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.
- 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
January
Start indoors: broccoli, cabbages, cauliflower, collard greens, kale, leeks, onions, oregano, parsley, peppers, petunias, ranunculus, rosemary, snapdragons
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
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
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
May
Plant or sow outdoors: bermudagrass, celery, centipedegrass, cosmos, green onions, okra, peanuts, st. augustinegrass, sweet potatoes, zinnias, zoysiagrass
June
Plant or sow outdoors: bermudagrass, centipedegrass, st. augustinegrass, zoysiagrass
July
Plant for fall: brussels sprouts, peppers, potatoes, sweet corn, tomatoes
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
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
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
November
Plant for fall: crocuses, daffodils, garlic, hyacinths, lilies, ornamental alliums, peonies, tulips
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.
Planting dates for popular crops in Lawton
| Plant | Start indoors | Plant or sow outdoors | Fall planting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomatoes | Feb 12 to 26 | Apr 9 to 23 | Jul 23 to 30 |
| Strawberries | — | Feb 18 to Mar 4 | — |
| Lettuce | Feb 4 to 18 | Mar 25 to Apr 8 | Aug 6 to Sep 10 |
| Cilantro | Feb 18 to Mar 4 | Apr 1 to 8 | — |
| Basil | Feb 19 to Mar 5 | Apr 9 to 16 | — |
| Potatoes | — | Mar 11 to 18 | Jul 16 to 23 |
| Garlic | — | Feb 18 to Mar 4 | Nov 5 to 19 |
| Onions | Dec 10 to Jan 21 | Mar 4 to 18 | — |
| Cucumbers | Mar 12 to 26 | Apr 9 to 23 | Aug 6 to 20 |
| Pumpkins | Mar 18 to Apr 1 | Apr 15 to 29 | — |
| Peppers | Jan 22 to Feb 19 | Apr 9 to 23 | Jul 16 to Aug 13 |
| Carrots | — | Mar 11 to Apr 1 | Aug 13 to Sep 3 |
| Sweet Potatoes | — | Apr 29 to May 6 | — |
| Watermelons | Mar 5 to 19 | Apr 9 to 23 | — |
| Sweet Corn | — | Apr 1 to 15 | Jul 30 to Aug 13 |
| Green Beans | — | Apr 9 to 23 | Aug 13 to 20 |
| Zucchini | Mar 12 to 26 | Apr 9 to 23 | Aug 13 to 27 |
| Broccoli | Jan 14 to Feb 4 | Mar 4 to 18 | Aug 20 to Sep 17 |
| Peas | — | Feb 18 to Mar 4 | Aug 13 to 27 |
| Spinach | Feb 18 to 25 | Mar 25 to Apr 8 | Aug 27 to Oct 1 |
| Sunflowers | — | Apr 1 to 22 | — |
| Zinnias | Apr 16 to 23 | May 14 to 28 | — |
| Tulips | — | — | Sep 24 to Nov 19 |
| Daffodils | — | — | Sep 24 to Nov 5 |
| Grass Seed | — | Feb 18 to Mar 4 | Sep 24 to Oct 8 |
Nearby cities
- Wichita Falls, TX zone 8a, last frost Mar 26
- Moore, OK zone 7b, last frost Apr 4
- Norman, OK zone 7b, last frost Apr 4
- Oklahoma City, OK zone 7b, last frost Apr 4
- Midwest City, OK zone 7b, last frost Apr 4
- Edmond, OK zone 7b, last frost Apr 4
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.