Data: 2023 USDA zones (PRISM/OSU) · NOAA 1991–2020 normals · updated

Planting zone for Jonesboro, AR

Jonesboro, AR is in USDA zones 7b to 8a across its 5 ZIP codes. The median last spring frost is March 23 and the first fall frost November 9.

Jonesboro on the zone map

Outlined: its 3 ZIP code areas · tap the map for the zone at any spot · scroll or pinch to zoom

Not the official USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map. Zones come from the 2023 USDA hardiness-zone data by the PRISM Group, Oregon State University; we re-mapped and recolored them. The official map is at planthardiness.ars.usda.gov.

Zones7b–8a5 to 15 °F
ZIP codes5
Last frostMar 23
First frostNov 9
Growing season230 days

7b 2 ZIPs   8a 3 ZIPs

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Jonesboro, AR…

Forecast data: National Weather Service (api.weather.gov), public domain. This is not a warning service — for official frost and freeze warnings see weather.gov.

Frost dates in Jonesboro, AR

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMarch 23median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsApril 9only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostNovember 9median — 10% chance by Oct 27
Growing season230 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around March 10 and returns around November 20.

From the NOAA station Jonesboro Municipal Airport, AR, elevation 262 ft. NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, 32 °F threshold. Low spots and valleys can freeze later in spring than the station.

When to plant vegetables in Jonesboro

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Feb 9 – Feb 23
SpinachSow outdoors · Feb 9 – Mar 2
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Jan 12 – Jan 26
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Mar 2 – Mar 16
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Feb 23 – Mar 9
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Mar 2 – Mar 16
LettuceSow outdoors · Feb 23 – Mar 9
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Mar 2 – Mar 16
TomatoesStart indoors · Jan 26 – Feb 9
TomatoesTransplant · Mar 30 – Apr 13
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Jan 12 – Jan 26
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · Apr 6 – Apr 20
BeansSow outdoors · Mar 30 – Apr 13
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Mar 30 – Apr 13
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Mar 30 – Apr 13
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Sep 14 – Sep 28
GarlicPlant cloves · Oct 26 – Nov 30
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Mar 23) and first fall frost (Nov 9) with the rules of thumb U.S. extension services publish. Cool-season crops take a light frost; warm-season crops do best once the soil is above about 60 °F.

When spring arrived in 2026

In 2026, spring leaf-out near 72403 came on Feb 20 — 5 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Feb 25).

JanFebMarAprMayJun

The Spring Index marks the day when accumulated warmth is enough for lilac and honeysuckle to leaf out — a widely used signal that the growing season has started. Source: USA National Phenology Network, www.usanpn.org — Spring Indices, first leaf, 2026 (data as of 2026-09-08) and 30-year average 1991–2020 (CC BY 4.0).

Native plants for zone 7b in Arkansas

505 plants native to the lower 48 states, recorded in Arkansas, and rated by the USDA to survive 5 °F or colder — the bottom of zone 7b. Each links to its USDA PLANTS profile.

Trees 70

American basswood100 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −46 °FAmerican beech80 ft · blooms mid spring · low shade tolerance · to −44 °FAmerican elm120 ft · blooms early spring · medium shade tolerance · to −46 °FAmerican sycamore100 ft · blooms spring · medium shade tolerance · to −34 °Fbald cypress130 ft · blooms mid spring · medium shade tolerance · to −18 °Fbitternut hickory75 ft · blooms mid spring · high shade tolerance · to −47 °F

Shrubs 94

alternateleaf dogwood25 ft · blooms mid spring · low shade tolerance · to −47 °FAmerican beautyberry6 ft · blooms early summer · medium shade tolerance · to −8 °FAmerican hazelnut10 ft · blooms spring · medium shade tolerance · to −33 °FAmerican holly40 ft · blooms mid spring · low shade tolerance · to −20 °FAmerican hornbeam30 ft · blooms mid spring · low shade tolerance · to −34 °FAmerican plum24 ft · blooms mid spring · high shade tolerance · to −38 °F

Wildflowers & perennials 173

alkali buttercup1 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −38 °FAmerican bur-reed3 ft · blooms indeterminate · medium shade tolerance · to −33 °FAmerican licorice4 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −38 °FAmerican lotus3 ft · blooms mid summer · high shade tolerance · to −36 °FAmerican pokeweed7 ft · blooms mid summer · low shade tolerance · to −33 °FAmerican speedwell0.8 ft · blooms mid summer · low shade tolerance · to −38 °F

Grasses 145

alkali sacaton3 ft · blooms mid summer · high shade tolerance · to −38 °FAmerican cupscale3 ft · blooms early summer · high shade tolerance · to −18 °Fautumn bluegrass1.5 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −8 °FBailey's sedge2.1 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −33 °FBicknell's sedge3 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −38 °Fbig bluestem6 ft · blooms summer · high shade tolerance · to −46 °F

Vines 14

American bittersweet15 ft · blooms spring · low shade tolerance · to −38 °FAmerican wisteria50 ft · blooms spring · low shade tolerance · to −3 °Fcatbird grape30 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −13 °Fcupseed30 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −3 °Fdevil's darning needles15 ft · blooms mid summer · medium shade tolerance · to −38 °Ffrost grape83 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −23 °F

Source: USDA, NRCS. 2026. The PLANTS Database (plants.usda.gov), National Plant Data Team — state distribution, native status and the “Temperature, Minimum” characteristic. Check light, moisture and soil needs before buying; local nurseries and your state native plant society can confirm what thrives in Jonesboro, AR.

Soil in Jonesboro, AR

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 72403 is Loring — silt loam, moderately well drained.

TextureSilt loama good balance for most vegetables
pH5.6moderately acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageModerately well drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter1.25%low — add compost
Hydrologic groupC/Dslow when drained; wet otherwise
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Loring silt loam, 8 to 12 percent slopes, west.

Soil Survey Staff, Natural Resources Conservation Service, USDA. Soil Survey Geographic (SSURGO) Database, via Soil Data Access, accessed 2026-10-29. The soil at the center point of ZIP 72403; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Jonesboro, AR

Summer high90 °Faverage high, July
Winter low27 °Faverage low, January
Hot days60days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights75nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days4,706base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day14 h 35 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 43 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growIntermediateday-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully
Precipitation52 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall4 inper year; 3 days with snow on the ground

Average high and low, by month

20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°100°32 °FJanuary: average high 46 °F, low 27 °F 46°27° JanFebruary: average high 51 °F, low 30 °F 51°30° FebMarch: average high 60 °F, low 38 °F 60°38° MarApril: average high 71 °F, low 48 °F 71°48° AprMay: average high 79 °F, low 57 °F 79°57° MayJune: average high 87 °F, low 66 °F 87°66° JunJuly: average high 90 °F, low 70 °F 90°70° JulAugust: average high 89 °F, low 68 °F 89°68° AugSeptember: average high 83 °F, low 60 °F 83°60° SepOctober: average high 72 °F, low 48 °F 72°48° OctNovember: average high 59 °F, low 37 °F 59°37° NovDecember: average high 49 °F, low 30 °F 49°30° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″1″2″3″4″5″6″January: 3.90 in precipitation, 1 in snowfall 3.9❄1 JanFebruary: 4.11 in precipitation, 1.2 in snowfall 4.1❄1 FebMarch: 5.23 in precipitation, 1.2 in snowfall 5.2❄1 MarApril: 5.36 in precipitation 5.4 AprMay: 5.73 in precipitation 5.7 MayJune: 3.35 in precipitation 3.4 JunJuly: 3.61 in precipitation 3.6 JulAugust: 3.69 in precipitation 3.7 AugSeptember: 3.50 in precipitation 3.5 SepOctober: 3.97 in precipitation 4.0 OctNovember: 4.89 in precipitation, 0.1 in snowfall 4.9 NovDecember: 4.68 in precipitation, 0.4 in snowfall 4.7 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Jonesboro 2 Ne, AR (3 mi away); precipitation: Jonesboro 2 Ne, AR (3 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

ZIP codes in Jonesboro

724018a
10 to 15 °F
724028a
10 to 15 °F
724037b
5 to 10 °F
724048a
10 to 15 °F
724057b
5 to 10 °F

Arkansas planting zones →

Questions about Jonesboro

What planting zone is Jonesboro, AR?

Jonesboro, AR is in USDA hardiness zones 7b to 8a on the 2023 map (7b: 5 to 10 °F; 8a: 10 to 15 °F).

When is the last frost in Jonesboro, AR?

The median last spring frost is March 23 and the median first fall frost is November 9 (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Jonesboro Municipal Airport station).

When can I plant a garden in Jonesboro, AR?

Cool-season crops like peas and spinach go in around Feb 9 – Mar 2; tomatoes, peppers, beans and squash after about Mar 30, once frost risk has passed.

What kind of onions grow in Jonesboro, AR?

Intermediate onions: the longest day is 14 h 35 min, so day-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully.

How much rain and snow does Jonesboro, AR get?

About 52 inches of precipitation a year and 4 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals).