Data: 2023 USDA zones (PRISM/OSU) · NOAA 1991–2020 normals · updated Oct 29, 2026

Planting zone for 72048 — Ethel, AR

ZIP code 72048 (Ethel, Arkansas County) is in USDA zone 8b: the coldest winter night averages 15 to 20 °F. The median last spring frost is March 17 and the first fall frost November 10.

Where ZIP 72048 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.

Zone8b15 to 20 °F

Coldest night−9.4 to −6.7 °C

Last frostMar 17

First frostNov 10

2012 zone8a

Was 8a on the 2012 map — half a zone warmer now. The zone is the one at the center of the ZIP code; hilly ZIPs can span two zones. What zone 8b means →

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Ethel, 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 Ethel, AR

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free

Last spring frostMarch 17median — 50% chance of a later frost

Safe for tender plantsApril 5only 10% chance of frost after

First fall frostNovember 10median — 10% chance by Oct 27

Growing season238 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around March 5 and returns around November 23.

From the NOAA station Saint Charles, AR — 10 miles away, elevation 200 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 72048

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

PeasSow outdoors · Feb 3 – Feb 17

SpinachSow outdoors · Feb 3 – Feb 24

Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Jan 6 – Jan 20

Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Feb 24 – Mar 10

Onion setsPlant outdoors · Feb 17 – Mar 3

PotatoesPlant outdoors · Feb 24 – Mar 10

LettuceSow outdoors · Feb 17 – Mar 3

Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Feb 24 – Mar 10

TomatoesStart indoors · Jan 20 – Feb 3

TomatoesTransplant · Mar 24 – Apr 7

Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Jan 6 – Jan 20

Peppers, eggplantTransplant · Mar 31 – Apr 14

BeansSow outdoors · Mar 24 – Apr 7

Sweet cornSow outdoors · Mar 24 – Apr 7

Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Mar 24 – Apr 7

Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Sep 15 – Sep 29

GarlicPlant cloves · Oct 27 – Dec 1

Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Mar 17) and first fall frost (Nov 10) 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 72048 came on Feb 13 — about the same time as the 1991–2020 average (Feb 13).

average
Feb 132026
Feb 13

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 8b in Arkansas

521 plants native to the lower 48 states, recorded in Arkansas, and rated by the USDA to survive 15 °F or colder — the bottom of zone 8b. Each links to its USDA PLANTS profile.

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 Ethel, AR.

Soil in Ethel, AR

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 72048 is Kobel — silty clay, very poorly drained.

TextureSilty clayholds water and nutrients; slow to drain and warm up

pH6.5neutral; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0

DrainageVery poorly drainedconsider raised beds

Organic matter2%moderate

Hydrologic groupDwater soaks in very slowly

Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Kobel silty clay, ponded, 0 to 1 percent slopes, frequently flooded.

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 72048; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Ethel, AR

Summer high90 °Faverage high, July

Winter low33 °Faverage low, January

Hot days68days a year at 90 °F or more

Freezing nights54nights a year at 32 °F or less

Growing degree days5,307base 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

Precipitation51.9 inper year, rain and melted snow

Snowfall1 inper year

Average high and low, by month

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Saint Charles, AR (10 mi away); precipitation: Saint Charles, AR (10 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

All 8 nearest ZIP codes share zone 8b.

Snow Lake, AR · 11 mi

721408b

Saint Charles, AR · 12 mi

Arkansas planting zones →

Questions about 72048

What planting zone is ZIP code 72048?

ZIP code 72048 (Ethel, AR) is in USDA hardiness zone 8b on the 2023 map: the coldest night of an average winter reaches 15 to 20 °F (−9.4 to −6.7 °C).

When is the last frost in Ethel, AR?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 72048 is March 17; after April 5 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Saint Charles station.

When is the first frost in Ethel, AR?

The median first fall frost near 72048 is November 10, giving a median frost-free growing season of 238 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 72048?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Jan 20 – Feb 3 and set transplants outside around Mar 24 – Apr 7, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 72048 get?

About 51.9 inches of precipitation a year and 1 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Saint Charles station).

How hot do summers get in Ethel, AR?

The average high peaks at 90 °F in July, with about 68 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 72048 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Kobel at the center of ZIP 72048: silty clay, very poorly drained, pH about 6.5 (neutral).

Did spring come early in Ethel, AR in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 72048 came on Feb 13 in 2026, about the same as the 1991–2020 average (Feb 13), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Ethel, AR?

Intermediate onions: the longest day near 72048 is 14 h 26 min, so day-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully.

Did the zone for 72048 change?

Yes. The 2012 USDA map put 72048 in zone 8a; the 2023 map puts it in zone 8b. The newer map uses 1991–2020 data and more weather stations.