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

Planting zone for 71857 — Prescott, AR

ZIP code 71857 (Prescott, Nevada County) is in USDA zone 8a: the coldest winter night averages 10 to 15 °F. The median last spring frost is March 29 and the first fall frost November 6.

Where ZIP 71857 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 29
First frostNov 6
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 Prescott, 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 Prescott, AR

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMarch 29median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsApril 15only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostNovember 6median — 10% chance by Oct 23
Growing season224 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around March 14 and returns around November 16.

From the NOAA station Prescott 2 Nnw, AR — 3 miles away, elevation 308 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 71857

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Feb 15 – Mar 1
SpinachSow outdoors · Feb 15 – Mar 8
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Jan 18 – Feb 1
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Mar 8 – Mar 22
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Mar 1 – Mar 15
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Mar 8 – Mar 22
LettuceSow outdoors · Mar 1 – Mar 15
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Mar 8 – Mar 22
TomatoesStart indoors · Feb 1 – Feb 15
TomatoesTransplant · Apr 5 – Apr 19
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Jan 18 – Feb 1
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · Apr 12 – Apr 26
BeansSow outdoors · Apr 5 – Apr 19
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Apr 5 – Apr 19
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Apr 5 – Apr 19
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Sep 11 – Sep 25
GarlicPlant cloves · Oct 23 – Nov 27
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Mar 29) and first fall frost (Nov 6) 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 71857 came on Feb 12 — about the same time as the 1991–2020 average (Feb 11).

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 Prescott, AR

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 71857 is Prescott — silt loam, somewhat poorly drained.

TextureSilt loama good balance for most vegetables
pH5.1strongly acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageSomewhat poorly drainedconsider raised beds
Organic matter1.75%low — add compost
Hydrologic groupCwater soaks in slowly
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Prescott silt loam, 1 to 6 percent slopes.

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 71857; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Prescott, AR

Summer high92 °Faverage high, July
Winter low30 °Faverage low, January
Hot days69days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights62nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days5,262base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day14 h 24 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 54 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growIntermediateday-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully
Precipitation56.6 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall3 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 53 °F, low 30 °F 53°30° JanFebruary: average high 58 °F, low 33 °F 58°33° FebMarch: average high 66 °F, low 40 °F 66°40° MarApril: average high 74 °F, low 49 °F 74°49° AprMay: average high 81 °F, low 59 °F 81°59° MayJune: average high 88 °F, low 67 °F 88°67° JunJuly: average high 92 °F, low 70 °F 92°70° JulAugust: average high 92 °F, low 69 °F 92°69° AugSeptember: average high 86 °F, low 62 °F 86°62° SepOctober: average high 76 °F, low 50 °F 76°50° OctNovember: average high 64 °F, low 39 °F 64°39° NovDecember: average high 55 °F, low 32 °F 55°32° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″1″2″3″4″5″6″January: 4.33 in precipitation, 1.4 in snowfall 4.3❄1 JanFebruary: 4.75 in precipitation, 0.9 in snowfall 4.8❄1 FebMarch: 5.46 in precipitation, 0.2 in snowfall 5.5 MarApril: 5.46 in precipitation 5.5 AprMay: 5.86 in precipitation 5.9 MayJune: 4.01 in precipitation 4.0 JunJuly: 4.43 in precipitation 4.4 JulAugust: 3.37 in precipitation 3.4 AugSeptember: 3.94 in precipitation 3.9 SepOctober: 5.07 in precipitation 5.1 OctNovember: 4.54 in precipitation 4.5 NovDecember: 5.36 in precipitation, 0.1 in snowfall 5.4 Dec

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

Nearby ZIP codes

All 8 nearest ZIP codes share zone 8a.

717218a
Beirne, AR · 10 mi
717228a
Bluff City, AR · 11 mi
718358a
Emmet, AR · 11 mi
717728a
Whelen Springs, AR · 12 mi
718258a
Blevins, AR · 14 mi
717438a
Gurdon, AR · 15 mi
718588a
Rosston, AR · 16 mi
719228a
Antoine, AR · 16 mi

Arkansas planting zones →

Questions about 71857

What planting zone is ZIP code 71857?

ZIP code 71857 (Prescott, 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 Prescott, AR?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 71857 is March 29; after April 15 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Prescott 2 Nnw station.

When is the first frost in Prescott, AR?

The median first fall frost near 71857 is November 6, giving a median frost-free growing season of 224 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 71857?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Feb 1 – Feb 15 and set transplants outside around Apr 5 – Apr 19, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 71857 get?

About 56.6 inches of precipitation a year and 3 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Prescott 2 Nnw station).

How hot do summers get in Prescott, AR?

The average high peaks at 92 °F in July, with about 69 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 71857 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Prescott at the center of ZIP 71857: silt loam, somewhat poorly drained, pH about 5.1 (strongly acidic).

Did spring come early in Prescott, AR in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 71857 came on Feb 12 in 2026, about the same as the 1991–2020 average (Feb 11), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Prescott, AR?

Intermediate onions: the longest day near 71857 is 14 h 24 min, so day-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully.