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When to Plant Ground Cherry in Love County, OK

Ground cherries produce small, sweet, tropical-tasting berries enclosed in papery husks. They are related to tomatillos and cape gooseberries and self-sow readily.

Love County, Oklahoma is in USDA Zone 7b. The average last spring frost is March 26 and the first fall frost is November 11, giving you a growing season of approximately 230 days.

At an elevation of 821 feet, Love County receives approximately 24.1 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly loam soil. Summer highs average 94ยฐF, providing good warmth for Ground Cherry during the growing season.

Love County, OK (Zone 7b) Long season
230 days
Last Spring Frost March 26
230 growing days
First Fall Frost November 11

Love County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Loam

Soil pH

6.3-7.3

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (86 days to spare)
Transplant: Apr 4 🍅 Harvest: Jun 13 – Aug 8
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (83 days to spare)
Transplant: Apr 16 🍅 Harvest: Jun 25 – Aug 20
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (80 days to spare)
Transplant: May 6 🍅 Harvest: Jul 15 – Sep 9

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.

Plant Water Budget

Plant needs
1.0″/week
Rainfall provides
0.4″/week
You supply
0.7″/week
Watering frequency 1-2 times/week
Season total 1,375 gal / 100 sq ft
Drought risk

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

Ground Cherry needs ~1,486 GDD — county provides 4,715 GDD Excellent fit

Ground Cherry Planting Timeline โ€” Love County, OK

Ground Cherry Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Transplant Outdoors April 16 Apr 16 โ€“ Apr 30
Harvest June 25 Jun 25 โ€“ Aug 20

Plant 1" deep ยท 15" apart ยท Rows 24" apart

Month-by-Month Timeline

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

Growing Conditions

Sun

Full Sun (6-8+ hours)

Water

Moderate โ€” regular watering

Days to Maturity

65โ€“80 days

Soil pH

6 โ€“ 7.5

USDA Zone

Zone 7b

Growing Season

230 days

Growing Tips for Love County

Start seeds indoors 6-8 weeks before last frost. Let fruits fall to the ground naturally when ripe inside their husks. The husk turns brown and papery when the fruit is ready.

Companion Planting

Good Companions

Avoid Planting Near

  • Fennel

Level Up Your Garden

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I plant Ground Cherry in Love County, OK?

Love County is in Zone 7b with an average last frost of March 26. Plan your Ground Cherry planting based on this frost date โ€” see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Love County, OK?

Love County, Oklahoma is in USDA Hardiness Zone 7b. The average last spring frost is March 26 and first fall frost is November 11.

๐ŸŒฑ

Plan Your Garden with Confidence

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

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