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Lawton, Oklahoma planting calendar and frost dates

Lawton is in USDA hardiness zone 7b. The last spring frost typically comes around April 1 and the first fall frost around November 5, giving about 217 frost-free days a year.

Hardiness zone
Zone 7b (parts in 8a)
Typical last frost
April 1
Typical first frost
November 5
Frost-free season
217 days

Frost dates in Lawton

Last spring frost

  • March 12Risky: frost later than this in 9 years out of 10
  • April 1Typical: a later frost in half of years
  • April 19Safe: a later frost only 1 year in 10

First fall frost

  • October 22Risky: frost earlier than this 1 year in 10
  • November 5Typical: an earlier frost in half of years
  • November 18Late: frost before this in 9 years out of 10

The growing season between the typical last and first frosts is about 217 days. Frost here means a low of 32°F at the weather station. A hard freeze (28°F), which damages most hardy crops too, typically ends around March 18 and returns around November 14.

NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Lawton Muni Airport, 4.1 miles ESE of the city center and 111 feet lower. Low-lying and rural spots often frost later in spring and earlier in fall than airports and city centers.

What to plant each month in Lawton

  1. January

    Start indoors: broccoli, cabbages, cauliflower, collard greens, kale, leeks, onions, oregano, parsley, peppers, petunias, ranunculus, rosemary, snapdragons

  2. February

    Start indoors: basil, black-eyed susans, broccoli, cabbages, cauliflower, celery, chives, cilantro, collard greens, eggplants, ginger, leeks, lettuce, marigolds, nasturtiums, oregano, parsley, peppers, petunias, ranunculus, rosemary, sage, snapdragons, spinach, swiss chard, tomatoes

    Plant or sow outdoors: black-eyed susans, blueberries, garlic, grapes, grass seed, hollyhocks, kale, onions, peas, poppies, raspberries, rhubarb, strawberries, turnips, wildflowers

  3. March

    Start indoors: basil, cantaloupes, cilantro, cosmos, cucumbers, marigolds, nasturtiums, okra, pumpkins, ranunculus, watermelons, winter squash, zucchini

    Plant or sow outdoors: asparagus, beets, black-eyed susans, blackberries, blueberries, broccoli, cabbages, carrots, cauliflower, chives, cilantro, collard greens, dahlias, dill, figs, garlic, gladioli, grapes, grass seed, green onions, hollyhocks, kale, kentucky bluegrass, leeks, lettuce, onions, parsley, peas, perennial ryegrass, poppies, potatoes, radishes, ranunculus, raspberries, rhubarb, roses, snapdragons, spinach, strawberries, sweet peas, swiss chard, tall fescue, turnips, wildflowers

  4. April

    Start indoors: cosmos, okra, pumpkins, winter squash, zinnias

    Plant or sow outdoors: asparagus, basil, beets, cantaloupes, carrots, celery, chives, cilantro, cosmos, cucumbers, dahlias, dill, eggplants, figs, garden mums, ginger, gladioli, grapes, green beans, green onions, kentucky bluegrass, lavenders, leeks, lettuce, lilies, marigolds, mints, nasturtiums, okra, oregano, parsley, peanuts, peppers, perennial ryegrass, petunias, pumpkins, ranunculus, rosemary, roses, sage, snapdragons, spinach, sunflowers, sweet corn, sweet peas, sweet potatoes, swiss chard, tall fescue, thyme, tomatoes, watermelons, winter squash, zucchini

  5. May

    Plant or sow outdoors: bermudagrass, celery, centipedegrass, cosmos, green onions, okra, peanuts, st. augustinegrass, sweet potatoes, zinnias, zoysiagrass

  6. June

    Plant or sow outdoors: bermudagrass, centipedegrass, st. augustinegrass, zoysiagrass

  7. July

    Plant for fall: brussels sprouts, peppers, potatoes, sweet corn, tomatoes

  8. August

    Plant for fall: bearded irises, beets, broccoli, brussels sprouts, cabbages, carrots, cauliflower, collard greens, cucumbers, green beans, lettuce, peas, peppers, radishes, snapdragons, spinach, sweet corn, swiss chard, turnips, zucchini

  9. September

    Plant for fall: azaleas, bearded irises, beets, broccoli, cabbages, carrots, cauliflower, clematis, coneflowers, crocuses, daffodils, daylilies, grass seed, hostas, hydrangeas, kale, kentucky bluegrass, lettuce, lilies, ornamental alliums, peonies, perennial ryegrass, radishes, roses, saffron, snapdragons, spinach, swiss chard, tall fescue, tulips, turnips

  10. October

    Plant for fall: cabbages, cauliflower, crocuses, daffodils, daylilies, grass seed, hostas, hyacinths, kale, kentucky bluegrass, lilies, ornamental alliums, peonies, perennial ryegrass, radishes, saffron, spinach, tall fescue, tulips

  11. November

    Plant for fall: crocuses, daffodils, garlic, hyacinths, lilies, ornamental alliums, peonies, tulips

  12. December

    Start indoors: onions

Frost dates and zones by ZIP code in Lawton

Lawton's 4 main ZIP codes take their frost dates from 2 different NOAA stations: the typical last frost ranges from March 21 in 73507 to April 1 in 73505. The hardiness zone is 7b in 73501, 73505, 73507, and 8a in 73503.

ZIP codeZoneWeather stationTypical last frostTypical first frost
735017bLawton Muni Airport, 7.2 mi WApr 1Nov 5
735038aLawton Muni Airport, 9.6 mi SSEApr 1Nov 5
735057bLawton Muni Airport, 4.1 mi ESEApr 1Nov 5
735077bMedicine Pk 3w Mesonet, 5.4 mi WMar 21Nov 12

Planting dates for popular crops in Lawton

PlantStart indoorsPlant or sow outdoorsFall planting
TomatoesFeb 12 to 26Apr 9 to 23Jul 23 to 30
Strawberries—Feb 18 to Mar 4—
LettuceFeb 4 to 18Mar 25 to Apr 8Aug 6 to Sep 10
CilantroFeb 18 to Mar 4Apr 1 to 8—
BasilFeb 19 to Mar 5Apr 9 to 16—
Potatoes—Mar 11 to 18Jul 16 to 23
Garlic—Feb 18 to Mar 4Nov 5 to 19
OnionsDec 10 to Jan 21Mar 4 to 18—
CucumbersMar 12 to 26Apr 9 to 23Aug 6 to 20
PumpkinsMar 18 to Apr 1Apr 15 to 29—
PeppersJan 22 to Feb 19Apr 9 to 23Jul 16 to Aug 13
Carrots—Mar 11 to Apr 1Aug 13 to Sep 3
Sweet Potatoes—Apr 29 to May 6—
WatermelonsMar 5 to 19Apr 9 to 23—
Sweet Corn—Apr 1 to 15Jul 30 to Aug 13
Green Beans—Apr 9 to 23Aug 13 to 20
ZucchiniMar 12 to 26Apr 9 to 23Aug 13 to 27
BroccoliJan 14 to Feb 4Mar 4 to 18Aug 20 to Sep 17
Peas—Feb 18 to Mar 4Aug 13 to 27
SpinachFeb 18 to 25Mar 25 to Apr 8Aug 27 to Oct 1
Sunflowers—Apr 1 to 22—
ZinniasApr 16 to 23May 14 to 28—
Tulips——Sep 24 to Nov 19
Daffodils——Sep 24 to Nov 5
Grass Seed—Feb 18 to Mar 4Sep 24 to Oct 8

Nearby cities

Planting in OklahomaAbout zone 7bPrintable calendar for Lawton

Questions

When is the last frost in Lawton?

Around April 1 in a typical year, based on NOAA's 1991-2020 records for Lawton Muni Airport. There is still a 1 in 10 chance of frost after April 19.

What planting zone is Lawton in?

USDA hardiness zone 7b (2023 map), with parts of the city in zone 8a. The zone tells you which perennials survive the winter; planting dates depend on frost dates instead.

When should I plant tomatoes in Lawton?

Start seeds indoors February 12 to 26 and set plants out April 9 to 23; the safest date to plant out is after April 19.

When is the first frost in Lawton?

Around November 5 in a typical year, and before October 22 about 1 year in 10.