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When to Plant Cosmos in Adair County, OK

Adair County, Oklahoma Zone 7b June

June to-do list for Adair County, Oklahoma

Your garden in Adair County, Oklahoma is working on a schedule, even when you're not. Here's where you should be this June.

Avg. last frost April 7
Avg. first frost October 27
Soil temp (4") 78°F
Watering Low
Pest pressure High
Daylight 14.4 hrs
  1. Pick cosmos

    The more you pick, the more the plant produces. Letting fruit overripen tells the plant it's time to stop.

Get ahead of July
  • First harvests: cosmos

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Cosmos (Cosmos bipinnatus) is an airy, feathery-foliaged cottage garden annual from Mexico that thrives on neglect. It produces delicate daisy-like blooms in shades of pink, white, and magenta from midsummer until frost. Cosmos is a prolific self-sower — once established in a garden it often returns year after year without replanting. Excellent habitat plant for beneficial insects.

Adair County, Oklahoma is in USDA Zone 7b. The average last spring frost is April 7 and the first fall frost is October 27, giving you a growing season of approximately 203 days.

At an elevation of 486 feet, Adair County receives approximately 33.9 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly loam soil. Summer highs average 93°F, providing good warmth for Cosmos during the growing season.

Annual Blooms in Summer Pollinator-friendly Good for cutting
Adair County, OK (Zone 7b) Long season
203 days
Last Spring Frost April 7
203 growing days
First Fall Frost October 27

Adair County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Loam

Soil pH

6.7-7.1

Drainage

Well Drained

Cosmos Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (20 days to spare)
Start indoors: Feb 28 Transplant: Mar 21 🌸 Bloom: May 30 – Oct 3
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (14 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 10 Transplant: Mar 31 🌸 Bloom: Jun 9 – Oct 13
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (20 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 28 Transplant: Apr 18 🌸 Bloom: Jun 27 – Oct 31

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 Adair County

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

Soil pH

Your soil pH (6.7–7.1) is within Cosmos's preferred range (6.0–8.0).

Soil Texture

The loam soil in Adair County is excellent for Cosmos — good drainage, moisture retention, and nutrient holding capacity.

Organic Matter

Organic matter is excellent (4.1%) — Cosmos will thrive.

How to Plant Cosmos

0.3"
Planting Depth
12"
Between Plants
18"
Between Rows

Succession Planting Cosmos

3
successive plantings in your 203-day season

Sow every 6.9 weeks. Last sowing by Jul 29 to harvest before frost.

Cosmos Water Budget

Plant needs
0.5″/week
Rainfall provides
0.7″/week
Watering frequency Natural rainfall sufficient
Season total 0 gal / 100 sq ft

Monthly Watering Guide for Cosmos

Cosmos needs approximately 0.5 inches of water per week (2.2" per month). Here's how your county's rainfall compares month by month.

Month Cosmos Needs Rainfall You Supplement Action
Jan 1" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Feb 1.2" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Mar 2.4" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Apr 2.2" 4.2" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
May 2.2" 4.5" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Jun 2.2" 5.5" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Jul 2.2" 4.1" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Aug 2.2" 3.6" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Sep 2.2" 3.1" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Oct 2.2" 2.4" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Nov 1.2" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Dec 0.8" 0" ❄️ Dormant

Water needs are for active growing months only (Apr–Oct in Adair County). Supplement amounts are based on average rainfall — actual needs vary with temperature, soil, and mulching.

Cosmos 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" — every day above 50°F 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.

Cosmos needs ~1,481 GDD — county provides 4,009 GDD Excellent fit

Cosmos Planting Timeline — Adair County, OK

Cosmos Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors March 10 Mar 10 – Mar 24
Transplant Outdoors March 31 Mar 31 – Apr 14
Direct Sow March 31 Mar 31 – Apr 21
Bloom June 9 Jun 9 – Oct 13

Plant 0.3" deep · 12" apart · Rows 18" apart

Month-by-Month Timeline

MonthActivities
January
February
March Start Indoors Transplant Outdoors Direct Sow
April Transplant Outdoors Direct Sow
May
June Bloom
July Bloom
August Bloom
September Bloom
October Bloom
November
December

Growing Conditions

☀️ Sun

Full Sun (6-8+ hours)

💧 Water

0.5"/week · Natural rainfall sufficient

📅 Days to Maturity

60–90 days

🧪 Soil pH

Needs 6–8 · Your soil: ideal

🗺️ USDA Zone

Zone 7b

📆 Growing Season

203 days in Adair County

Growing Tips for Cosmos in Adair County

Direct sow Cosmos outdoors after April 07 in Adair County when soil has warmed and frost danger has passed.

Common pests for Cosmos in this region include aphids and slugs. Use row covers early in the season and inspect plants weekly.

General growing tips

Direct-sow after last frost; cosmos germinates readily at 65-80°F in 7-10 days. Avoid rich soil — excess fertility produces lush foliage at the expense of blooms. Cosmos tolerates poor, dry soil exceptionally well. Pinch seedlings at 8 inches to encourage branching. Self-sows freely; allow some seed heads to mature and drop for a no-fuss perennial effect in warm climates.

Companion Planting

Good Companions

Check more plant combinations with our Companion Planting Checker →

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I plant Cosmos in Adair County, OK?

Adair County is in Zone 7b with an average last frost of April 7. Plan your Cosmos planting based on this frost date — see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Adair County, OK?

Adair County, Oklahoma is in USDA Hardiness Zone 7b. The average last spring frost is April 7 and first fall frost is October 27.

🌱

Your Adair County Garden Planner — Free

A 22-page printable planner built for Adair County (Zone 7b). Planting dates, a month-by-month schedule, harvest log, seed inventory, and succession charts — all dialed in for your exact growing season.

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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 Adair County, OK. Local conditions may vary. Last updated: June 2026.

Sources & credits

Every number on this page traces back to a primary horticulture or government data source. Click through to verify.