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

Planting zone for 71833 — Dierks, AR

ZIP code 71833 (Dierks, Howard County) is in USDA zone 8a: the coldest winter night averages 10 to 15 °F. The median last spring frost is March 26 and the first fall frost November 9.

Where ZIP 71833 is

Outlined: the ZIP code area · 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.

Zone8a10 to 15 °F
Coldest night−12.2 to −9.4 °C
Last frostMar 26
First frostNov 9
2012 zone8a

Same zone as on the 2012 map. The zone is the one at the center of the ZIP code; hilly ZIPs can span two zones. What zone 8a means →

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Dierks, 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 Dierks, AR

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMarch 26median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsApril 12only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostNovember 9median — 10% chance by Oct 26
Growing season227 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around March 10 and returns around November 21.

From the NOAA station Nashville, AR — 17 miles away, elevation 400 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 71833

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Feb 12 – Feb 26
SpinachSow outdoors · Feb 12 – Mar 5
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Jan 15 – Jan 29
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Mar 5 – Mar 19
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Feb 26 – Mar 12
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Mar 5 – Mar 19
LettuceSow outdoors · Feb 26 – Mar 12
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Mar 5 – Mar 19
TomatoesStart indoors · Jan 29 – Feb 12
TomatoesTransplant · Apr 2 – Apr 16
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Jan 15 – Jan 29
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · Apr 9 – Apr 23
BeansSow outdoors · Apr 2 – Apr 16
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Apr 2 – Apr 16
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Apr 2 – Apr 16
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 26) 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 71833 came on Feb 12 — about the same time as the 1991–2020 average (Feb 14).

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).

Soil in Dierks, AR

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 71833 is Sherwood — fine sandy loam, well drained.

TextureFine sandy loamdrains and warms fast; dries out and needs more feeding
pH5.3strongly acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter1.25%low — add compost
Hydrologic groupCwater soaks in slowly
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Sherwood-Pickens association, rolling.

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 71833; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Dierks, AR

Summer high94 °Faverage high, August
Winter low32 °Faverage low, January
Hot days81days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights64nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days5,614base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day14 h 26 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 52 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growIntermediateday-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully
Precipitation54 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall2 inper year; 1 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 54 °F, low 32 °F 54°32° JanFebruary: average high 59 °F, low 35 °F 59°35° FebMarch: average high 67 °F, low 42 °F 67°42° MarApril: average high 75 °F, low 50 °F 75°50° AprMay: average high 82 °F, low 60 °F 82°60° MayJune: average high 89 °F, low 68 °F 89°68° JunJuly: average high 93 °F, low 71 °F 93°71° JulAugust: average high 94 °F, low 70 °F 94°70° AugSeptember: average high 88 °F, low 64 °F 88°64° SepOctober: average high 77 °F, low 51 °F 77°51° OctNovember: average high 65 °F, low 41 °F 65°41° NovDecember: average high 56 °F, low 34 °F 56°34° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″1″2″3″4″5″6″January: 3.99 in precipitation, 1 in snowfall 4.0❄1 JanFebruary: 3.90 in precipitation, 0.7 in snowfall 3.9❄1 FebMarch: 5.06 in precipitation 5.1 MarApril: 5.71 in precipitation 5.7 AprMay: 5.44 in precipitation 5.4 MayJune: 3.91 in precipitation 3.9 JunJuly: 4.43 in precipitation 4.4 JulAugust: 3.51 in precipitation 3.5 AugSeptember: 4.03 in precipitation 4.0 SepOctober: 4.46 in precipitation 4.5 OctNovember: 4.58 in precipitation 4.6 NovDecember: 5.01 in precipitation, 0.5 in snowfall 5.0❄1 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Nashville, AR (17 mi away); precipitation: Dierks, AR (within 1 mile). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

All 8 nearest ZIP codes share zone 8a.

719598a
Newhope, AR · 10 mi
719718a
Umpire, AR · 12 mi
718528a
Nashville, AR · 14 mi
719528a
Langley, AR · 15 mi
718468a
Lockesburg, AR · 16 mi
718418a
Gillham, AR · 18 mi
719448a
Grannis, AR · 19 mi
719738a
Wickes, AR · 19 mi

Arkansas planting zones →

Questions about 71833

What planting zone is ZIP code 71833?

ZIP code 71833 (Dierks, AR) is in USDA hardiness zone 8a on the 2023 map: the coldest night of an average winter reaches 10 to 15 °F (−12.2 to −9.4 °C).

When is the last frost in Dierks, AR?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 71833 is March 26; after April 12 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Nashville station.

When is the first frost in Dierks, AR?

The median first fall frost near 71833 is November 9, giving a median frost-free growing season of 227 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 71833?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Jan 29 – Feb 12 and set transplants outside around Apr 2 – Apr 16, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 71833 get?

About 54 inches of precipitation a year and 2 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Dierks station).

How hot do summers get in Dierks, AR?

The average high peaks at 94 °F in August, with about 81 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 71833 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Sherwood at the center of ZIP 71833: fine sandy loam, well drained, pH about 5.3 (strongly acidic).

Did spring come early in Dierks, AR in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 71833 came on Feb 12 in 2026, about the same as the 1991–2020 average (Feb 14), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Dierks, AR?

Intermediate onions: the longest day near 71833 is 14 h 26 min, so day-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully.