Fall in zone 8bPhoto: George Chernilevsky, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Frost dates for ZIP 72379 (Desha County, 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, Arkansas Post, AR (17 miles away).
- Average last spring frostMar 1050% chance of a 32°F freeze after this date
- Average first fall frostNov 1850% chance of a 32°F freeze by this date
- Growing season (frost-free)251 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
70°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 Perthshire, 11 mi away. Daily averages: Thu 81°, Fri 76°, Sat 71°.
4-inch depth
72°F 55°F or warmer
24-hour average · latest 70°F, as of Oct 18, 2:00 AM CDT
Measured at USDA NRCS SCAN station Perthshire, 11 mi away. Daily averages: Thu 81°, Fri 77°, Sat 72°.
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 72379 load here. You can also open the NWS forecast for this ZIP.
Pre-emergent
Soil is 72°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 25 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
- Arugula: fall sowing Sep 23–Oct 21
- Radish: fall sowing Oct 7–21
- Garlic: fall sowing Oct 7–Nov 4
- Shallot: fall sowing Oct 7–Nov 4
Prune now
No frost-timed pruning windows are open this week.
Your average first frost is Nov 18: 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 20 |
| 50% (the "average" last frost) | Mar 10 |
| 10% (cautious: only 1 year in 10 freezes later) | Mar 28 |
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) | Nov 2 |
| 50% (the "average" first frost) | Nov 18 |
| 90% (late: most years have frozen by now) | Dec 8 |
Light frost, freeze and hard freeze
| Threshold | Last spring (50%) | First fall (50%) |
|---|---|---|
| 36°F (light frost possible on clear, calm nights) | Mar 23 | Nov 7 |
| 32°F (freeze) | Mar 10 | Nov 18 |
| 28°F (hard freeze) | Feb 28 | Dec 2 |
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 72379
Dates count from your average last spring frost (Mar 10) and first fall frost (Nov 18). 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 13–27 | Mar 17–31 (transplant) | Jul 22–Aug 19 (transplant) |
| Pepper (sweet and hot) | Dec 30–Jan 13 | Mar 24–Apr 7 (transplant) | Jul 29–Aug 19 (transplant) |
| Eggplant | Dec 30–Jan 13 | Mar 24–Apr 7 (transplant) | Jul 29–Aug 19 (transplant) |
| Tomatillo | Jan 13–27 | Mar 17–31 (transplant) | – |
| Lettuce | Jan 13–27 | Feb 17–Mar 10 (transplant) Feb 10–Mar 24 (sow outdoors) | Sep 23–Oct 14 (transplant) Sep 9–Oct 7 (sowing) |
| Spinach | – | Jan 27–Feb 17 (sow outdoors) | Sep 23–Oct 14 (sowing) |
| Kale | Jan 13–27 | Feb 10–24 (transplant) Feb 10–24 (sow outdoors) | Aug 26–Sep 23 (transplant) Aug 12–Sep 9 (sowing) |
| Collards | Jan 13–27 | Feb 10–Mar 10 (transplant) Feb 10–Mar 10 (sow outdoors) | Aug 26–Sep 23 (transplant) Aug 12–Sep 9 (sowing) |
| Broccoli | Dec 30–Jan 13 | Feb 10–24 (transplant) | Aug 12–Sep 9 (transplant) |
| Cabbage | Dec 30–Jan 13 | Feb 10–24 (transplant) | Aug 12–Sep 9 (transplant) |
| Cauliflower | Dec 30–Jan 13 | Feb 24–Mar 10 (transplant) | Aug 12–Sep 9 (transplant) |
| Brussels sprouts | Dec 16–30 | Feb 10–24 (transplant) | Jul 29–Aug 19 (transplant) |
| Kohlrabi | Jan 13–27 | Feb 10–24 (transplant) Feb 10–24 (sow outdoors) | Sep 9–23 (sowing) |
| Bok choy / Asian greens | – | Feb 10–24 (sow outdoors) | Sep 23–Oct 7 (sowing) |
| Arugula | – | Feb 10–Mar 10 (sow outdoors) | Sep 23–Oct 21 (sowing) |
| Mustard greens | – | Feb 10–Mar 3 (sow outdoors) | Sep 23–Oct 7 (sowing) |
| Swiss chard | Jan 27–Feb 10 | Feb 24–Mar 17 (transplant) Feb 24–Mar 24 (sow outdoors) | Sep 9–23 (sowing) |
| Beet | – | Feb 10–Mar 10 (sow outdoors) | Sep 9–23 (sowing) |
| Carrot | – | Feb 17–Mar 17 (sow outdoors) | Aug 26–Sep 9 (sowing) |
| Radish | – | Feb 3–Mar 17 (sow outdoors) | Oct 7–21 (sowing) |
| Turnip | – | Feb 10–Mar 3 (sow outdoors) | Sep 9–23 (sowing) |
| Parsnip | – | Feb 17–Mar 10 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pea (garden, snap, snow) | – | Jan 13–Feb 10 (sow outdoors) | Aug 26–Sep 9 (sowing) |
| Onion (bulbing) | Dec 16–30 | Jan 27–Feb 10 (transplant) | – |
| Green onion / scallion | – | Jan 27–Feb 24 (sow outdoors) | Sep 9–23 (sowing) |
| Leek | Dec 16–30 | Feb 10–24 (transplant) | – |
| Garlic | – | – | Oct 7–Nov 4 (sowing) |
| Shallot | – | Jan 27–Feb 10 (transplant) | Oct 7–Nov 4 (sowing) |
| Potato | – | Feb 10–24 (transplant) | Jul 29–Aug 12 (transplant) |
| Sweet potato | – | Mar 31–Apr 14 (transplant) | – |
| Sweet corn | – | Mar 17–31 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, bush (snap) | – | Mar 17–31 (sow outdoors) | Aug 26–Sep 9 (sowing) |
| Bean, pole | – | Mar 17–31 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Lima bean | – | Mar 24–Apr 7 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Southern pea (cowpea, black-eyed pea) | – | Mar 31–Apr 21 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cucumber | Feb 10–17 | Mar 17–31 (transplant) Mar 17–31 (sow outdoors) | Aug 26–Sep 9 (sowing) |
| Summer squash / zucchini | Feb 10–17 | Mar 17–31 (transplant) Mar 17–31 (sow outdoors) | Aug 26–Sep 9 (sowing) |
| Winter squash | Feb 10–17 | Mar 17–31 (transplant) Mar 17–31 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pumpkin | – | Mar 17–31 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Watermelon | Feb 10–17 | Mar 24–Apr 7 (transplant) Mar 24–Apr 7 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cantaloupe / muskmelon | Feb 10–17 | Mar 24–Apr 7 (transplant) Mar 24–Apr 7 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Okra | Jan 27–Feb 10 | Mar 24–Apr 7 (transplant) Mar 24–Apr 7 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Celery | Dec 16–30 | Mar 17–24 (transplant) | – |
| Basil | Jan 27–Feb 10 | Mar 17–31 (transplant) Mar 17–31 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cilantro | – | Feb 24–Mar 24 (sow outdoors) | Sep 23–Oct 7 (sowing) |
| Parsley | Dec 30–Jan 13 | Feb 24–Mar 10 (transplant) Feb 17–Mar 10 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Dill | – | Mar 10–24 (sow outdoors) | Sep 23–Oct 7 (sowing) |
| Sunflower | – | Mar 10–24 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Asparagus (crowns) | – | Feb 10–24 (transplant) | – |
| Rhubarb (crowns) | – | Feb 10–24 (transplant) | – |
| Strawberry (plants) | – | Feb 10–24 (transplant) | Sep 9–Oct 7 (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 10 here (the average last frost). Not affiliated with the program.
Where these numbers come from
Station: Arkansas Post, AR (NOAA GHCN-Daily ID USC00030240), elevation 194 ft, 17.2 miles from the ZIP's center point. NOAA completeness flag: S (standard, 24+ years).
Nearby stations
| Station | Distance | Last frost (50%) | First frost (50%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Saint Charles, AR | 21 mi | Mar 17 | Nov 10 |
| Rohwer 2 NNE, AR | 22 mi | Mar 12 | Nov 14 |
| Cleveland 3 N, MS | 27 mi | Mar 15 | Nov 11 |
The average last-frost dates of these stations span 7 days, a rough guide to local variation. See data sources & methods.
Frost questions for 72379
When is the last frost in 72379?
The average (50% chance) last spring freeze of 32°F for ZIP 72379 is March 10. For a more cautious planting date, use March 28, when only 1 year in 10 still sees a later freeze.
When is the first frost in 72379?
The average first fall freeze is November 18. In 1 year in 10 it comes by November 2.
What hardiness zone is 72379?
ZIP 72379 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 72379 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
72328 72367 Mellwood 38746 Gunnison 72166 72048 38740 Duncan 38767 38720 Rena Lara
Other ZIP codes in Desha County
71630 71654 71662 71666 71670 71674 72328 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.