Texarkana, AR Frost Dates
Average frost dates, USDA hardiness zone, and growing season length for Texarkana, Arkansas.
Gardening in Texarkana
The state-line city (literally half in Arkansas, half in Texas) draws on both states' growing traditions. The ark-la-tex region's warm, humid climate grows food generously.
Zone 8a with 243 frost-free days. The Red River region provides fertile soil. East Texas/southwest Arkansas conditions — warm, humid, and productive.
Texarkana's unique dual-state identity extends to food traditions that blend Texas BBQ with Arkansas comfort food — and the gardens that supply both.
What This Means for Texarkana Gardeners
The average last spring frost in Texarkana is around March 12, and the average first fall frost arrives around November 10. That gives you approximately 243 frost-free days to work with.
That's a generous season. You have time for full-size tomatoes, long-season peppers, and even watermelons without the anxiety of racing the frost. Start warm-season seeds indoors 6-8 weeks before your last frost to hit the ground running. Fall planting is your second opportunity — garlic, kale, lettuce, and broccoli all go in 8-10 weeks before your first frost for harvest into late autumn.
These dates are based on NOAA 30-year Climate Normal data for the Texarkana area. Your actual frost dates could shift 2-3 weeks in either direction in any given year. Learn more about our data sources.
What to Grow in Texarkana
Texarkana's 243-day growing season is generous — long enough for two full growing windows (spring and fall) with warm-season crops between them. You can grow the full range of vegetables, herbs, and flowers with proper timing. Focus on heat-tolerant varieties for midsummer and cool-season crops for extended fall harvests. Recommended starting points: tomatoes, peppers, beans, cucumbers, squash, garlic, kale, and sunflowers.
See the full Arkansas planting guide for all 40 plants: Arkansas Planting Calendar. Or enter your zip code for exact planting dates personalized to Texarkana.
More About Zone 8A
Texarkana is in USDA Hardiness Zone 8A, which means average annual extreme minimum temperatures between 10°F to 15°F. View the full Zone 8A planting guide.
See the complete planting calendar for Arkansas: Arkansas Planting Calendar.
Other Cities in Arkansas
Frequently Asked Questions
These dates are based on NOAA's 30-year Climate Normal data for the Texarkana area. They represent historical averages, not predictions. In any given year, the actual last frost could be 2-3 weeks earlier or later. Microclimates within Texarkana (urban heat islands, hilltops, low-lying valleys) can also shift your local frost dates by a week or more.
Cool-season crops go in 3-4 weeks before your last frost (March 12). Warm-season crops wait until 2 weeks after. You have time for a fall round too — plant cool-season crops again in late summer for harvest into autumn. Enter your zip code for exact dates.