Tulsa, Oklahoma planting calendar and frost dates
Tulsa is in USDA hardiness zone 7b. The last spring frost typically comes around March 31 and the first fall frost around November 4, giving about 220 frost-free days a year.
- Typical last frost
- March 31
- Typical first frost
- November 4
- Frost-free season
- 220 days
Frost dates in Tulsa
Last spring frost
- March 11Risky: frost later than this in 9 years out of 10
- March 31Typical: a later frost in half of years
- April 15Safe: a later frost only 1 year in 10
First fall frost
- October 20Risky: frost earlier than this 1 year in 10
- November 4Typical: an earlier frost in half of years
- November 19Late: frost before this in 9 years out of 10
The growing season between the typical last and first frosts is about 220 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 17 and returns around November 13.
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Tulsa International Airport, 6.7 miles ENE of the city center. 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 Tulsa
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, tomatoes, 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, garden mums, garlic, gladioli, grapes, grass seed, green onions, hollyhocks, kale, kentucky bluegrass, lavenders, leeks, lettuce, lilies, marigolds, mints, nasturtiums, onions, oregano, parsley, peas, perennial ryegrass, petunias, poppies, potatoes, radishes, ranunculus, raspberries, rhubarb, rosemary, roses, sage, snapdragons, spinach, strawberries, sunflowers, sweet corn, sweet peas, swiss chard, tall fescue, thyme, turnips, wildflowers
April
Start indoors: cosmos, okra, zinnias
Plant or sow outdoors: asparagus, basil, cantaloupes, chives, cilantro, cucumbers, dahlias, dill, eggplants, garden mums, ginger, gladioli, grapes, green beans, green onions, kentucky bluegrass, lavenders, lettuce, lilies, marigolds, mints, nasturtiums, oregano, parsley, peppers, perennial ryegrass, petunias, pumpkins, ranunculus, rosemary, sage, spinach, sunflowers, sweet corn, sweet peas, 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, zinnias, 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: crocuses, daffodils, daylilies, grass seed, hostas, hyacinths, kale, kentucky bluegrass, lilies, ornamental alliums, peonies, perennial ryegrass, radishes, saffron, 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 Tulsa
All 16 of Tulsa's main ZIP codes take their frost dates from Tulsa International Airport, so the dates on this page apply across the city. Every one of them is in zone 7b.
| ZIP code | Zone | Weather station | Typical last frost | Typical first frost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 74015 | 7b | Tulsa International Airport, 6.7 mi ENE | Mar 31 | Nov 4 |
| 74105 | 7b | Tulsa International Airport, 6.7 mi ENE | Mar 31 | Nov 4 |
| 74106 | 7b | Tulsa International Airport, 6.7 mi ENE | Mar 31 | Nov 4 |
| 74107 | 7b | Tulsa International Airport, 6.7 mi ENE | Mar 31 | Nov 4 |
| 74108 | 7b | Tulsa International Airport, 6.7 mi ENE | Mar 31 | Nov 4 |
| 74112 | 7b | Tulsa International Airport, 6.7 mi ENE | Mar 31 | Nov 4 |
| 74115 | 7b | Tulsa International Airport, 6.7 mi ENE | Mar 31 | Nov 4 |
| 74116 | 7b | Tulsa International Airport, 6.7 mi ENE | Mar 31 | Nov 4 |
| 74127 | 7b | Tulsa International Airport, 6.7 mi ENE | Mar 31 | Nov 4 |
| 74132 | 7b | Tulsa International Airport, 6.7 mi ENE | Mar 31 | Nov 4 |
| 74133 | 7b | Tulsa International Airport, 6.7 mi ENE | Mar 31 | Nov 4 |
| 74134 | 7b | Tulsa International Airport, 6.7 mi ENE | Mar 31 | Nov 4 |
| 74135 | 7b | Tulsa International Airport, 6.7 mi ENE | Mar 31 | Nov 4 |
| 74136 | 7b | Tulsa International Airport, 6.7 mi ENE | Mar 31 | Nov 4 |
| 74137 | 7b | Tulsa International Airport, 6.7 mi ENE | Mar 31 | Nov 4 |
| 74145 | 7b | Tulsa International Airport, 6.7 mi ENE | Mar 31 | Nov 4 |
Tulsa International Airport also supplies the frost dates for Broken Arrow, so their planting calendars match Tulsa's.
Planting dates for popular crops in Tulsa
| Plant | Start indoors | Plant or sow outdoors | Fall planting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomatoes | Feb 16 to Mar 2 | Apr 13 to 27 | Jul 22 to 29 |
| Strawberries | — | Feb 17 to Mar 3 | — |
| Lettuce | Feb 3 to 17 | Mar 24 to Apr 7 | Aug 5 to Sep 9 |
| Cilantro | Feb 17 to Mar 3 | Mar 31 to Apr 7 | — |
| Basil | Feb 23 to Mar 9 | Apr 13 to 20 | — |
| Potatoes | — | Mar 10 to 17 | Jul 15 to 22 |
| Garlic | — | Feb 17 to Mar 3 | Nov 4 to 18 |
| Onions | Dec 9 to Jan 20 | Mar 3 to 17 | — |
| Cucumbers | Mar 16 to 30 | Apr 13 to 27 | Aug 5 to 19 |
| Pumpkins | Mar 17 to 31 | Apr 14 to 28 | — |
| Peppers | Jan 26 to Feb 23 | Apr 13 to 27 | Jul 15 to Aug 12 |
| Carrots | — | Mar 10 to 31 | Aug 12 to Sep 2 |
| Sweet Potatoes | — | May 2 to 9 | — |
| Watermelons | Mar 9 to 23 | Apr 13 to 27 | — |
| Sweet Corn | — | Mar 31 to Apr 14 | Jul 29 to Aug 12 |
| Green Beans | — | Apr 13 to 27 | Aug 12 to 19 |
| Zucchini | Mar 16 to 30 | Apr 13 to 27 | Aug 12 to 26 |
| Broccoli | Jan 13 to Feb 3 | Mar 3 to 17 | Aug 19 to Sep 16 |
| Peas | — | Feb 17 to Mar 3 | Aug 12 to 26 |
| Spinach | Feb 17 to 24 | Mar 24 to Apr 7 | Aug 26 to Sep 30 |
| Sunflowers | — | Mar 31 to Apr 21 | — |
| Zinnias | Apr 20 to 27 | May 18 to Jun 1 | — |
| Tulips | — | — | Sep 23 to Nov 18 |
| Daffodils | — | — | Sep 23 to Nov 4 |
| Grass Seed | — | Feb 17 to Mar 3 | Sep 23 to Oct 7 |
Nearby cities
- Broken Arrow, OK zone 7b, last frost Mar 31
- Stillwater, OK zone 7a, last frost Apr 3
- Edmond, OK zone 7b, last frost Apr 4
- Midwest City, OK zone 7b, last frost Apr 4
- Bentonville, AR zone 7a, last frost Apr 8
- Fayetteville, AR zone 7a, last frost Apr 15
Planting in OklahomaAbout zone 7bPrintable calendar for Tulsa
Questions
When is the last frost in Tulsa?
Around March 31 in a typical year, based on NOAA's 1991-2020 records for Tulsa International Airport. There is still a 1 in 10 chance of frost after April 15.
What planting zone is Tulsa in?
USDA hardiness zone 7b (2023 map), with parts of the city in zone 7a. The zone tells you which perennials survive the winter; planting dates depend on frost dates instead.
When should I plant tomatoes in Tulsa?
Start seeds indoors February 16 to March 2 and set plants out April 13 to 27; the safest date to plant out is after April 15.
When is the first frost in Tulsa?
Around November 4 in a typical year, and before October 20 about 1 year in 10.