When to plant tomatoes in Arkansas
Arkansas’s average last spring frost is April 3, and the first fall frost typically arrives around November 1 — about 212 frost-free days (USDA zones 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a). Tomato needs 60–85 days to mature, which fits comfortably within Arkansas's growing season.
When to plant tomatoes in Arkansas: the short answer
For a spring planting, plant out Apr 3 – Apr 20, with seeds started indoors Feb 6 – Feb 20. Wait until the soil is at least 50°F and frost is over.
Windows are ~1–2 week bands around each date. Frost dates are a statewide average from NOAA/NCEI normals; your town may differ by two weeks or more. Calendar year 2026.
How to grow tomatoes in Arkansas, step by step
- Start seeds indoors (Feb 6 – Feb 20). Sow seeds ¼ inch deep in seed-starting mix under bright light. They take 5-10 days to sprout, fastest in soil around 80°F. Harden seedlings off for a week before they go outside.
- Prepare the bed. They need at least six to eight hours of direct sun a day and loose soil at least 18 inches deep, with a pH between 5.5 and 7.5. Dig in compost before planting.
- Plant out (Apr 3 – Apr 20). Space plants about 24 inches apart in rows 36 inches apart. It is killed by frost, so nothing goes outside until the danger has passed.
- Water and feed. Give it steady, even moisture, about an inch of water a week from rain or the hose.
- Watch for pests and problems. Pests: tomato hornworm, aphids, whitefly, flea beetle. Diseases and disorders: early blight, late blight, septoria leaf spot, fusarium wilt, blossom-end rot (calcium disorder).
- Harvest (from about Jun 9 – Jul 4). Tomato takes 60-85 days to reach harvest. Days to maturity counted from transplant. Bury 2/3 of the stem at transplanting for extra roots. Determinate types suit containers and one big harvest; indeterminate types need staking and produce until frost.
Figures come from our crop data; dates use Arkansas’s average frost dates. More in the full tomato growing guide.
Tomato planting dates by USDA zone in Arkansas
Arkansas spans USDA zones 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a. Colder zones, usually higher or further inland, have a later last spring frost and an earlier first fall frost than the state average, so the tomato dates shift with them.
When to plant tomatoes in nearby states
| State | Last frost | Plant out |
|---|---|---|
| Arkansas (this page) | April 3 | Apr 3 – Apr 20 |
| Alabama | March 25 | Mar 25 – Apr 11 |
| Mississippi | March 20 | Mar 20 – Apr 6 |
| Louisiana | March 5 | Mar 5 – Mar 22 |
| Florida | February 12 | Feb 12 – Mar 1 |
Questions gardeners in Arkansas ask
When is the best time to plant tomatoes in Arkansas?
Plant tomato transplants outdoors in Arkansas between April 3 and April 20. That timing is set by Arkansas's average last spring frost of April 3.
When should I start tomato seeds indoors in Arkansas?
Start seeds indoors between February 6 and February 20, about 7 weeks before the last frost, so the seedlings are ready to plant out from April 3.
What is the latest I can plant tomatoes in Arkansas?
About September 2. Tomatoes need at least 60 days to mature after transplanting, and frost around November 1 ends the season, so later plantings risk being cut short.
When will tomatoes planted in Arkansas be ready to harvest?
Planted on time, tomatoes are usually ready from about June 9 to July 4, 60-85 days after transplanting.
When is the last frost in Arkansas?
On average around April 3, with the first fall frost around November 1 - about 212 frost-free days. Your town may differ by two weeks or more.