic | – | – | Oct 3–31 (sowing) |
| Shallot | – | Jan 29–Feb 12 (transplant) | Oct 3–31 (sowing) |
| Potato | – | Feb 12–26 (transplant) | Jul 25–Aug 8 (transplant) |
| Sweet potato | – | Apr 2–16 (transplant) | – |
| Sweet corn | – | Mar 19–Apr 2 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, bush (snap) | – | Mar 19–Apr 2 (sow outdoors) | Aug 22–Sep 5 (sowing) |
| Bean, pole | – | Mar 19–Apr 2 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Lima bean | – | Mar 26–Apr 9 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Southern pea (cowpea, black-eyed pea) | – | Apr 2–23 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cucumber | Feb 12–19 | Mar 19–Apr 2 (transplant) Mar 19–Apr 2 (sow outdoors) | Aug 22–Sep 5 (sowing) |
| Summer squash / zucchini | Feb 12–19 | Mar 19–Apr 2 (transplant) Mar 19–Apr 2 (sow outdoors) | Aug 22–Sep 5 (sowing) |
| Winter squash | Feb 12–19 | Mar 19–Apr 2 (transplant) Mar 19–Apr 2 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pumpkin | – | Mar 19–Apr 2 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Watermelon | Feb 12–19 | Mar 26–Apr 9 (transplant) Mar 26–Apr 9 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cantaloupe / muskmelon | Feb 12–19 | Mar 26–Apr 9 (transplant) Mar 26–Apr 9 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Okra | Jan 29–Feb 12 | Mar 26–Apr 9 (transplant) Mar 26–Apr 9 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Celery | Dec 18–Jan 1 | Mar 19–26 (transplant) | – |
| Basil | Jan 29–Feb 12 | Mar 19–Apr 2 (transplant) Mar 19–Apr 2 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cilantro | – | Feb 26–Mar 26 (sow outdoors) | Sep 19–Oct 3 (sowing) |
| Parsley | Jan 1–15 | Feb 26–Mar 12 (transplant) Feb 19–Mar 12 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Dill | – | Mar 12–26 (sow outdoors) | Sep 19–Oct 3 (sowing) |
| Sunflower | – | Mar 12–26 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Asparagus (crowns) | – | Feb 12–26 (transplant) | – |
| Rhubarb (crowns) | – | Feb 12–26 (transplant) | – |
| Strawberry (plants) | – | Feb 12–26 (transplant) | Sep 5–Oct 3 (transplant) |
Typical ranges from university extension planting calendars, adjusted to your frost dates. Probabilities, not guarantees. Fall windows that would overlap spring planting are left out, as are fall crops of frost-tender plants where the frost-free season is under 210 days.
Plants that do well here
Arkansas has a university or garden plant program: Arkansas Select (ended about 2005). Plant frost-tender annuals after March 12 here (the average last frost). Not affiliated with the program.
Where these numbers come from
Station: Rohwer 2 NNE, AR (NOAA GHCN-Daily ID USC00036253), elevation 150 ft, 5.7 miles from the ZIP's center point. NOAA completeness flag: S (standard, 24+ years).
Nearby stations
| Station | Distance | Last frost (50%) | First frost (50%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arkansas Post, AR | 17 mi | Mar 10 | Nov 18 |
| Dumas, AR | 21 mi | Mar 12 | Nov 14 |
| Dermott 3 NE, AR | 22 mi | Mar 13 | Nov 10 |
The average last-frost dates of these stations span 3 days, a rough guide to local variation. See data sources & methods.
Frost questions for 71674
When is the last frost in 71674?
The average (50% chance) last spring freeze of 32°F for ZIP 71674 is March 12. For a more cautious planting date, use March 31, when only 1 year in 10 still sees a later freeze.
When is the first frost in 71674?
The average first fall freeze is November 14. In 1 year in 10 it comes by October 29.
What hardiness zone is 71674?
ZIP 71674 is in USDA zone 8b (15 to 20°F average coldest winter night), per the 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map ZIP listing.
What is the soil temperature in 71674 right now?
This page shows the latest 2-inch and 4-inch soil temperature from the nearest public soil station (USDA SCAN, NOAA USCRN or TexMesonet), or a labeled estimate when no station is close, against the 50–55°F spring pre-emergent band.
Nearby ZIP codes
71666 38769 Rosedale 38726 Beulah 72328 71670 Tillar 38725 Benoit 71630 Arkansas City 38746 Gunnison
Other ZIP codes in Desha County
71630 71654 71662 71666 71670 72328 72379 All Desha County frost dates · Arkansas frost dates
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Free. One weekly email plus alerts when your ZIP has a frost or a soil-temperature change worth acting on. After you submit, Kit (our email provider) sends a confirmation email: check your email and click the link to confirm. You aren't subscribed until you do. We collect only your email address and ZIP, sent to Kit to deliver The Dial. Unsubscribe anytime.