When to Plant Onions in Arkansas
In Arkansas, the time to plant onions outside runs from Feb 13 – Feb 27 in Texarkana to Mar 18 – Apr 1 in Farmington. In Little Rock, it's Feb 21 – Mar 7. The average last spring frost differs by about 5 weeks across the state (Mar 13 in Texarkana, Apr 15 in Farmington), so use the dates for the town nearest you.
Onions are cold-hardy. Plant sets or transplants early so they grow leaves before long summer days trigger bulbing.
- Start indoors: 10–12 weeks before the last frost.
- Plant outside: 2–4 weeks before the last frost.
Onions planting dates in Arkansas by city
| City | Zone | Start indoors | Plant outside |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arkadelphia | 8a | Jan 1 – Jan 15 | Feb 26 – Mar 12 |
| Batesville | 7b | Jan 5 – Jan 19 | Mar 2 – Mar 16 |
| Bella Vista | 7a | Jan 18 – Feb 1 | Mar 15 – Mar 29 |
| Benton | 8a | Dec 30 – Jan 13 | Feb 24 – Mar 10 |
| Bentonville | 7a | Jan 18 – Feb 1 | Mar 15 – Mar 29 |
| Blytheville | 8a | Dec 24 – Jan 7 | Feb 18 – Mar 4 |
| Bryant | 8a | Dec 30 – Jan 13 | Feb 24 – Mar 10 |
| Cabot | 8a | Jan 10 – Jan 24 | Mar 7 – Mar 21 |
| Camden | 8a | Dec 27 – Jan 10 | Feb 21 – Mar 7 |
| Centerton | 7a | Jan 14 – Jan 28 | Mar 11 – Mar 25 |
| Conway | 8a | Jan 8 – Jan 22 | Mar 5 – Mar 19 |
| El Dorado | 8b | Dec 30 – Jan 13 | Feb 24 – Mar 10 |
| Farmington | 7a | Jan 21 – Feb 4 | Mar 18 – Apr 1 |
| Fayetteville | 7a | Jan 10 – Jan 24 | Mar 7 – Mar 21 |
| Forrest City | 8a | Dec 29 – Jan 12 | Feb 23 – Mar 9 |
| Fort Smith | 8a | Dec 31 – Jan 14 | Feb 25 – Mar 11 |
| Harrison | 7b | Jan 9 – Jan 23 | Mar 6 – Mar 20 |
| Hot Springs | 8a | Dec 25 – Jan 8 | Feb 19 – Mar 5 |
| Jacksonville | 8a | Dec 22 – Jan 5 | Feb 16 – Mar 2 |
| Jonesboro | 7b | Dec 29 – Jan 12 | Feb 23 – Mar 9 |
| Little Rock | 8a | Dec 27 – Jan 10 | Feb 21 – Mar 7 |
| Lowell | 7a | Jan 18 – Feb 1 | Mar 15 – Mar 29 |
| Magnolia | 8b | Jan 6 – Jan 20 | Mar 3 – Mar 17 |
| Malvern | 8a | Jan 6 – Jan 20 | Mar 3 – Mar 17 |
| Marion | 8a | Dec 22 – Jan 5 | Feb 16 – Mar 2 |
| Maumelle | 8a | Jan 7 – Jan 21 | Mar 4 – Mar 18 |
| Mountain Home | 7a | Jan 6 – Jan 20 | Mar 3 – Mar 17 |
| North Little Rock | 8a | Dec 27 – Jan 10 | Feb 21 – Mar 7 |
| Paragould | 7b | Jan 1 – Jan 15 | Feb 26 – Mar 12 |
| Pea Ridge | 7a | Jan 10 – Jan 24 | Mar 7 – Mar 21 |
| Pine Bluff | 8a | Dec 20 – Jan 3 | Feb 14 – Feb 28 |
| Rogers | 7a | Jan 18 – Feb 1 | Mar 15 – Mar 29 |
| Russellville | 8a | Jan 4 – Jan 18 | Mar 1 – Mar 15 |
| Searcy | 8a | Jan 2 – Jan 16 | Feb 27 – Mar 13 |
| Sherwood | 8a | Dec 22 – Jan 5 | Feb 16 – Mar 2 |
| Siloam Springs | 7a | Jan 6 – Jan 20 | Mar 3 – Mar 17 |
| Springdale | 7a | Jan 10 – Jan 24 | Mar 7 – Mar 21 |
| Texarkana | 8b | Dec 19 – Jan 2 | Feb 13 – Feb 27 |
| Van Buren | 8a | Dec 31 – Jan 14 | Feb 25 – Mar 11 |
| West Memphis | 8a | Dec 25 – Jan 8 | Feb 19 – Mar 5 |
Calculated from each town's average (50%) frost dates, from the nearest NOAA station (1991–2020). Typical dates for the 2027 planting season, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 averages. They are long-term odds, not a forecast: always check your local forecast before planting. Zones: 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (USDA-ARS and Oregon State University). Not the official map; see planthardiness.ars.usda.gov.
See all frost dates in Arkansas, or the general guide to when to plant onions.
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