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Planting Calendar for McAlester, OK

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The planting calendar below tells you when to plant in the SPRING and also plant in the FALL, based on your zip code or postal code.

Spring Planting Calendar

Our spring planting calendar starts with the very first dates that you can plant (based on the last spring frost). But if you've missed these dates, no worries! This is why we've added "last planting dates" to our spring calendar; this is meant to help new gardeners understand that if they missed the first spring planting window, they could still get crops in the ground.

In fact, many crops with short maturity times (such as radishes) can be succession planted all the way through the summer in northern areas. However, note that some cool-season crops, such as kale and lettuce, do not grow well in hot temperatures, which can cause bolting issues.  For some gardeners, especially in the South, a break to avoid summer heat is needed, but they can start once the heat has passed. 

The dates provided are based on the number of weeks before or after frost, so we can provide a unique calendar to every user in the country. Thus, several crops (especially similar crops) may appear to have the same date. Kale and lettuce, for example, or dates for starting seeds, like broccoli and cabbage. 

Fall Planting Calendar

When we say "fall," we really mean planting in summer in time for a fall harvest. Think of this as a second summer! It's easy to keep the crops going if you've already prepared the soil! 

Many crops that would be started indoors for a spring crop can just be plunked into the soil directly for a fall crop. Not only is the soil already warm but also there are less pests and it tends to be rainier so you don't need to water as often. Some fall vegetables need to be harvested by the first frost, but many are frost-tolerant and even taste better after a kiss of fall frost!

See each plant's individual Growing Guide for more specific planting, plant care, and harvesting information.

Specifically, on the charts, there are different columns labeled as follows:

  1. Start Seeds Indoors: When to sow seeds indoors to get an early start on the season.
  2. Plant Seedlings Outdoors: When to put small seedlings that you grew indoors (OR starter plants that you bought at a garden nursery) in the outdoor soil.
  3. Start Seeds Outdoors: When to plant seeds directly into the outdoor soil.
  4. Last Date to Plant: You may plant any time from the "start seeds" dates until this "last date." Don't wait any longer, or the crop won't have time to get to harvest before fall/winter frosts.

The "Moon Dates" indicate the best planting dates based on Moon phases. You can learn more about this age-old technique below.

When N/A appears in the chart, that starting method is typically not recommended, although it is likely still possible. 

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Planting Dates for Fall

On average, your first fall frost occurs on October 29 (at MCALESTER RGNL AP, OK climate station).
CropFrost Based on Frost Dates
Moon Based on Moon Dates
Start Seeds OutdoorsTransplantAverage Days to MaturityFrost Tolerance
ArugulaFrost Sep 10-Oct 15
Moon Sep 10-17, Oct 2-15
N/A40Frost-hardy
BeetsFrost Aug 6-Sep 3
Moon Aug 20-Sep 1
N/A50Frost-tolerant
Bok ChoyFrost Aug 20-Sep 10
Moon Sep 2-10
N/A50Frost-tolerant
BroccoliFrost Jul 30-Aug 6
Moon Aug 4-6
Frost Aug 20-Sep 3
Moon Sep 2-3
60Frost-tolerant
Brussels SproutsFrost Jul 9-23
Moon Jul 9-21
N/A100Frost-hardy
CabbageFrost Jul 30-Aug 6
Moon Aug 4-6
Frost Aug 20-27
90Frost-tolerant
CarrotsFrost Aug 13-20
Moon Aug 20
N/A70Frost-tolerant
CauliflowerFrost Jul 23-30
Frost Aug 6-13
Moon Aug 6-13
75Frost-tolerant
ChivesFrost Aug 6-Sep 3
Moon Aug 6-19, Sep 2-3
N/A70Frost-tolerant
FennelFrost Jul 30-Aug 13
Moon Aug 4-13
N/A80Tender
GarlicFrost Nov 11-25
Moon Nov 16-25
N/A120Frost-hardy
Green BeansFrost Aug 13-27
Moon Aug 13-19
N/A55Tender
KaleFrost Aug 20-Sep 3
Moon Sep 2-3
N/A60Frost-hardy
KohlrabiFrost Aug 27-Sep 17
Moon Sep 2-17
N/A45Frost-tolerant
LettuceFrost Aug 20-Sep 3
Moon Sep 2-3
N/A60Frost-tolerant
Mustard GreensFrost Aug 27-Sep 17
Moon Sep 2-17
N/A45Tender
PeasFrost Aug 20-Sep 3
Moon Sep 2-3
N/A55Tender
RadishesFrost Sep 17-Oct 1
Moon Sep 18-Oct 1
N/A25Frost-tolerant
SpinachFrost Sep 10-Oct 1
Moon Sep 10-17
N/A30Frost-hardy
Swiss ChardFrost Aug 20-Sep 3
Moon Sep 2-3
N/A60Frost-tolerant
TurnipsFrost Aug 27-Sep 10
Moon Aug 27-Sep 1
N/A50Frost-tolerant

Planting Dates for Spring

On average, your last spring frost occurs on April 6 (at MCALESTER RGNL AP, OK climate station, elevation 770 feet).
CropFrost Based on Frost Dates
Moon Based on Moon Dates
Start Seeds IndoorsPlant Seedlings
or Transplants
Start Seeds OutdoorsLast Date to Plant
ArugulaFrost Feb 9-23
Moon Feb 9-23
Frost Mar 16-30
Moon Mar 16-25
Frost Mar 8-16
Oct 1
AsparagusN/AN/AFrost Mar 23-Apr 6
Moon Mar 26-Apr 6
Apr 6
BasilFrost Feb 23-Mar 8
Moon Feb 23-24
Frost Apr 20-May 4
Moon Apr 20-23
Frost Apr 20-May 4
Moon Apr 20-23
Sep 17
BeetsN/AFrost Mar 23-Apr 6
Moon Mar 26-Apr 6
Frost Mar 8-16
Moon Mar 8-16
Apr 20
Bell PeppersFrost Jan 26-Feb 9
Moon Feb 9
Frost Apr 20-27
Moon Apr 20-23
N/AAug 6
Bok ChoyFrost Feb 23-Mar 8
Moon Feb 23-24
Frost Apr 20-27
Moon Apr 20-23
Frost Apr 20-27
Moon Apr 20-23
May 18
BroccoliFrost Feb 9-23
Moon Feb 9-23
Frost Mar 23-Apr 6
Moon Mar 23-25
Frost Mar 8-16
Aug 27
Brussels SproutsFrost Feb 23-Mar 8
Moon Feb 23-24
Frost Mar 23-Apr 6
Moon Mar 23-25
Frost Mar 8-16
Jul 23
CabbageFrost Feb 9-23
Moon Feb 9-23
Frost Mar 23-Apr 6
Moon Mar 23-25
Frost Mar 8-16
Apr 13
CantaloupesFrost Mar 16-30
Moon Mar 16-25
Frost Apr 6-20
Moon Apr 8-20
Frost Apr 13-20
Moon Apr 13-20
Jul 23
CarrotsN/AN/AFrost Mar 8-23
Moon Mar 8-23
Aug 20
CauliflowerFrost Feb 23-Mar 8
Moon Feb 23-24
Frost Mar 30-Apr 13
Moon Apr 8-13
N/AAug 13
CeleryFrost Jan 12-26
Moon Jan 12-25
Frost Apr 13-27
Moon Apr 13-23
Frost Apr 6
Aug 20
ChivesFrost Feb 9-23
Moon Feb 9-23
Frost Mar 16-23
Moon Mar 16-23
Frost Mar 16-23
Moon Mar 16-23
Sep 3
Cilantro (Coriander)N/AN/AFrost Apr 6-20
Moon Apr 8-20
Apr 27
CollardsFrost Feb 23-Mar 8
Moon Feb 23-24
Frost Mar 23-Apr 6
Moon Mar 23-25
Frost Mar 16-23
Moon Mar 16-23
Aug 20
CucumbersFrost Mar 16-23
Moon Mar 16-23
Frost Apr 13-27
Moon Apr 13-23
Frost Apr 20-27
Moon Apr 20-23
Aug 20
DillN/AN/AFrost Mar 30-Apr 20
Moon Apr 8-20
Sep 3
Dry BeansN/AN/AFrost Apr 20-27
Moon Apr 20-23
Jul 23
EggplantsFrost Feb 9-23
Moon Feb 9-23
Frost Apr 20-27
Moon Apr 20-23
N/AAug 20
Fava BeansN/AN/AFrost Mar 8-16
Apr 20
FennelFrost Feb 23-Mar 8
Moon Feb 23-24
Frost Apr 13-20
Moon Apr 13-20
Frost Apr 6-20
Moon Apr 8-20
Aug 13
GarlicN/AN/AN/A
Green BeansN/AN/AFrost Apr 13-May 4
Moon Apr 13-23
Aug 20
Honeydew MelonsFrost Mar 16-23
Moon Mar 16-23
Frost Apr 20-27
Moon Apr 20-23
Frost Apr 20-27
Moon Apr 20-23
Jul 30
Jalapeño PeppersFrost Jan 26-Feb 9
Moon Feb 9
Frost Apr 20-27
Moon Apr 20-23
N/A
KaleFrost Feb 9-23
Moon Feb 9-23
Frost Mar 23-Apr 6
Moon Mar 23-25
Frost Mar 8-16
Apr 20
KohlrabiFrost Feb 23-Mar 8
Moon Feb 23-24
Frost Mar 16-23
Moon Mar 16-23
Frost Mar 8-16
Apr 20
LeeksFrost Jan 26-Feb 9
Moon Feb 9
Frost Mar 16-30
Moon Mar 16-25
N/AJul 16
LettuceFrost Feb 23-Mar 8
Moon Feb 23-24
Frost Mar 16-23
Moon Mar 16-23
Frost Mar 8-16
Apr 20
MicrogreensN/AN/AN/A
Mustard GreensN/AN/AN/A
OkraFrost Mar 8-23
Frost Apr 20-27
Moon Apr 20-23
Frost Apr 20-May 4
Moon Apr 20-23
Aug 20
OnionsN/AFrost Mar 8-23
Moon Mar 8-23
N/AJul 23
OreganoFrost Jan 26-Feb 23
Moon Feb 9-23
Frost Apr 13-27
Moon Apr 13-23
N/AAug 20
ParsleyFrost Jan 26-Feb 9
Moon Feb 9
Frost Apr 13-27
Moon Apr 13-23
Frost Mar 8-Apr 13
Moon Mar 24-25
Aug 13
ParsnipsN/AN/AFrost Mar 8-16
Moon Mar 8-16
Jul 23
PeanutsN/AN/AFrost Apr 27-May 11
Moon Apr 27-May 6
PeasN/AN/AFrost Mar 8-16
Apr 20
PotatoesN/AN/AFrost Mar 8-23
Moon Mar 8-23
Aug 20
PumpkinsFrost Mar 16-30
Moon Mar 16-25
Frost Apr 20-27
Moon Apr 20-23
Frost Apr 20-27
Moon Apr 20-23
Jul 16
RadishesN/AN/AFrost Mar 8-16
Moon Mar 8-16
Sep 3
RosemaryFrost Jan 12-26
Moon Jan 12-25
Frost Apr 20-27
Moon Apr 20-23
N/ASep 3
SageFrost Feb 9-23
Moon Feb 9-23
Frost Apr 13-27
Moon Apr 13-23
N/AAug 13
SalsifyN/AN/AFrost Mar 8-23
Moon Mar 8-23
Jul 23
SpinachFrost Feb 23-Mar 8
Moon Feb 23-24
Frost Mar 16-23
Moon Mar 16-23
Frost Mar 8-16
Apr 20
Sweet CornN/AN/AFrost Apr 20-May 4
Moon Apr 20-23
Aug 13
Sweet PotatoesN/AN/AFrost Apr 20-May 4
Moon Apr 24-May 4
Jul 16
Swiss ChardFrost Feb 23-Mar 8
Moon Feb 23-24
Frost Mar 23-Apr 6
Moon Mar 23-25
Frost Mar 16-Apr 6
Moon Mar 16-25
Apr 20
ThymeFrost Jan 26-Feb 9
Moon Feb 9
Frost Apr 13-20
Moon Apr 13-20
N/AAug 6
TomatillosFrost Feb 23-Mar 8
Moon Feb 23-24
Frost Apr 20-May 4
Moon Apr 20-23
N/AAug 13
TomatoesFrost Feb 9-23
Moon Feb 9-23
Frost Apr 20-27
Moon Apr 20-23
N/AJul 30
TurnipsN/AN/AFrost Mar 8-16
Moon Mar 8-16
Oct 1
WatermelonsFrost Mar 16-30
Moon Mar 16-25
Frost Apr 20-27
Moon Apr 20-23
Frost Apr 13-20
Moon Apr 13-20
Jul 30
Winter SquashFrost Mar 16-23
Moon Mar 16-23
Frost Apr 13-27
Moon Apr 13-23
Frost Apr 20-27
Moon Apr 20-23
Jul 9
Zucchini (Summer Squash)Frost Mar 16-23
Moon Mar 16-23
Frost Apr 13-27
Moon Apr 13-23
Frost Apr 20-27
Moon Apr 20-23
Aug 27
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