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

Planting zone for 73196 — Oklahoma City, OK

ZIP code 73196 (Oklahoma City, Oklahoma County) is in USDA zone 7b: the coldest winter night averages 5 to 10 °F. The median last spring frost is April 2 and the first fall frost November 5.

Where ZIP 73196 is

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.

Zone7b5 to 10 °F
Coldest night−15 to −12.2 °C
Last frostApr 2
First frostNov 5
2012 zone7a

Was 7a on the 2012 map — half a zone warmer now. The zone is the one at the center of the ZIP code; hilly ZIPs can span two zones. What zone 7b means →

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Oklahoma City, 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 Oklahoma City, OK

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostApril 2median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsApril 18only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostNovember 5median — 10% chance by Oct 20
Growing season217 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around March 17 and returns around November 13.

From the NOAA station Spencer 2ene Mesonet, OK — 4 miles away, elevation 1,224 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 73196

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Feb 19 – Mar 5
SpinachSow outdoors · Feb 19 – Mar 12
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Jan 22 – Feb 5
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Mar 12 – Mar 26
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Mar 5 – Mar 19
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Mar 12 – Mar 26
LettuceSow outdoors · Mar 5 – Mar 19
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Mar 12 – Mar 26
TomatoesStart indoors · Feb 5 – Feb 19
TomatoesTransplant · Apr 9 – Apr 23
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Jan 22 – Feb 5
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · Apr 16 – Apr 30
BeansSow outdoors · Apr 9 – Apr 23
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Apr 9 – Apr 23
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Apr 9 – Apr 23
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 2) 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 73196 came on Feb 11 — 11 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Feb 22).

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 Oklahoma City, OK.

Soil in Oklahoma City, OK

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 73196 is Tribbey — fine sandy loam, somewhat poorly drained.

TextureFine sandy loamdrains and warms fast; dries out and needs more feeding
pH7.0neutral; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageSomewhat poorly drainedconsider raised beds
Organic matter0.75%low — add compost
Hydrologic groupBwater soaks in moderately
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Tribbey fine sandy loam, 0 to 1 percent slopes, frequently flooded.

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 73196; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Oklahoma City, OK

Summer high92 °Faverage high, July
Winter low29 °Faverage low, January
Hot days69days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights68nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days5,172base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day14 h 34 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 45 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growIntermediateday-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully
Precipitation36.6 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 50 °F, low 29 °F 50°29° JanFebruary: average high 54 °F, low 32 °F 54°32° FebMarch: average high 63 °F, low 41 °F 63°41° MarApril: average high 71 °F, low 49 °F 71°49° AprMay: average high 79 °F, low 59 °F 79°59° MayJune: average high 87 °F, low 68 °F 87°68° JunJuly: average high 92 °F, low 72 °F 92°72° JulAugust: average high 92 °F, low 70 °F 92°70° AugSeptember: average high 84 °F, low 63 °F 84°63° SepOctober: average high 73 °F, low 52 °F 73°52° OctNovember: average high 61 °F, low 40 °F 61°40° NovDecember: average high 51 °F, low 31 °F 51°31° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″1″2″3″4″5″January: 1.22 in precipitation 1.2 JanFebruary: 1.52 in precipitation 1.5 FebMarch: 2.55 in precipitation 2.5 MarApril: 3.80 in precipitation 3.8 AprMay: 4.92 in precipitation 4.9 MayJune: 4.31 in precipitation 4.3 JunJuly: 3.49 in precipitation 3.5 JulAugust: 3.81 in precipitation 3.8 AugSeptember: 3.33 in precipitation 3.3 SepOctober: 3.92 in precipitation 3.9 OctNovember: 1.75 in precipitation 1.8 NovDecember: 2.00 in precipitation 2.0 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Spencer 2ene Mesonet, OK (4 mi away); precipitation: Edmond 5ese, OK (4 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

All 8 nearest ZIP codes share zone 7b.

731137b
Oklahoma City, OK · <1 mi
731247b
Oklahoma City, OK · <1 mi
731267b
Oklahoma City, OK · <1 mi
731377b
Oklahoma City, OK · <1 mi
731437b
Oklahoma City, OK · <1 mi
731447b
Oklahoma City, OK · <1 mi
731467b
Oklahoma City, OK · <1 mi
731477b
Oklahoma City, OK · <1 mi

All 74 ZIP codes in Oklahoma City → · Oklahoma planting zones →

Questions about 73196

What planting zone is ZIP code 73196?

ZIP code 73196 (Oklahoma City, OK) is in USDA hardiness zone 7b on the 2023 map: the coldest night of an average winter reaches 5 to 10 °F (−15 to −12.2 °C).

When is the last frost in Oklahoma City, OK?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 73196 is April 2; after April 18 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Spencer 2ene Mesonet station.

When is the first frost in Oklahoma City, OK?

The median first fall frost near 73196 is November 5, giving a median frost-free growing season of 217 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 73196?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Feb 5 – Feb 19 and set transplants outside around Apr 9 – Apr 23, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 73196 get?

About 36.6 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Edmond 5ese station).

How hot do summers get in Oklahoma City, OK?

The average high peaks at 92 °F in July, with about 69 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 73196 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Tribbey at the center of ZIP 73196: fine sandy loam, somewhat poorly drained, pH about 7.0 (neutral).

Did spring come early in Oklahoma City, OK in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 73196 came on Feb 11 in 2026, 11 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Feb 22), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Oklahoma City, OK?

Intermediate onions: the longest day near 73196 is 14 h 34 min, so day-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully.

Did the zone for 73196 change?

Yes. The 2012 USDA map put 73196 in zone 7a; the 2023 map puts it in zone 7b. The newer map uses 1991–2020 data and more weather stations.