When to Plant Peppers in Arkansas
In Arkansas, the time to transplant peppers outside runs from Mar 27 – Apr 10 in Texarkana to Apr 29 – May 13 in Farmington. In Little Rock, it's Apr 4 – Apr 18. 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.
Peppers need even more warmth than tomatoes. Start them early indoors and set them out once the soil has warmed, two to four weeks after the last frost.
- Start indoors: 8–10 weeks before the last frost.
- Transplant outside: 2–4 weeks after the last frost.
Peppers planting dates in Arkansas by city
| City | Zone | Start indoors | Transplant outside |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arkadelphia | 8a | Jan 15 – Jan 29 | Apr 9 – Apr 23 |
| Batesville | 7b | Jan 19 – Feb 2 | Apr 13 – Apr 27 |
| Bella Vista | 7a | Feb 1 – Feb 15 | Apr 26 – May 10 |
| Benton | 8a | Jan 13 – Jan 27 | Apr 7 – Apr 21 |
| Bentonville | 7a | Feb 1 – Feb 15 | Apr 26 – May 10 |
| Blytheville | 8a | Jan 7 – Jan 21 | Apr 1 – Apr 15 |
| Bryant | 8a | Jan 13 – Jan 27 | Apr 7 – Apr 21 |
| Cabot | 8a | Jan 24 – Feb 7 | Apr 18 – May 2 |
| Camden | 8a | Jan 10 – Jan 24 | Apr 4 – Apr 18 |
| Centerton | 7a | Jan 28 – Feb 11 | Apr 22 – May 6 |
| Conway | 8a | Jan 22 – Feb 5 | Apr 16 – Apr 30 |
| El Dorado | 8b | Jan 13 – Jan 27 | Apr 7 – Apr 21 |
| Farmington | 7a | Feb 4 – Feb 18 | Apr 29 – May 13 |
| Fayetteville | 7a | Jan 24 – Feb 7 | Apr 18 – May 2 |
| Forrest City | 8a | Jan 12 – Jan 26 | Apr 6 – Apr 20 |
| Fort Smith | 8a | Jan 14 – Jan 28 | Apr 8 – Apr 22 |
| Harrison | 7b | Jan 23 – Feb 6 | Apr 17 – May 1 |
| Hot Springs | 8a | Jan 8 – Jan 22 | Apr 2 – Apr 16 |
| Jacksonville | 8a | Jan 5 – Jan 19 | Mar 30 – Apr 13 |
| Jonesboro | 7b | Jan 12 – Jan 26 | Apr 6 – Apr 20 |
| Little Rock | 8a | Jan 10 – Jan 24 | Apr 4 – Apr 18 |
| Lowell | 7a | Feb 1 – Feb 15 | Apr 26 – May 10 |
| Magnolia | 8b | Jan 20 – Feb 3 | Apr 14 – Apr 28 |
| Malvern | 8a | Jan 20 – Feb 3 | Apr 14 – Apr 28 |
| Marion | 8a | Jan 5 – Jan 19 | Mar 30 – Apr 13 |
| Maumelle | 8a | Jan 21 – Feb 4 | Apr 15 – Apr 29 |
| Mountain Home | 7a | Jan 20 – Feb 3 | Apr 14 – Apr 28 |
| North Little Rock | 8a | Jan 10 – Jan 24 | Apr 4 – Apr 18 |
| Paragould | 7b | Jan 15 – Jan 29 | Apr 9 – Apr 23 |
| Pea Ridge | 7a | Jan 24 – Feb 7 | Apr 18 – May 2 |
| Pine Bluff | 8a | Jan 3 – Jan 17 | Mar 28 – Apr 11 |
| Rogers | 7a | Feb 1 – Feb 15 | Apr 26 – May 10 |
| Russellville | 8a | Jan 18 – Feb 1 | Apr 12 – Apr 26 |
| Searcy | 8a | Jan 16 – Jan 30 | Apr 10 – Apr 24 |
| Sherwood | 8a | Jan 5 – Jan 19 | Mar 30 – Apr 13 |
| Siloam Springs | 7a | Jan 20 – Feb 3 | Apr 14 – Apr 28 |
| Springdale | 7a | Jan 24 – Feb 7 | Apr 18 – May 2 |
| Texarkana | 8b | Jan 2 – Jan 16 | Mar 27 – Apr 10 |
| Van Buren | 8a | Jan 14 – Jan 28 | Apr 8 – Apr 22 |
| West Memphis | 8a | Jan 8 – Jan 22 | Apr 2 – Apr 16 |
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 peppers.
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