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When to Plant Calabash in Haskell County, OK

Calabash (bottle gourd) is a tropical vine producing edible young fruits used in Asian and African cooking. Mature dried fruits serve as natural containers and utensils.

Haskell County, Oklahoma is in USDA Zone 7a. The average last spring frost is March 28 and the first fall frost is November 3, giving you a growing season of approximately 220 days.

At an elevation of 691 feet, Haskell County receives approximately 29.2 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly loam soil. Summer highs average 91ยฐF, providing good warmth for Calabash during the growing season.

Haskell County, OK (Zone 7a) Long season
220 days
Last Spring Frost March 28
220 growing days
First Fall Frost November 3

Haskell County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Loam

Soil pH

6.5-7.5

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (66 days to spare)
Start indoors: Jan 31 Transplant: Apr 4 🍅 Harvest: Jun 27 – Aug 22
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (66 days to spare)
Start indoors: Feb 7 Transplant: Apr 11 🍅 Harvest: Jul 4 – Aug 29
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (69 days to spare)
Start indoors: Feb 24 Transplant: Apr 28 🍅 Harvest: Jul 21 – Sep 15

Percentages indicate frost risk at transplant. The 70% safe window means there is a 30% chance of frost after transplant — suitable for cold-hardy crops or gardeners with frost protection. The 90% safe window is best for tender plants.

Soil Compatibility in Haskell County

How your county's soil matches Calabash's growing requirements.

Soil pH

Your soil pH (6.5โ€“7.5) is within Calabash's preferred range (6.0โ€“7.5).

Soil Texture

The loam soil in Haskell County is excellent for Calabash โ€” good drainage, moisture retention, and nutrient holding capacity.

Organic Matter

Organic matter is excellent (4.3%) โ€” Calabash will thrive.

How to Plant Calabash

1"
Planting Depth
30"
Between Plants
42"
Between Rows

Succession Planting Calabash

3
successive plantings in your 220-day season

Sow every 9.1 weeks. Last sowing by Jul 06 to harvest before frost.

Plant Water Budget

Plant needs
1.0″/week
Rainfall provides
0.6″/week
You supply
0.5″/week
Watering frequency 1-2 times/week
Season total 1,040 gal / 100 sq ft
Drought risk

Water stress score is 6/10 โ€” consider drought-tolerant varieties and mulching

Calabash needs ~1,825 GDD — county provides 4,015 GDD Excellent fit

Calabash Planting Timeline โ€” Haskell County, OK

Calabash Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors February 7 Feb 7 โ€“ Feb 21
Transplant Outdoors April 11 Apr 11 โ€“ Apr 25
Direct Sow April 4 Apr 4 โ€“ Apr 25
Harvest July 4 Jul 4 โ€“ Aug 29

Plant 1" deep ยท 30" apart ยท Rows 42" apart

Month-by-Month Timeline

MonthActivities
January โ€”
February Start Indoors
March โ€”
April Transplant Outdoors Direct Sow
May โ€”
June โ€”
July Harvest
August Harvest
September โ€”
October โ€”
November โ€”
December โ€”

Growing Conditions

โ˜€๏ธ Sun

Full Sun (6-8+ hours)

๐Ÿ’ง Water

1"/week ยท 1-2 times/week

๐Ÿ“… Days to Maturity

80โ€“120 days

๐Ÿงช Soil pH

Needs 6โ€“7.5 ยท Your soil: ideal

๐Ÿ—บ๏ธ USDA Zone

Zone 7a

๐Ÿ“† Growing Season

220 days in Haskell County

Growing Tips for Calabash in Haskell County

Direct sow Calabash outdoors after March 28 in Haskell County when soil has warmed and frost danger has passed.

Common pests for Calabash in this region include squash vine borer and cucumber beetles. Use row covers early in the season and inspect plants weekly.

General growing tips

Start seeds indoors 4 weeks early. Provide a very strong trellis for heavy fruits. Harvest young for cooking or let mature on the vine for crafts. Requires a long, warm season.

Companion Planting

Good Companions

Avoid Planting Near

  • Potatoes

Level Up Your Garden

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I plant Calabash in Haskell County, OK?

Haskell County is in Zone 7a with an average last frost of March 28. Plan your Calabash planting based on this frost date โ€” see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Haskell County, OK?

Haskell County, Oklahoma is in USDA Hardiness Zone 7a. The average last spring frost is March 28 and first fall frost is November 3.

๐ŸŒฑ

Plan Your Garden with Confidence

Get our free Garden Planner โ€” designed to help Haskell County gardeners in Zone 7a organize planting dates, track what's growing, and never miss a planting window.

Get Your Free Garden Planner →

Free download. Plan your entire garden season in minutes.

Data sources: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (2023), NOAA 30-Year Climate Normals. Frost dates are based on 50% probability averages for Haskell County, OK. Local conditions may vary. Last updated: April 2026.