When to Sow Autumn Spinach in Arkansas
Autumn spinach in Arkansas goes into the ground once the soil cools below that 80°F germination ceiling, usually by mid-to-late September, timed so the…
Gardening in Arkansas
Everything we have worked out for Arkansas: what to plant and when, which varieties finish in time, the pests that actually turn up here, and the jobs that pay off month by month. We also cover the rest of the property, from lawns and soil to home care and energy, because a garden rarely stops at the vegetable bed.
The numbers first, because everything else follows from them. Measured at the weather station in Little Rock, the last spring freeze runs March 12 to March 28 and the first fall freeze runs November 7 to November 20, USDA zones 6b-8a, 5,606 growing degree days in the year.
Garlic does well: 13 weeks below 40 °F, comfortably past the six it needs to form a proper head.
Elsewhere on the property in Arkansas: the pests that turn up here.
Figures from NOAA's 1991-2020 climate normals. A state is not one climate: elevation, a large lake or the coast can move these dates by two weeks either way, so check your own county with the extension service before you spend money.
Will Spinach Bolt Early in Arkansas?
Yes, spinach bolts early almost every spring in Arkansas, and the cause isn’t just the state’s reputation for heat.
When to Sow Pumpkins in Arkansas
In Arkansas, sow pumpkin seeds once soil temperature reaches 65 F, which lands well after the last spring frost of March 12 to March 28.
Will Pumpkins Ripen Before Frost in Arkansas?
Some years, yes. Arkansas’s first fall frost lands somewhere between November 7 and November 20, and pumpkins need 45 to 55 days from the moment they…
When to Sow Parsnips in Arkansas
In Arkansas, sow parsnip seed directly in the garden from late February through mid-March, roughly two to three weeks ahead of the state’s last spring…
Will Parsnips Sweeten in Arkansas?
Yes, but only if you leave the roots in the ground long enough. Little Rock’s coldest month averages a nightly low of 30.9°F, and the region gets a real…
Growing Spinach in Arkansas: When Will It Bolt?
Spinach in Arkansas bolts fast, usually within six to eight weeks of a spring sowing, because long daylight hours and quick-arriving heat hit the plant…
When to Sow Carrots in Arkansas: Counting Back From the Last Frost
Arkansas gardeners sow carrots twice a year: a spring crop timed to slip into the ground as the last frost pulls back, and a fall crop counted backward…
Will Carrots Fork in Arkansas Soil?
In much of Arkansas, a carrot grown without amendment will likely fork or split into stubby, forked roots.
When to Sow Beets in Arkansas
Sow beets in Arkansas two to three weeks before the last spring frost, which lands somewhere between March 12 and March 28 across the state.