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When to Plant Purslane in Sevier County, AR

Sevier County, Arkansas Zone 8a May

This month in Sevier County, Arkansas

Each item below is timed to Sevier County, Arkansas's frost dates and soil temperatures. Skip nothing, stress about nothing.

Avg. last frost March 25
Avg. first frost November 6
Soil temp (4") 69°F
Watering Low
Pest pressure Moderate
Daylight 13.8 hrs
  1. Bring in the purslane

    The more you pick, the more the plant produces. Letting fruit overripen tells the plant it's time to stop.

June will be here before you know it — start on
  • First harvests: purslane

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Purslane is a succulent edible plant rich in omega-3 fatty acids, often considered a weed but increasingly valued as a nutritious green. It has a lemony, peppery flavor.

Sevier County, Arkansas is in USDA Zone 8a. The average last spring frost is March 25 and the first fall frost is November 6, giving you a growing season of approximately 226 days.

At an elevation of 845 feet, Sevier County receives approximately 49.7 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly silt loam soil. Summer highs average 89°F, providing good warmth for Purslane during the growing season.

Sevier County, AR (Zone 8a) Long season
226 days
Last Spring Frost March 25
226 growing days
First Fall Frost November 6
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Sevier County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Silt Loam

Soil pH

5.4-6.5

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (152 days to spare)
Start indoors: Feb 9 Transplant: Mar 16 🍅 Harvest: Apr 27 – Jun 1
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (149 days to spare)
Start indoors: Feb 18 Transplant: Mar 25 🍅 Harvest: May 6 – Jun 10
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (147 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 11 Transplant: Apr 15 🍅 Harvest: May 27 – Jul 1

Percentages indicate frost risk at transplant. The 70% safe window means there is a 30% chance of frost after transplant — suitable for cold-hardy crops or gardeners with frost protection. The 90% safe window is best for tender plants.

Soil Compatibility in Sevier County

How your county's soil matches Purslane's growing requirements.

Soil pH

Your soil pH (5.4–6.5) overlaps with Purslane's range (5.5–7.5), though not a perfect match.

Soil Texture

The silt loam soil in Sevier County is excellent for Purslane — good drainage, moisture retention, and nutrient holding capacity.

Drainage

Purslane prefers dry conditions but your soil drains poorly. Use raised beds or mounded rows to prevent root rot.

Organic Matter

Organic matter is moderate (2.6%). Annual compost additions will help Purslane.

How to Plant Purslane

0.5"
Planting Depth
6"
Between Plants
12"
Between Rows

Fall planting: Sow 10 weeks before your first frost date for a fall harvest.

Succession Planting Purslane

6
successive plantings in your 226-day season

Sow every 4.6 weeks. Last sowing by Sep 07 to harvest before frost.

For a dedicated fall crop, sow by Aug 28.

Plant Water Budget

Plant needs
0.5″/week
Rainfall provides
0.9″/week
Watering frequency Natural rainfall sufficient
Season total 0 gal / 100 sq ft
Drought risk

Water stress score is 6/10 — consider drought-tolerant varieties and mulching

Monthly Watering Guide for Purslane

Purslane needs approximately 0.5 inches of water per week (2.2" per month). Here's how your county's rainfall compares month by month.

Month Purslane Needs Rainfall You Supplement Action
Jan 3.9" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Feb 4.2" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Mar 2.2" 4.3" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Apr 2.2" 4.2" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
May 2.2" 4.1" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Jun 2.2" 5" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Jul 2.2" 4.6" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Aug 2.2" 5.1" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Sep 2.2" 3.5" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Oct 2.2" 2.7" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Nov 2.2" 4.1" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Dec 3.8" 0" ❄️ Dormant

Water needs are for active growing months only (Mar–Nov in Sevier County). Supplement amounts are based on average rainfall — actual needs vary with temperature, soil, and mulching.

Purslane Heat Requirements (GDD)

What are Growing Degree Days (GDD)?

Growing Degree Days measure the total warmth your plants receive during the growing season. Think of it as a "heat bank" — every day above 50°F deposits warmth that helps your plants grow.

Each plant needs a certain amount of accumulated heat to mature. If your county provides more GDD than the plant needs, it's a great fit. If it's close, you may want to choose faster-maturing varieties or start seeds indoors to get a head start.

Purslane needs ~838 GDD — county provides 3,785 GDD Excellent fit

Purslane Planting Timeline — Sevier County, AR

Purslane Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors February 18 Feb 18 – Mar 4
Transplant Outdoors March 25 Mar 25 – Apr 8
Direct Sow March 11 Mar 11 – Apr 1
Harvest May 6 May 6 – Jun 10
Fall Sowing August 28 Aug 28 – Sep 11

Plant 0.5" deep · 6" apart · Rows 12" apart

Month-by-Month Timeline

MonthActivities
January
February Start Indoors
March Start Indoors Transplant Outdoors Direct Sow
April Transplant Outdoors Direct Sow
May Harvest
June Harvest
July
August Fall Sowing
September Fall Sowing
October
November
December
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Growing Conditions

☀️ Sun

Full Sun (6-8+ hours)

💧 Water

0.5"/week · Natural rainfall sufficient

📅 Days to Maturity

40–60 days

🧪 Soil pH

Needs 5.5–7.5 · Your soil: acceptable

🗺️ USDA Zone

Zone 8a

📆 Growing Season

226 days in Sevier County

Growing Tips for Purslane in Sevier County

Direct sow Purslane outdoors after March 25 in Sevier County when soil has warmed and frost danger has passed.

Your generous 226.0-day season in Sevier County allows multiple plantings of Purslane. Sow every 20.0 days for continuous harvest.

General growing tips

Direct sow after last frost or allow to self-seed. Purslane thrives in hot, dry conditions. Harvest stem tips regularly. Contains more omega-3 fatty acids than any other leafy green.

Companion Planting

Good Companions

Check more plant combinations with our Companion Planting Checker →

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I plant Purslane in Sevier County, AR?

Sevier County is in Zone 8a with an average last frost of March 25. Plan your Purslane planting based on this frost date — see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Sevier County, AR?

Sevier County, Arkansas is in USDA Hardiness Zone 8a. The average last spring frost is March 25 and first fall frost is November 6.

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Your Sevier County Garden Planner — Free

A 24-page printable planner built for Sevier County (Zone 8a). Planting dates, a month-by-month schedule, harvest log, seed inventory, and succession charts — all dialed in for your exact growing season.

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Data sources: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (2023), NOAA 30-Year Climate Normals. Frost dates are based on 50% probability averages for Sevier County, AR. Local conditions may vary. Last updated: May 2026.

Sources & credits

Every number on this page traces back to a primary horticulture or government data source. Click through to verify.