Last frost date in Fort Smith, AR

Average last frost
March 25

In Fort Smith, the last spring frost comes around March 25 in an average year. Wait until April 11 if you want 90% odds of no more frost. The first fall frost usually arrives about November 6, which leaves 224 frost-free days. An early freeze before October 23 happens one year in ten.

Safe after (10% risk)
Apr 11
Average first frost
Nov 6
Frost-free season
224 days
Hard freeze (28°F) ends
Mar 11
Next 7 nights in Fort Smith

No frost in the next 7 nights

National Weather Service forecast, updated Oct 22, 12:57 UTC

  1. ThuOct 2254°
  2. FriOct 2353°
  3. SatOct 2456°
  4. SunOct 2555°
  5. MonOct 2656°
  6. TueOct 2755°
  7. WedOct 2854°
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecLast frost Mar 25First frost Nov 6224 frost-free daysBlue: chance of 32°F frost. Green: average frost-free season.JFMAMJJASOND224 frost-free days
Frost risk through the year at Fort Smith Regional Airport, 1.2 miles from Fort Smith.

Planting calendar for Fort Smith

Windows count forward or back from the average frost dates above. Click a crop for dates across Arkansas.

Start indoorsPlant outSow outdoorsFall plantingAverage last and first frost
Warm-season crops
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
TomatoesApr 1–Apr 15
PumpkinsApr 8–Apr 22
SunflowersMar 25–Apr 15
CucumbersApr 8–Apr 15
CornApr 1–Apr 15
Sweet potatoesApr 15–Apr 29
WatermelonApr 8–Apr 22
Green beansApr 1–Apr 22
ZucchiniApr 1–Apr 15
OkraApr 15–Apr 29
PeppersApr 8–Apr 22
BasilApr 1–Apr 15
Butternut squashApr 1–Apr 15
CantaloupeApr 8–Apr 22
EggplantApr 8–Apr 22
Cool-season crops
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PotatoesFeb 25–Mar 11
OnionsFeb 11–Mar 4
CarrotsMar 4–Apr 8
LettuceMar 11–Apr 1
BroccoliFeb 25–Mar 11
BeetsFeb 25–Apr 8
PeasFeb 11–Feb 25
CabbageFeb 25–Mar 11
RadishesFeb 18–Apr 1
Brussels sproutsMar 11–Mar 25
SpinachFeb 11–Mar 4
CilantroMar 11–Apr 1
KaleFeb 25–Mar 11
Collard greensFeb 25–Mar 11
TurnipsFeb 25–Mar 11
DillMar 25–Apr 8
CeleryApr 1–Apr 8
CauliflowerMar 11–Mar 25
LeeksMar 11–Mar 25
Swiss chardMar 11–Apr 8
ParsleyMar 11–Apr 1
Fall bulbs and garlic
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Tulip bulbsOct 23–Nov 27
GarlicOct 16–Nov 20
Daffodil bulbsOct 9–Nov 20
Perennials
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
StrawberriesFeb 25–Mar 11
AsparagusFeb 25–Mar 11

Frost probabilities

ThresholdSpring, 90% chance laterSpring, 50%Spring, 10%Fall, 10% chance earlierFall, 50%Fall, 90%
Light frost, 32°FMar 4Mar 25Apr 11Oct 23Nov 6Nov 21
Hard freeze, 28°FFeb 21Mar 11Apr 2Nov 1Nov 17Dec 4

Read the spring 10% column as the date after which only one year in ten still gets frost. That is the safer date for tomatoes, peppers and basil.

Where these numbers come from

NOAA station Fort Smith Regional Airport (USW00013964) sits 1.2 miles from the center of Fort Smith at 449 feet. Its averages cover 1991 to 2020. Low spots, valleys and open fields can keep getting frost a week or two after the station stops; city centers and lakeshores usually get less of it.

Questions

When is the last frost in Fort Smith, AR?

The average last frost date in Fort Smith is March 25, based on NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals. There is a 10% chance of frost after April 11.

When is the first frost in Fort Smith?

The first frost in fall usually comes around November 6. One year in ten it arrives before October 23.

How long is the growing season in Fort Smith?

About 224 days between the average last and first frost.

When should I plant tomatoes in Fort Smith?

Plant tomato seedlings outside from April 1 to April 15. Start seeds indoors six to eight weeks earlier.

Nearby in Arkansas

All 25 cities in Arkansas