Charleston, AR 72933 Frost Dates
When can you plant in Charleston, AR?
Around 03/25 is the usual last spring frost, about 209 days away. The first fall frost typically arrives around 11/06, about 224 frost-free days later.
The USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map puts Charleston in Zone 8a (10 to 15°F average annual minimum); frost dates are NOAA's 1991-2020 station normal, not this year's forecast.
What to do before the first frost
About 10 weeks of growing season left in Charleston before the first fall frost — a cold frame or row cover can stretch harvest weeks past that date.
Why 03/25 isn't a guarantee
03/25 is the middle of 30 years of NOAA records, not a promise. Plant by 03/04 and you're betting against frost in roughly 9 years out of 10. 04/11 is the safer bet, historically only a 1-in-10 chance of frost that late.
How Charleston compares
Charleston's growing season runs about 224 days, ranking 11,887 of 40,283 US ZIP codes measured here, longest to shortest. Within AR, it ranks 343 of 687.
Learn more
zone vs. frost date covers why Zone 8a and Charleston's frost date answer different questions. the frost range covers how to read the range around Charleston's dates instead of trusting one.