Fall in zone 8bPhoto: George Chernilevsky, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Frost dates for ZIP 71663 (Portland, AR)
Average last spring and first fall frost dates with 10%, 50% and 90% odds, from NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the nearest weather station, Portland, AR (5 miles away).
- Average last spring frostMar 1450% chance of a 32°F freeze after this date
- Average first fall frostNov 1050% chance of a 32°F freeze by this date
- Growing season (frost-free)241 daysmedian, 32°F threshold
- USDA hardiness zone8b15 to 20°F avg. coldest night
Get The Dial for 71663 (Portland)
Frost and freeze alerts from the NWS forecast for 71663, the spring soil-temperature heads-up for pre-emergent, and a short weekly yard-timing email.
- Freeze alerts
- Soil-temp heads-up
- Weekly yard to-dos
Free. One weekly email plus alerts when your ZIP has a frost or a soil-temperature change worth acting on. After you submit, Kit (our email provider) sends a confirmation email: check your email and click the link to confirm. You aren't subscribed until you do. We collect only your email address and ZIP, sent to Kit to deliver The Dial. Unsubscribe anytime.
This week in your yard
As of Oct 18, 2026, from your frost dates, zone and soil temperature. Lawn timing · Vegetables · Pruning · Plants
Soil temperature now
2-inch depth
71°F 55°F or warmer
24-hour average · latest 68°F, as of Oct 18, 2:00 AM CDT
Estimate Not a measurement at this ZIP: distance-weighted average of North Issaquena (27 mi), Scott (33 mi), Onward (43 mi).
4-inch depth
73°F 55°F or warmer
24-hour average · latest 72°F, as of Oct 18, 2:00 AM CDT
Estimate Not a measurement at this ZIP: distance-weighted average of North Issaquena (27 mi), Scott (33 mi), Onward (43 mi).
Fall: Texas A&M AgriLife times fall pre-emergent (for winter weeds such as annual bluegrass) to soil cooling to about 70°F for several days. The 50–55°F band is the spring trigger. Always read and follow the product label.
7-day forecast and frost risk
The latest National Weather Service 7-day forecast and any Frost Advisory or Freeze Warning for 71663 load here. You can also open the NWS forecast for this ZIP.
Pre-emergent
Soil is 73°F at 4 inches (estimated soil temperature, not a station reading). Fall pre-emergent (annual bluegrass, winter weeds): window open as soil cools through the 70s and 60s.
Fertilizer window
Lawn region: South Central plains. Timing only; always follow the product label.
- Bermudagrass (warm-season): Spring: Several weeks after the lawn is fully green (April–May) (about Apr 29 here, using green-up about 3–4 weeks after your average last frost); Summer: Every 4–6 weeks through mid-August (heaviest feeder of the group); Late: Light, low-nitrogen/high-potassium feeding about 4 weeks before first frost, or skip. Avoid: Heavy late-fall nitrogen (linked to spring dead spot).
- Tall fescue (cool-season): Early fall: September (main feeding); Late fall: November, while still green; Late winter: Optional light feeding February–March. Avoid: Feeding after mid-spring and through summer in the transition zone (stress and brown patch).
Plant now
Prune now
No frost-timed pruning windows are open this week.
Your average first frost is Nov 10: skip heavy pruning in the 6–8 weeks before it, because new growth may not harden off in time.
Spring-flowering shrubs are pruned right after their flowers fade, not by date. See the pruning guide.
Last spring frost odds
| Chance of a 32°F freeze after this date | Date |
|---|---|
| 90% (early: most years still freeze after this) | Feb 25 |
| 50% (the "average" last frost) | Mar 14 |
| 10% (cautious: only 1 year in 10 freezes later) | Apr 1 |
Most gardeners plant frost-tender crops (tomatoes, peppers, basil) after the 50% date, and closer to the 10% date for less risk.
First fall frost odds
| Chance the first 32°F freeze has happened by this date | Date |
|---|---|
| 10% (early: 1 year in 10 freezes this soon) | Oct 28 |
| 50% (the "average" first frost) | Nov 10 |
| 90% (late: most years have frozen by now) | Dec 1 |
Light frost, freeze and hard freeze
| Threshold | Last spring (50%) | First fall (50%) |
|---|---|---|
| 36°F (light frost possible on clear, calm nights) | Mar 28 | Nov 1 |
| 32°F (freeze) | Mar 14 | Nov 10 |
| 28°F (hard freeze) | Mar 2 | Nov 25 |
n/a means NOAA did not publish a date at that threshold for this station (usually because it rarely gets that cold).
Vegetable planting calendar for 71663
Dates count from your average last spring frost (Mar 14) and first fall frost (Nov 10). Half of years have a frost after the spring date, so give tender crops (tomatoes, peppers, squash) some slack.
| Crop | Start indoors | Spring planting | Fall planting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomato | Jan 17–31 | Mar 21–Apr 4 (transplant) | Jul 14–Aug 11 (transplant) |
| Pepper (sweet and hot) | Jan 3–17 | Mar 28–Apr 11 (transplant) | Jul 21–Aug 11 (transplant) |
| Eggplant | Jan 3–17 | Mar 28–Apr 11 (transplant) | Jul 21–Aug 11 (transplant) |
| Tomatillo | Jan 17–31 | Mar 21–Apr 4 (transplant) | – |
| Lettuce | Jan 17–31 | Feb 21–Mar 14 (transplant) Feb 14–Mar 28 (sow outdoors) | Sep 15–Oct 6 (transplant) Sep 1–29 (sowing) |
| Spinach | – | Jan 31–Feb 21 (sow outdoors) | Sep 15–Oct 6 (sowing) |
| Kale | Jan 17–31 | Feb 14–28 (transplant) Feb 14–28 (sow outdoors) | Aug 18–Sep 15 (transplant) Aug 4–Sep 1 (sowing) |
| Collards | Jan 17–31 | Feb 14–Mar 14 (transplant) Feb 14–Mar 14 (sow outdoors) | Aug 18–Sep 15 (transplant) Aug 4–Sep 1 (sowing) |
| Broccoli | Jan 3–17 | Feb 14–28 (transplant) | Aug 4–Sep 1 (transplant) |
| Cabbage | Jan 3–17 | Feb 14–28 (transplant) | Aug 4–Sep 1 (transplant) |
| Cauliflower | Jan 3–17 | Feb 28–Mar 14 (transplant) | Aug 4–Sep 1 (transplant) |
| Brussels sprouts | Dec 20–Jan 3 | Feb 14–28 (transplant) | Jul 21–Aug 11 (transplant) |
| Kohlrabi | Jan 17–31 | Feb 14–28 (transplant) Feb 14–28 (sow outdoors) | Sep 1–15 (sowing) |
| Bok choy / Asian greens | – | Feb 14–28 (sow outdoors) | Sep 15–29 (sowing) |
| Arugula | – | Feb 14–Mar 14 (sow outdoors) | Sep 15–Oct 13 (sowing) |
| Mustard greens | – | Feb 14–Mar 7 (sow outdoors) | Sep 15–29 (sowing) |
| Swiss chard | Jan 31–Feb 14 | Feb 28–Mar 21 (transplant) Feb 28–Mar 28 (sow outdoors) | Sep 1–15 (sowing) |
| Beet | – | Feb 14–Mar 14 (sow outdoors) | Sep 1–15 (sowing) |
| Carrot | – | Feb 21–Mar 21 (sow outdoors) | Aug 18–Sep 1 (sowing) |
| Radish | – | Feb 7–Mar 21 (sow outdoors) | Sep 29–Oct 13 (sowing) |
| Turnip | – | Feb 14–Mar 7 (sow outdoors) | Sep 1–15 (sowing) |
| Parsnip | – | Feb 21–Mar 14 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pea (garden, snap, snow) | – | Jan 17–Feb 14 (sow outdoors) | Aug 18–Sep 1 (sowing) |
| Onion (bulbing) | Dec 20–Jan 3 | Jan 31–Feb 14 (transplant) | – |
| Green onion / scallion | – | Jan 31–Feb 28 (sow outdoors) | Sep 1–15 (sowing) |
| Leek | Dec 20–Jan 3 | Feb 14–28 (transplant) | – |
| Garlic | – | – | Sep 29–Oct 27 (sowing) |
| Shallot | – | Jan 31–Feb 14 (transplant) | Sep 29–Oct 27 (sowing) |
| Potato | – | Feb 14–28 (transplant) | Jul 21–Aug 4 (transplant) |
| Sweet potato | – | Apr 4–18 (transplant) | – |
| Sweet corn | – | Mar 21–Apr 4 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, bush (snap) | – | Mar 21–Apr 4 (sow outdoors) | Aug 18–Sep 1 (sowing) |
| Bean, pole | – | Mar 21–Apr 4 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Lima bean | – | Mar 28–Apr 11 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Southern pea (cowpea, black-eyed pea) | – | Apr 4–25 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cucumber | Feb 14–21 | Mar 21–Apr 4 (transplant) Mar 21–Apr 4 (sow outdoors) | Aug 18–Sep 1 (sowing) |
| Summer squash / zucchini | Feb 14–21 | Mar 21–Apr 4 (transplant) Mar 21–Apr 4 (sow outdoors) | Aug 18–Sep 1 (sowing) |
| Winter squash | Feb 14–21 | Mar 21–Apr 4 (transplant) Mar 21–Apr 4 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pumpkin | – | Mar 21–Apr 4 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Watermelon | Feb 14–21 | Mar 28–Apr 11 (transplant) Mar 28–Apr 11 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cantaloupe / muskmelon | Feb 14–21 | Mar 28–Apr 11 (transplant) Mar 28–Apr 11 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Okra | Jan 31–Feb 14 | Mar 28–Apr 11 (transplant) Mar 28–Apr 11 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Celery | Dec 20–Jan 3 | Mar 21–28 (transplant) | – |
| Basil | Jan 31–Feb 14 | Mar 21–Apr 4 (transplant) Mar 21–Apr 4 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cilantro | – | Feb 28–Mar 28 (sow outdoors) | Sep 15–29 (sowing) |
| Parsley | Jan 3–17 | Feb 28–Mar 14 (transplant) Feb 21–Mar 14 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Dill | – | Mar 14–28 (sow outdoors) | Sep 15–29 (sowing) |
| Sunflower | – | Mar 14–28 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Asparagus (crowns) | – | Feb 14–28 (transplant) | – |
| Rhubarb (crowns) | – | Feb 14–28 (transplant) | – |
| Strawberry (plants) | – | Feb 14–28 (transplant) | Sep 1–29 (transplant) |
Typical ranges from university extension planting calendars, adjusted to your frost dates. Probabilities, not guarantees. Fall windows that would overlap spring planting are left out, as are fall crops of frost-tender plants where the frost-free season is under 210 days.
Plants that do well here
Arkansas has a university or garden plant program: Arkansas Select (ended about 2005). Plant frost-tender annuals after March 14 here (the average last frost). Not affiliated with the program.
Where these numbers come from
Station: Portland, AR (NOAA GHCN-Daily ID USC00035866), elevation 128 ft, 4.7 miles from the ZIP's center point. NOAA completeness flag: S (standard, 24+ years).
Nearby stations
| Station | Distance | Last frost (50%) | First frost (50%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eudora, AR | 12 mi | Mar 13 | Nov 14 |
| Dermott 3 NE, AR | 23 mi | Mar 13 | Nov 10 |
| Greenville, MS | 23 mi | Mar 13 | Nov 15 |
The average last-frost dates of these stations span 1 days, a rough guide to local variation. See data sources & methods.
Frost questions for 71663
When is the last frost in 71663?
The average (50% chance) last spring freeze of 32°F for ZIP 71663 is March 14. For a more cautious planting date, use April 1, when only 1 year in 10 still sees a later freeze.
When is the first frost in 71663?
The average first fall freeze is November 10. In 1 year in 10 it comes by October 28.
What hardiness zone is 71663?
ZIP 71663 is in USDA zone 8b (15 to 20°F average coldest winter night), per the 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map ZIP listing.
What is the soil temperature in 71663 right now?
This page shows the latest 2-inch and 4-inch soil temperature from the nearest public soil station (USDA SCAN, NOAA USCRN or TexMesonet), or a labeled estimate when no station is close, against the 50–55°F spring pre-emergent band.
Nearby ZIP codes
71661 Parkdale 71658 Montrose 71640 Eudora 71653 Lake Village 71676 Wilmot 71253 Kilbourne 38731 71646 Hamburg
Other ZIP codes in Chicot County
71640 71653 All Chicot County frost dates · Arkansas frost dates
Never miss a frost: get The Dial
Weekly yard timing, plus frost and soil-temperature alerts for your ZIP code.
- Freeze alerts
- Soil-temp heads-up
- Weekly yard to-dos
Free. One weekly email plus alerts when your ZIP has a frost or a soil-temperature change worth acting on. After you submit, Kit (our email provider) sends a confirmation email: check your email and click the link to confirm. You aren't subscribed until you do. We collect only your email address and ZIP, sent to Kit to deliver The Dial. Unsubscribe anytime.