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When to Plant Che Fruit in Yell County, AR

Yell County, Arkansas Zone 7a April

April to-do list for Yell County, Arkansas

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

Avg. last frost March 26
Avg. first frost November 6
Soil temp (4") 56°F
Watering Moderate
Pest pressure Moderate
Daylight 12.9 hrs
  1. Transplant che fruit outside

    Frost risk is low now in Yell County, Arkansas. If you've been covering beds overnight, you can stop.

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Che fruit (Chinese mulberry) is a small, cold-hardy tree producing round, red fruits with a sweet, watermelon-fig flavor. It is an underutilized fruit tree with great potential.

Yell County, Arkansas is in USDA Zone 7a. The average last spring frost is March 26 and the first fall frost is November 6, giving you a growing season of approximately 225 days.

At an elevation of 1,105 feet, Yell County receives approximately 52 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly silt loam soil. Summer highs average 88°F, providing good warmth for Che Fruit during the growing season. Ample rainfall means less supplemental watering, but ensure good drainage to prevent Che Fruit root diseases.

Yell County, AR (Zone 7a) Long season
225 days
Last Spring Frost March 26
225 growing days
First Fall Frost November 6

Yell County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Silt Loam

Soil pH

5.5-7

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season
Transplant: Apr 6
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season
Transplant: Apr 16
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season
Transplant: May 3

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 Yell County

How your county's soil matches Che Fruit's growing requirements.

Soil pH

Your soil pH (5.5–7.0) overlaps with Che Fruit's range (6.0–7.5), though not a perfect match.

Soil Texture

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

Organic Matter

Organic matter is moderate (3.0%). Annual compost additions will help Che Fruit.

How to Plant Che Fruit

120"
Between Plants
144"
Between Rows

Plant Water Budget

Plant needs
1.0″/week
Rainfall provides
1.0″/week
You supply
0.0″/week
Watering frequency Only during dry spells
Season total 59 gal / 100 sq ft

Monthly Watering Guide for Che Fruit

Che Fruit needs approximately 1 inches of water per week (4.3" per month). Here's how your county's rainfall compares month by month.

Month Che Fruit Needs Rainfall You Supplement Action
Jan 4.2" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Feb 4.4" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Mar 4.3" 5.1" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Apr 4.3" 3.5" 0.8" 💧 Light watering
May 4.3" 3.7" 0.6" 💧 Light watering
Jun 4.3" 5.3" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Jul 4.3" 5.8" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Aug 4.3" 5.4" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Sep 4.3" 3.5" 0.8" 💧 Light watering
Oct 4.3" 3.1" 1.2" 💧 Light watering
Nov 4.3" 3.8" 0.5" 💧 Light watering
Dec 4.2" 0" ❄️ Dormant

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

Che Fruit 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.

Che Fruit needs ~23,360 GDD — county provides 3,600 GDD May not mature

Che Fruit Planting Timeline — Yell County, AR

Che Fruit Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Transplant Outdoors April 16 Apr 16 – Apr 30

· 120" apart · Rows 144" apart

Month-by-Month Timeline

MonthActivities
January
February
March
April Transplant Outdoors
May
June
July
August
September
October
November
December

Growing Conditions

☀️ Sun

Full Sun (6-8+ hours)

💧 Water

1"/week · Only during dry spells

📅 Days to Maturity

1095–1825 days

🧪 Soil pH

Needs 6–7.5 · Your soil: acceptable

🗺️ USDA Zone

Zone 7a

📆 Growing Season

225 days in Yell County

Growing Tips for Che Fruit in Yell County

Direct sow Che Fruit outdoors after March 26 in Yell County when soil has warmed and frost danger has passed.

Your 225.0-day growing season in Yell County is tight for Che Fruit (1095.0-1825.0 days to maturity). Start indoors and choose early-maturing varieties.

General growing tips

Plant in well-drained soil. A male pollinator is needed for seeded fruit, but seedless fruit can set parthenocarpically. Minimal pruning required. Fruits ripen in late summer.

Companion Planting

Good Companions

Check more plant combinations with our Companion Planting Checker →

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I plant Che Fruit in Yell County, AR?

Yell County is in Zone 7a with an average last frost of March 26. Plan your Che Fruit planting based on this frost date — see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Yell County, AR?

Yell County, Arkansas is in USDA Hardiness Zone 7a. The average last spring frost is March 26 and first fall frost is November 6.

🌱

Your Yell County Garden Planner — Free

A 24-page printable planner built for Yell County (Zone 7a). 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 Yell County, AR. Local conditions may vary. Last updated: April 2026.

Sources & credits

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