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When to Plant Cucumber in Grady County, OK

Cucumbers are a warm-season vine crop available in slicing and pickling varieties. They are prolific producers when given warmth, moisture, and a trellis to climb.

Grady County, Oklahoma is in USDA Zone 7a. The average last spring frost is April 2 and the first fall frost is November 5, giving you a growing season of approximately 217 days.

At an elevation of 599 feet, Grady County receives approximately 29.8 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly loam soil. Summer highs average 89ยฐF, providing good warmth for Cucumber during the growing season.

Grady County, OK (Zone 7a) Long season
217 days
Last Spring Frost April 2
217 growing days
First Fall Frost November 5

Grady County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Loam

Soil pH

6.2-7.2

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (96 days to spare)
Start indoors: Feb 21 Transplant: Apr 4 🍅 Harvest: May 30 – Jul 25
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (91 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 5 Transplant: Apr 16 🍅 Harvest: Jun 11 – Aug 6
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (94 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 18 Transplant: Apr 29 🍅 Harvest: Jun 24 – Aug 19

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 Grady County

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

Soil pH

Your soil pH (6.2โ€“7.2) overlaps with Cucumber's range (6.0โ€“7.0), though not a perfect match.

Soil Texture

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

Organic Matter

Organic matter is moderate (3.5%). Annual compost additions will help Cucumber.

How to Plant Cucumber

0.5"
Planting Depth
24"
Between Plants
48"
Between Rows

Succession Planting Cucumber

5
successive plantings in your 217-day season

Sow every 5.7 weeks. Last sowing by Aug 27 to harvest before frost.

Plant Water Budget

Plant needs
1.5″/week
Rainfall provides
0.6″/week
You supply
1.1″/week
Watering frequency 2-3 times/week
Season total 2,140 gal / 100 sq ft
Drought risk

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

Monthly Watering Guide for Cucumber

Cucumber needs approximately 1.5 inches of water per week (6.5" per month). Here's how your county's rainfall compares month by month.

Month Cucumber Needs Rainfall You Supplement Action
Jan โ€” 0.6" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Feb โ€” 1" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Mar โ€” 2" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Apr 6.5" 2.8" 3.7" ๐Ÿšฟ Regular watering
May 6.5" 4.9" 1.6" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
Jun 6.5" 4.3" 2.2" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
Jul 6.5" 4.2" 2.3" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
Aug 6.5" 3.2" 3.3" ๐Ÿšฟ Regular watering
Sep 6.5" 2.8" 3.7" ๐Ÿšฟ Regular watering
Oct 6.5" 2.1" 4.4" ๐Ÿšฟ Regular watering
Nov 6.5" 1.1" 5.4" ๐Ÿšฟ Regular watering
Dec โ€” 0.7" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant

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

Cucumber 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.

Cucumber needs ~1,005 GDD — county provides 3,634 GDD Excellent fit

Cucumber Planting Timeline โ€” Grady County, OK

Cucumber Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors March 5 Mar 5 โ€“ Mar 19
Transplant Outdoors April 16 Apr 16 โ€“ Apr 30
Direct Sow April 9 Apr 9 โ€“ Apr 30
Harvest June 11 Jun 11 โ€“ Aug 6

Plant 0.5" deep ยท 24" apart ยท Rows 48" apart

Month-by-Month Timeline

MonthActivities
January โ€”
February โ€”
March Start Indoors
April Transplant Outdoors Direct Sow
May โ€”
June Harvest
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

1.5"/week ยท 2-3 times/week

๐Ÿ“… Days to Maturity

50โ€“70 days

๐Ÿงช Soil pH

Needs 6โ€“7 ยท Your soil: acceptable

๐Ÿ—บ๏ธ USDA Zone

Zone 7a

๐Ÿ“† Growing Season

217 days in Grady County

Growing Tips for Cucumber in Grady County

Direct sow Cucumber outdoors after April 02 in Grady County when soil has warmed and frost danger has passed.

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

General growing tips

Direct sow after last frost or start indoors 3 weeks early. Provide a trellis for vining types to save space and improve air circulation. Harvest frequently to encourage production.

Companion Planting

Good Companions

Avoid Planting Near

  • Potatoes
  • Sage

Check more plant combinations with our Companion Planting Checker →

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I plant Cucumber in Grady County, OK?

Grady County is in Zone 7a with an average last frost of April 2. Plan your Cucumber planting based on this frost date โ€” see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Grady County, OK?

Grady County, Oklahoma is in USDA Hardiness Zone 7a. The average last spring frost is April 2 and first fall frost is November 5.

๐ŸŒฑ

Plan Your Garden with Confidence

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