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

Planting zone for 72536 — Franklin, AR

ZIP code 72536 (Franklin, Izard County) is in USDA zone 7a: the coldest winter night averages 0 to 5 °F. The median last spring frost is April 14 and the first fall frost October 20.

Where ZIP 72536 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.

Zone7a0 to 5 °F
Coldest night−17.8 to −15 °C
Last frostApr 14
First frostOct 20
2012 zone7a

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 7a means →

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Franklin, 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 Franklin, AR

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostApril 14median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsApril 29only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 20median — 10% chance by Oct 6
Growing season190 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 1 and returns around October 31.

From the NOAA station Evening Shade 1 Nne, AR — 9 miles away, elevation 515 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 72536

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 3 – Mar 17
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 3 – Mar 24
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Feb 3 – Feb 17
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Mar 24 – Apr 7
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Mar 17 – Mar 31
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Mar 24 – Apr 7
LettuceSow outdoors · Mar 17 – Mar 31
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Mar 24 – Apr 7
TomatoesStart indoors · Feb 17 – Mar 3
TomatoesTransplant · Apr 21 – May 5
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Feb 3 – Feb 17
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · Apr 28 – May 12
BeansSow outdoors · Apr 21 – May 5
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Apr 21 – May 5
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Apr 21 – May 5
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 25 – Sep 8
GarlicPlant cloves · Oct 6 – Nov 10
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Apr 14) and first fall frost (Oct 20) 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 72536 came on Feb 20 — 9 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Mar 1).

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 Franklin, AR

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 72536 is Gassville — gravelly silt loam, well drained.

TextureGravelly silt loama good balance for most vegetables
pH5.8moderately acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter1.75%low — add compost
Hydrologic groupDwater soaks in very slowly
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Gassville-Doniphan complex, 3 to 8 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 72536; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Franklin, AR

Summer high89 °Faverage high, July
Winter low24 °Faverage low, January
Hot days64days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights98nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days4,199base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day14 h 37 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 42 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growIntermediateday-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully
Precipitation51.5 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall7 inper year; 3 days with snow on the ground

Average high and low, by month

10°20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°100°32 °FJanuary: average high 45 °F, low 24 °F 45°24° JanFebruary: average high 51 °F, low 27 °F 51°27° FebMarch: average high 60 °F, low 36 °F 60°36° MarApril: average high 70 °F, low 45 °F 70°45° AprMay: average high 77 °F, low 54 °F 77°54° MayJune: average high 85 °F, low 63 °F 85°63° JunJuly: average high 89 °F, low 67 °F 89°67° JulAugust: average high 89 °F, low 65 °F 89°65° AugSeptember: average high 82 °F, low 57 °F 82°57° SepOctober: average high 71 °F, low 44 °F 71°44° OctNovember: average high 58 °F, low 34 °F 58°34° NovDecember: average high 48 °F, low 27 °F 48°27° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″1″2″3″4″5″6″January: 3.53 in precipitation, 1.8 in snowfall 3.5❄2 JanFebruary: 3.69 in precipitation, 2.6 in snowfall 3.7❄3 FebMarch: 4.88 in precipitation, 1.4 in snowfall 4.9❄1 MarApril: 5.54 in precipitation, 0.1 in snowfall 5.5 AprMay: 5.59 in precipitation 5.6 MayJune: 3.23 in precipitation 3.2 JunJuly: 4.32 in precipitation 4.3 JulAugust: 3.82 in precipitation 3.8 AugSeptember: 3.35 in precipitation 3.4 SepOctober: 4.06 in precipitation, 0.1 in snowfall 4.1 OctNovember: 4.91 in precipitation 4.9 NovDecember: 4.53 in precipitation, 0.7 in snowfall 4.5❄1 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Evening Shade 1 Nne, AR (9 mi away); precipitation: Evening Shade 1 Nne, AR (9 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

4 of the 8 nearest ZIP codes are in a different zone — elevation and distance from water change winter lows quickly.

725847b
Violet Hill, AR · 4 mi
725737b
Sage, AR · 5 mi
725127a
Horseshoe Bend, AR · 6 mi
725877a
Wiseman, AR · 6 mi
725777a
Sidney, AR · 8 mi
725137a
Ash Flat, AR · 9 mi
725657b
Oxford, AR · 9 mi
725177b
Brockwell, AR · 10 mi

Arkansas planting zones →

Questions about 72536

What planting zone is ZIP code 72536?

ZIP code 72536 (Franklin, AR) is in USDA hardiness zone 7a on the 2023 map: the coldest night of an average winter reaches 0 to 5 °F (−17.8 to −15 °C).

When is the last frost in Franklin, AR?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 72536 is April 14; after April 29 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Evening Shade 1 Nne station.

When is the first frost in Franklin, AR?

The median first fall frost near 72536 is October 20, giving a median frost-free growing season of 190 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 72536?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Feb 17 – Mar 3 and set transplants outside around Apr 21 – May 5, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 72536 get?

About 51.5 inches of precipitation a year and 7 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Evening Shade 1 Nne station).

How hot do summers get in Franklin, AR?

The average high peaks at 89 °F in July, with about 64 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 72536 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Gassville at the center of ZIP 72536: gravelly silt loam, well drained, pH about 5.8 (moderately acidic).

Did spring come early in Franklin, AR in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 72536 came on Feb 20 in 2026, 9 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Mar 1), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Franklin, AR?

Intermediate onions: the longest day near 72536 is 14 h 37 min, so day-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully.