Data: 2023 USDA zones (PRISM/OSU) · NOAA 1991–2020 normals · updated

Planting zone for Ardmore, OK

Ardmore, OK is in USDA zone 8a across its 3 ZIP codes. The median last spring frost is March 18 and the first fall frost November 10.

Ardmore on the zone map

Outlined: its 1 ZIP code areas · tap the map for the zone at any spot · scroll or pinch to zoom

Not the official USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map. Zones come from the 2023 USDA hardiness-zone data by the PRISM Group, Oregon State University; we re-mapped and recolored them. The official map is at planthardiness.ars.usda.gov.

Zone8a10 to 15 °F
ZIP codes3
Last frostMar 18
First frostNov 10
Growing season238 days

8a 3 ZIPs

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

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Forecast data: National Weather Service (api.weather.gov), public domain. This is not a warning service — for official frost and freeze warnings see weather.gov.

Frost dates in Ardmore, OK

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMarch 18median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsApril 9only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostNovember 10median — 10% chance by Oct 26
Growing season238 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around March 5 and returns around November 21.

From the NOAA station Ardmore 3ene Mesonet, OK, elevation 873 ft. NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, 32 °F threshold. Low spots and valleys can freeze later in spring than the station.

When to plant vegetables in Ardmore

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Feb 4 – Feb 18
SpinachSow outdoors · Feb 4 – Feb 25
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Jan 7 – Jan 21
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Feb 25 – Mar 11
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Feb 18 – Mar 4
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Feb 25 – Mar 11
LettuceSow outdoors · Feb 18 – Mar 4
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Feb 25 – Mar 11
TomatoesStart indoors · Jan 21 – Feb 4
TomatoesTransplant · Mar 25 – Apr 8
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Jan 7 – Jan 21
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · Apr 1 – Apr 15
BeansSow outdoors · Mar 25 – Apr 8
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Mar 25 – Apr 8
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Mar 25 – Apr 8
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Sep 15 – Sep 29
GarlicPlant cloves · Oct 27 – Dec 1
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Mar 18) and first fall frost (Nov 10) with the rules of thumb U.S. extension services publish. Cool-season crops take a light frost; warm-season crops do best once the soil is above about 60 °F.

When spring arrived in 2026

In 2026, spring leaf-out near 73401 came on Feb 10 — about the same time as the 1991–2020 average (Feb 12).

JanFebMarAprMayJun

The Spring Index marks the day when accumulated warmth is enough for lilac and honeysuckle to leaf out — a widely used signal that the growing season has started. Source: USA National Phenology Network, www.usanpn.org — Spring Indices, first leaf, 2026 (data as of 2026-09-08) and 30-year average 1991–2020 (CC BY 4.0).

Native plants for zone 8a in Oklahoma

525 plants native to the lower 48 states, recorded in Oklahoma, and rated by the USDA to survive 10 °F or colder — the bottom of zone 8a. Each links to its USDA PLANTS profile.

Trees 60

American basswood100 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −46 °FAmerican beech80 ft · blooms mid spring · low shade tolerance · to −44 °FAmerican elm120 ft · blooms early spring · medium shade tolerance · to −46 °FAmerican sycamore100 ft · blooms spring · medium shade tolerance · to −34 °FArizona walnut50 ft · blooms late spring · high shade tolerance · to −33 °Fbald cypress130 ft · blooms mid spring · medium shade tolerance · to −18 °F

Shrubs 94

alderleaf mountain mahogany15 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −41 °FAmerican beautyberry6 ft · blooms early summer · medium shade tolerance · to −8 °FAmerican hazelnut10 ft · blooms spring · medium shade tolerance · to −33 °FAmerican holly40 ft · blooms mid spring · low shade tolerance · to −20 °FAmerican hornbeam30 ft · blooms mid spring · low shade tolerance · to −34 °FAmerican plum24 ft · blooms mid spring · high shade tolerance · to −38 °F

Wildflowers & perennials 189

alkali buttercup1 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −38 °FAmerican bur-reed3 ft · blooms indeterminate · medium shade tolerance · to −33 °FAmerican eelgrass1 ft · blooms mid summer · high shade tolerance · to −33 °FAmerican licorice4 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −38 °FAmerican lotus3 ft · blooms mid summer · high shade tolerance · to −36 °FAmerican pokeweed7 ft · blooms mid summer · low shade tolerance · to −33 °F

Grasses 160

alkali sacaton3 ft · blooms mid summer · high shade tolerance · to −38 °FAmerican cupscale3 ft · blooms early summer · high shade tolerance · to −18 °FArizona cottontop4 ft · blooms late summer · high shade tolerance · to −13 °FArizona threeawn2 ft · blooms mid summer · high shade tolerance · to −3 °Fautumn bluegrass1.5 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −8 °Fawlfruit sedge4 ft · blooms mid spring · low shade tolerance · to −38 °F

Vines 15

American bittersweet15 ft · blooms spring · low shade tolerance · to −38 °FAmerican wisteria50 ft · blooms spring · low shade tolerance · to −3 °Fcatbird grape30 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −13 °Fcupseed30 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −3 °Fdevil's darning needles15 ft · blooms mid summer · medium shade tolerance · to −38 °Ffrost grape83 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −23 °F

Source: USDA, NRCS. 2026. The PLANTS Database (plants.usda.gov), National Plant Data Team — state distribution, native status and the “Temperature, Minimum” characteristic. Check light, moisture and soil needs before buying; local nurseries and your state native plant society can confirm what thrives in Ardmore, OK.

Soil in Ardmore, OK

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 73401 is Windthorst — fine sandy loam, moderately well drained.

TextureFine sandy loamdrains and warms fast; dries out and needs more feeding
pH6.2slightly acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageModerately well drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter1.25%low — add compost
Hydrologic groupCwater soaks in slowly
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Windthorst-Weatherford complex, 5 to 12 percent slopes.

Soil Survey Staff, Natural Resources Conservation Service, USDA. Soil Survey Geographic (SSURGO) Database, via Soil Data Access, accessed 2026-10-29. The soil at the center point of ZIP 73401; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Ardmore, OK

Summer high94 °Faverage high, July
Winter low32 °Faverage low, January
Hot days85days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights54nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days5,694base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day14 h 26 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 52 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growIntermediateday-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully
Precipitation39.8 inper year, rain and melted snow

Average high and low, by month

20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°100°32 °FJanuary: average high 53 °F, low 32 °F 53°32° JanFebruary: average high 58 °F, low 36 °F 58°36° FebMarch: average high 66 °F, low 44 °F 66°44° MarApril: average high 74 °F, low 52 °F 74°52° AprMay: average high 81 °F, low 60 °F 81°60° MayJune: average high 89 °F, low 69 °F 89°69° JunJuly: average high 94 °F, low 73 °F 94°73° JulAugust: average high 94 °F, low 72 °F 94°72° AugSeptember: average high 86 °F, low 64 °F 86°64° SepOctober: average high 75 °F, low 53 °F 75°53° OctNovember: average high 64 °F, low 42 °F 64°42° NovDecember: average high 55 °F, low 34 °F 55°34° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″1″2″3″4″5″6″January: 1.96 in precipitation 2.0 JanFebruary: 2.27 in precipitation 2.3 FebMarch: 2.88 in precipitation 2.9 MarApril: 3.56 in precipitation 3.6 AprMay: 5.71 in precipitation 5.7 MayJune: 4.53 in precipitation 4.5 JunJuly: 2.82 in precipitation 2.8 JulAugust: 2.98 in precipitation 3.0 AugSeptember: 3.99 in precipitation 4.0 SepOctober: 3.97 in precipitation 4.0 OctNovember: 2.57 in precipitation 2.6 NovDecember: 2.51 in precipitation 2.5 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Ardmore 3ene Mesonet, OK (2 mi away); precipitation: Ardmore 3ene Mesonet, OK (2 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

ZIP codes in Ardmore

734018a
10 to 15 °F
734028a
10 to 15 °F
734038a
10 to 15 °F

Oklahoma planting zones →

Questions about Ardmore

What planting zone is Ardmore, OK?

Ardmore, OK is in USDA hardiness zone 8a on the 2023 map (8a: 10 to 15 °F).

When is the last frost in Ardmore, OK?

The median last spring frost is March 18 and the median first fall frost is November 10 (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Ardmore 3ene Mesonet station).

When can I plant a garden in Ardmore, OK?

Cool-season crops like peas and spinach go in around Feb 4 – Feb 25; tomatoes, peppers, beans and squash after about Mar 25, once frost risk has passed.

What kind of onions grow in Ardmore, OK?

Intermediate onions: the longest day is 14 h 26 min, so day-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully.

How much rain and snow does Ardmore, OK get?

About 39.8 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals).