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When to Plant Crosne in Pittsburg County, OK

Crosne (Chinese artichoke) produces small, segmented white tubers with a crunchy texture and mild artichoke-nutty flavor. They are a rare delicacy in French cuisine.

Pittsburg County, Oklahoma is in USDA Zone 7a. The average last spring frost is April 4 and the first fall frost is November 1, giving you a growing season of approximately 211 days.

At an elevation of 620 feet, Pittsburg County receives approximately 32.6 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly loam soil. Summer highs average 90ยฐF, providing good warmth for Crosne during the growing season.

Pittsburg County, OK (Zone 7a) Long season
211 days
Last Spring Frost April 4
211 growing days
First Fall Frost November 1

Pittsburg County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Loam

Soil pH

6.6-7.2

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✗ May not fit
Transplant: Mar 26 🍅 Harvest: Aug 27 – Oct 29
Recommended (50%) ✗ May not fit
Transplant: Apr 4 🍅 Harvest: Sep 5 – Nov 7
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (2 days to spare)
Transplant: Apr 17 🍅 Harvest: Sep 18 – Nov 20

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 Pittsburg County

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

Soil pH

Your soil pH (6.6โ€“7.2) overlaps with Crosne's range (6.0โ€“7.0), though not a perfect match.

Soil Texture

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

Organic Matter

Organic matter is moderate (3.7%). Annual compost additions will help Crosne.

How to Plant Crosne

0.5"
Planting Depth
6"
Between Plants
12"
Between Rows

Fall planting: Sow 10 weeks before your first frost date for a fall harvest.

Plant Water Budget

Plant needs
1.0″/week
Rainfall provides
0.7″/week
You supply
0.4″/week
Watering frequency 1-2 times/week
Season total 659 gal / 100 sq ft

Monthly Watering Guide for Crosne

Crosne needs approximately 1 inches of water per week (4.3" per month). Here's how your county's rainfall compares month by month.

Month Crosne Needs Rainfall You Supplement Action
Jan โ€” 0.9" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Feb โ€” 1.1" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Mar โ€” 1.8" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Apr 4.3" 3.5" 0.8" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
May 4.3" 5.1" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Jun 4.3" 5.1" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Jul 4.3" 4.2" 0.1" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
Aug 4.3" 3.6" 0.7" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
Sep 4.3" 3.4" 0.9" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
Oct 4.3" 2" 2.3" ๐Ÿšฟ Regular watering
Nov 4.3" 1" 3.3" ๐Ÿšฟ Regular watering
Dec โ€” 1" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant

Water needs are for active growing months only (Aprโ€“Nov in Pittsburg County). Supplement amounts are based on average rainfall โ€” actual needs vary with temperature, soil, and mulching.

Crosne Heat Requirements (GDD)

What are Growing Degree Days (GDD)?

Growing Degree Days measure the total warmth your plants receive during the growing season. Think of it as a "heat bank" โ€” every day above 50ยฐF deposits warmth that helps your plants grow.

Each plant needs a certain amount of accumulated heat to mature. If your county provides more GDD than the plant needs, it's a great fit. If it's close, you may want to choose faster-maturing varieties or start seeds indoors to get a head start.

Crosne needs ~3,062 GDD — county provides 3,692 GDD Good fit

Crosne Planting Timeline โ€” Pittsburg County, OK

Crosne Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Direct Sow March 21 Mar 21 โ€“ Apr 11
Harvest August 22 Aug 22 โ€“ Oct 24
Fall Sowing August 23 Aug 23 โ€“ Sep 6

Plant 0.5" deep ยท 6" apart ยท Rows 12" apart

Month-by-Month Timeline

MonthActivities
January โ€”
February โ€”
March Direct Sow
April Direct Sow
May โ€”
June โ€”
July โ€”
August Fall Sowing Harvest
September Fall Sowing Harvest
October Harvest
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

150โ€“200 days

๐Ÿงช Soil pH

Needs 6โ€“7 ยท Your soil: acceptable

๐Ÿ—บ๏ธ USDA Zone

Zone 7a

๐Ÿ“† Growing Season

211 days in Pittsburg County

Growing Tips for Crosne in Pittsburg County

Direct sow Crosne outdoors after April 04 in Pittsburg County when soil has warmed and frost danger has passed.

Your 211.0-day growing season in Pittsburg County is tight for Crosne (150.0-200.0 days to maturity). Start indoors and choose early-maturing varieties.

General growing tips

Plant tubers 3 inches deep in spring. Mark the location well as plants die back. Harvest in late fall after frost. Leave some tubers in ground for next year. Very labor-intensive to harvest.

Companion Planting

Good Companions

Check more plant combinations with our Companion Planting Checker →

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I plant Crosne in Pittsburg County, OK?

Pittsburg County is in Zone 7a with an average last frost of April 4. Plan your Crosne planting based on this frost date โ€” see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Pittsburg County, OK?

Pittsburg County, Oklahoma is in USDA Hardiness Zone 7a. The average last spring frost is April 4 and first fall frost is November 1.

๐ŸŒฑ

Plan Your Garden with Confidence

Get our free Garden Planner โ€” designed to help Pittsburg 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 Pittsburg County, OK. Local conditions may vary. Last updated: April 2026.