Fall in zone 8aPhoto: George Chernilevsky, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Frost dates for ZIP 71743 (Gurdon, 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, Sparkman, AR (16 miles away).
- Average last spring frostMar 2950% chance of a 32°F freeze after this date
- Average first fall frostNov 450% chance of a 32°F freeze by this date
- Growing season (frost-free)223 daysmedian, 32°F threshold
- USDA hardiness zone8a10 to 15°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
No soil station with a fresh reading within 62 miles.
4-inch depth
No soil station with a fresh reading within 62 miles.
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 71743 load here. You can also open the NWS forecast for this ZIP.
Pre-emergent
No soil reading near this ZIP. Typical extension timing for your region: spring mid-February to mid-March; fall September to early October.
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 May 14 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 4: 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) | Mar 5 |
| 50% (the "average" last frost) | Mar 29 |
| 10% (cautious: only 1 year in 10 freezes later) | Apr 18 |
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 21 |
| 50% (the "average" first frost) | Nov 4 |
| 90% (late: most years have frozen by now) | Nov 24 |
Light frost, freeze and hard freeze
| Threshold | Last spring (50%) | First fall (50%) |
|---|---|---|
| 36°F (light frost possible on clear, calm nights) | Apr 9 | Oct 26 |
| 32°F (freeze) | Mar 29 | Nov 4 |
| 28°F (hard freeze) | Mar 10 | Nov 17 |
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 71743
Dates count from your average last spring frost (Mar 29) and first fall frost (Nov 4). 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 | Feb 1–15 | Apr 5–19 (transplant) | Jul 8–Aug 5 (transplant) |
| Pepper (sweet and hot) | Jan 18–Feb 1 | Apr 12–26 (transplant) | Jul 15–Aug 5 (transplant) |
| Eggplant | Jan 18–Feb 1 | Apr 12–26 (transplant) | Jul 15–Aug 5 (transplant) |
| Tomatillo | Feb 1–15 | Apr 5–19 (transplant) | – |
| Lettuce | Feb 1–15 | Mar 8–29 (transplant) Mar 1–Apr 12 (sow outdoors) | Sep 9–30 (transplant) Aug 26–Sep 23 (sowing) |
| Spinach | – | Feb 15–Mar 8 (sow outdoors) | Sep 9–30 (sowing) |
| Kale | Feb 1–15 | Mar 1–15 (transplant) Mar 1–15 (sow outdoors) | Aug 12–Sep 9 (transplant) Jul 29–Aug 26 (sowing) |
| Collards | Feb 1–15 | Mar 1–29 (transplant) Mar 1–29 (sow outdoors) | Aug 12–Sep 9 (transplant) Jul 29–Aug 26 (sowing) |
| Broccoli | Jan 18–Feb 1 | Mar 1–15 (transplant) | Jul 29–Aug 26 (transplant) |
| Cabbage | Jan 18–Feb 1 | Mar 1–15 (transplant) | Jul 29–Aug 26 (transplant) |
| Cauliflower | Jan 18–Feb 1 | Mar 15–29 (transplant) | Jul 29–Aug 26 (transplant) |
| Brussels sprouts | Jan 4–18 | Mar 1–15 (transplant) | Jul 15–Aug 5 (transplant) |
| Kohlrabi | Feb 1–15 | Mar 1–15 (transplant) Mar 1–15 (sow outdoors) | Aug 26–Sep 9 (sowing) |
| Bok choy / Asian greens | – | Mar 1–15 (sow outdoors) | Sep 9–23 (sowing) |
| Arugula | – | Mar 1–29 (sow outdoors) | Sep 9–Oct 7 (sowing) |
| Mustard greens | – | Mar 1–22 (sow outdoors) | Sep 9–23 (sowing) |
| Swiss chard | Feb 15–Mar 1 | Mar 15–Apr 5 (transplant) Mar 15–Apr 12 (sow outdoors) | Aug 26–Sep 9 (sowing) |
| Beet | – | Mar 1–29 (sow outdoors) | Aug 26–Sep 9 (sowing) |
| Carrot | – | Mar 8–Apr 5 (sow outdoors) | Aug 12–26 (sowing) |
| Radish | – | Feb 22–Apr 5 (sow outdoors) | Sep 23–Oct 7 (sowing) |
| Turnip | – | Mar 1–22 (sow outdoors) | Aug 26–Sep 9 (sowing) |
| Parsnip | – | Mar 8–29 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pea (garden, snap, snow) | – | Feb 1–Mar 1 (sow outdoors) | Aug 12–26 (sowing) |
| Onion (bulbing) | Jan 4–18 | Feb 15–Mar 1 (transplant) | – |
| Green onion / scallion | – | Feb 15–Mar 15 (sow outdoors) | Aug 26–Sep 9 (sowing) |
| Leek | Jan 4–18 | Mar 1–15 (transplant) | – |
| Garlic | – | – | Sep 23–Oct 21 (sowing) |
| Shallot | – | Feb 15–Mar 1 (transplant) | Sep 23–Oct 21 (sowing) |
| Potato | – | Mar 1–15 (transplant) | Jul 15–29 (transplant) |
| Sweet potato | – | Apr 19–May 3 (transplant) | – |
| Sweet corn | – | Apr 5–19 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, bush (snap) | – | Apr 5–19 (sow outdoors) | Aug 12–26 (sowing) |
| Bean, pole | – | Apr 5–19 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Lima bean | – | Apr 12–26 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Southern pea (cowpea, black-eyed pea) | – | Apr 19–May 10 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cucumber | Mar 1–8 | Apr 5–19 (transplant) Apr 5–19 (sow outdoors) | Aug 12–26 (sowing) |
| Summer squash / zucchini | Mar 1–8 | Apr 5–19 (transplant) Apr 5–19 (sow outdoors) | Aug 12–26 (sowing) |
| Winter squash | Mar 1–8 | Apr 5–19 (transplant) Apr 5–19 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pumpkin | – | Apr 5–19 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Watermelon | Mar 1–8 | Apr 12–26 (transplant) Apr 12–26 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cantaloupe / muskmelon | Mar 1–8 | Apr 12–26 (transplant) Apr 12–26 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Okra | Feb 15–Mar 1 | Apr 12–26 (transplant) Apr 12–26 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Celery | Jan 4–18 | Apr 5–12 (transplant) | – |
| Basil | Feb 15–Mar 1 | Apr 5–19 (transplant) Apr 5–19 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cilantro | – | Mar 15–Apr 12 (sow outdoors) | Sep 9–23 (sowing) |
| Parsley | Jan 18–Feb 1 | Mar 15–29 (transplant) Mar 8–29 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Dill | – | Mar 29–Apr 12 (sow outdoors) | Sep 9–23 (sowing) |
| Sunflower | – | Mar 29–Apr 12 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Asparagus (crowns) | – | Mar 1–15 (transplant) | – |
| Rhubarb (crowns) | – | Mar 1–15 (transplant) | – |
| Strawberry (plants) | – | Mar 1–15 (transplant) | Aug 26–Sep 23 (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 29 here (the average last frost). Not affiliated with the program.
Where these numbers come from
Station: Sparkman, AR (NOAA GHCN-Daily ID USC00036768), elevation 170 ft, 15.7 miles from the ZIP's center point. NOAA completeness flag: R (representative, 10+ years).
Nearby stations
| Station | Distance | Last frost (50%) | First frost (50%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Prescott 2 NNW, AR | 17 mi | Mar 29 | Nov 6 |
| Arkadelphia 2 N, AR | 18 mi | Mar 26 | Nov 4 |
| Degray Lake Sp, AR | 25 mi | Mar 20 | Nov 10 |
The average last-frost dates of these stations span 9 days, a rough guide to local variation. See data sources & methods.
Frost questions for 71743
When is the last frost in 71743?
The average (50% chance) last spring freeze of 32°F for ZIP 71743 is March 29. For a more cautious planting date, use April 18, when only 1 year in 10 still sees a later freeze.
When is the first frost in 71743?
The average first fall freeze is November 4. In 1 year in 10 it comes by October 21.
What hardiness zone is 71743?
ZIP 71743 is in USDA zone 8a (10 to 15°F average coldest winter night), per the 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map ZIP listing.
What is the soil temperature in 71743 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
71772 Whelen Springs 71721 Beirne 71728 71722 71923 Arkadelphia 71857 Prescott 71726 Chidester 71998 Arkadelphia
Other ZIP codes in Clark County
71721 71728 71772 71921 71923 71962 71998 71999 All Clark 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.