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

Planting zone for Lawton, OK

Lawton, OK is in USDA zones 7b to 8a across its 5 ZIP codes. The median last spring frost is April 1 and the first fall frost November 5.

Lawton on the zone map

Outlined: its 3 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.

Zones7b–8a5 to 15 °F
ZIP codes5
Last frostApr 1
First frostNov 5
Growing season217 days

7b 4 ZIPs   8a 1 ZIP

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Lawton, OK…

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 Lawton, OK

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostApril 1median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsApril 19only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostNovember 5median — 10% chance by Oct 22
Growing season217 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around March 18 and returns around November 14.

From the NOAA station Lawton Municipal Airport, OK, elevation 1,070 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 Lawton

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Feb 18 – Mar 4
SpinachSow outdoors · Feb 18 – Mar 11
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Jan 21 – Feb 4
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Mar 11 – Mar 25
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Mar 4 – Mar 18
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Mar 11 – Mar 25
LettuceSow outdoors · Mar 4 – Mar 18
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Mar 11 – Mar 25
TomatoesStart indoors · Feb 4 – Feb 18
TomatoesTransplant · Apr 8 – Apr 22
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Jan 21 – Feb 4
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · Apr 15 – Apr 29
BeansSow outdoors · Apr 8 – Apr 22
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Apr 8 – Apr 22
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Apr 8 – Apr 22
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Sep 10 – Sep 24
GarlicPlant cloves · Oct 22 – Nov 26
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Apr 1) and first fall frost (Nov 5) 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 73502 came on Feb 10 — 8 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Feb 18).

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 7b in Oklahoma

518 plants native to the lower 48 states, recorded in Oklahoma, and rated by the USDA to survive 5 °F or colder — the bottom of zone 7b. 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 91

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 188

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 157

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 Lawton, OK.

Soil in Lawton, OK

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 73502 is Foard — silt loam, well drained.

TextureSilt loama good balance for most vegetables
pH6.6neutral; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter2%moderate
Hydrologic groupDwater soaks in very slowly
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Foard and Tillman soils, 1 to 3 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 73502; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Lawton, OK

Summer high97 °Faverage high, July
Winter low27 °Faverage low, January
Hot days102days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights79nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days5,606base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day14 h 29 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 50 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growIntermediateday-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully
Precipitation27.5 inper year, rain and melted snow

Average high and low, by month

20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°100°110°32 °FJanuary: average high 54 °F, low 27 °F 54°27° JanFebruary: average high 58 °F, low 32 °F 58°32° FebMarch: average high 67 °F, low 41 °F 67°41° MarApril: average high 75 °F, low 49 °F 75°49° AprMay: average high 83 °F, low 59 °F 83°59° MayJune: average high 92 °F, low 68 °F 92°68° JunJuly: average high 97 °F, low 72 °F 97°72° JulAugust: average high 96 °F, low 71 °F 96°71° AugSeptember: average high 88 °F, low 63 °F 88°63° SepOctober: average high 77 °F, low 50 °F 77°50° OctNovember: average high 64 °F, low 38 °F 64°38° NovDecember: average high 54 °F, low 29 °F 54°29° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″1″2″3″4″January: 1.04 in precipitation 1.0 JanFebruary: 0.89 in precipitation 0.9 FebMarch: 1.89 in precipitation 1.9 MarApril: 2.46 in precipitation 2.5 AprMay: 3.72 in precipitation 3.7 MayJune: 3.98 in precipitation 4.0 JunJuly: 2.00 in precipitation 2.0 JulAugust: 3.21 in precipitation 3.2 AugSeptember: 2.80 in precipitation 2.8 SepOctober: 2.52 in precipitation 2.5 OctNovember: 1.50 in precipitation 1.5 NovDecember: 1.46 in precipitation 1.5 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Lawton Municipal Airport, OK (4 mi away); precipitation: Lawton Municipal Airport, OK (4 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

ZIP codes in Lawton

735017b
5 to 10 °F
735027b
5 to 10 °F
735057b
5 to 10 °F
735068a
10 to 15 °F
735077b
5 to 10 °F

Oklahoma planting zones →

Questions about Lawton

What planting zone is Lawton, OK?

Lawton, OK is in USDA hardiness zones 7b to 8a on the 2023 map (7b: 5 to 10 °F; 8a: 10 to 15 °F).

When is the last frost in Lawton, OK?

The median last spring frost is April 1 and the median first fall frost is November 5 (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Lawton Municipal Airport station).

When can I plant a garden in Lawton, OK?

Cool-season crops like peas and spinach go in around Feb 18 – Mar 11; tomatoes, peppers, beans and squash after about Apr 8, once frost risk has passed.

What kind of onions grow in Lawton, OK?

Intermediate onions: the longest day is 14 h 29 min, so day-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully.

How much rain and snow does Lawton, OK get?

About 27.5 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals).