Data: 2023 USDA zones (PRISM/OSU) · NOAA 1991–2020 normals · updated Oct 29, 2026

Planting zone for 74859 — Okemah, OK

ZIP code 74859 (Okemah, Okfuskee County) is in USDA zone 7b: the coldest winter night averages 5 to 10 °F. The median last spring frost is March 24 and the first fall frost November 9.

Where ZIP 74859 is

Outlined: the ZIP code area · 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 frostMar 24

First frostNov 9

2012 zone7b

Same zone as on the 2012 map. 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 Okemah, 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 Okemah, OK

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free

Last spring frostMarch 24median — 50% chance of a later frost

Safe for tender plantsApril 10only 10% chance of frost after

First fall frostNovember 9median — 10% chance by Oct 25

Growing season229 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around March 11 and returns around November 20.

From the NOAA station Okemah, OK — 2 miles away, elevation 935 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 74859

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

PeasSow outdoors · Feb 10 – Feb 24

SpinachSow outdoors · Feb 10 – Mar 3

Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Jan 13 – Jan 27

Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Mar 3 – Mar 17

Onion setsPlant outdoors · Feb 24 – Mar 10

PotatoesPlant outdoors · Mar 3 – Mar 17

LettuceSow outdoors · Feb 24 – Mar 10

Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Mar 3 – Mar 17

TomatoesStart indoors · Jan 27 – Feb 10

TomatoesTransplant · Mar 31 – Apr 14

Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Jan 13 – Jan 27

Peppers, eggplantTransplant · Apr 7 – Apr 21

BeansSow outdoors · Mar 31 – Apr 14

Sweet cornSow outdoors · Mar 31 – Apr 14

Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Mar 31 – Apr 14

Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Sep 14 – Sep 28

GarlicPlant cloves · Oct 26 – Nov 30

Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Mar 24) and first fall frost (Nov 9) 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 74859 came on Feb 12 — 9 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Feb 21).

average
Feb 212026
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 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.

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 Okemah, OK.

Soil in Okemah, OK

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 74859 is Bates — loam, well drained.

TextureLoama good balance for most vegetables

pH5.8moderately acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0

DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class

Organic matter2.5%moderate

Hydrologic groupCwater soaks in slowly

Farmland classprime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Bates loam, 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 74859; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Okemah, OK

Summer high93 °Faverage high, July

Winter low30 °Faverage low, January

Hot days75days a year at 90 °F or more

Freezing nights50nights a year at 32 °F or less

Growing degree days5,353base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat

Longest day14 h 33 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

Precipitation43.5 inper year, rain and melted snow

Snowfall5 inper year

Average high and low, by month

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

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

Nearby ZIP codes

All 8 nearest ZIP codes share zone 7b.

Oklahoma planting zones →

Questions about 74859

What planting zone is ZIP code 74859?

ZIP code 74859 (Okemah, 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 Okemah, OK?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 74859 is March 24; after April 10 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Okemah station.

When is the first frost in Okemah, OK?

The median first fall frost near 74859 is November 9, giving a median frost-free growing season of 229 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 74859?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Jan 27 – Feb 10 and set transplants outside around Mar 31 – Apr 14, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 74859 get?

About 43.5 inches of precipitation a year and 5 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Okemah station).

How hot do summers get in Okemah, OK?

The average high peaks at 93 °F in July, with about 75 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 74859 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Bates at the center of ZIP 74859: loam, well drained, pH about 5.8 (moderately acidic).

Did spring come early in Okemah, OK in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 74859 came on Feb 12 in 2026, 9 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Feb 21), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Okemah, OK?

Intermediate onions: the longest day near 74859 is 14 h 33 min, so day-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully.