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When to Plant Lovage in Alfalfa County, OK

Alfalfa County, Oklahoma Zone 7a May

May to-do list for Alfalfa County, Oklahoma

Each item below is timed to Alfalfa County, Oklahoma's frost dates and soil temperatures. Skip nothing, stress about nothing.

Avg. last frost April 7
Avg. first frost October 31
Soil temp (4") 65°F
Watering Low
Pest pressure Low
Daylight 14 hrs
Looking ahead to June
  • First harvests: lovage

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Lovage is a large perennial herb with a celery-like flavor that can grow 4-6 feet tall. All parts are edible including the leaves, stems, seeds, and roots.

Alfalfa County, Oklahoma is in USDA Zone 7a. The average last spring frost is April 7 and the first fall frost is October 31, giving you a growing season of approximately 207 days.

At an elevation of 835 feet, Alfalfa County receives approximately 26.3 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly loam soil. Summer highs average 85°F, providing good warmth for Lovage during the growing season.

Alfalfa County, OK (Zone 7a) Long season
207 days
Last Spring Frost April 7
207 growing days
First Fall Frost October 31
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Alfalfa County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Loam

Soil pH

6.6-7.6

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (67 days to spare)
Transplant: Apr 6 🍅 Harvest: Jun 15 – Aug 17
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (67 days to spare)
Transplant: Apr 14 🍅 Harvest: Jun 23 – Aug 25
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (71 days to spare)
Transplant: Apr 28 🍅 Harvest: Jul 7 – Sep 8

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 Alfalfa County

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

Soil pH

Your soil pH (6.6–7.6) is more alkaline than Lovage prefers (6.0–7.0). Add sulfur or peat moss to lower pH.

Soil Texture

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

Organic Matter

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

How to Plant Lovage

0.5"
Planting Depth
8"
Between Plants
12"
Between Rows

Succession Planting Lovage

3
successive plantings in your 207-day season

Sow every 8 weeks. Last sowing by Aug 02 to harvest before frost.

Plant Water Budget

Plant needs
1.0″/week
Rainfall provides
0.5″/week
You supply
0.6″/week
Watering frequency 1-2 times/week
Season total 1,031 gal / 100 sq ft
Drought risk

Water stress score is 6/10 — consider drought-tolerant varieties and mulching

Monthly Watering Guide for Lovage

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

Month Lovage Needs Rainfall You Supplement Action
Jan 0.7" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Feb 0.8" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Mar 1.5" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Apr 4.3" 3" 1.3" 💧 Light watering
May 4.3" 4.2" 0.1" 💧 Light watering
Jun 4.3" 4.3" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Jul 4.3" 3.3" 1" 💧 Light watering
Aug 4.3" 2.9" 1.4" 💧 Light watering
Sep 4.3" 2.3" 2" 💧 Light watering
Oct 4.3" 1.8" 2.5" 🚿 Regular watering
Nov 0.8" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Dec 0.7" 0" ❄️ Dormant

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

Lovage 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.

Lovage needs ~1,100 GDD — county provides 2,846 GDD Excellent fit

Lovage Planting Timeline — Alfalfa County, OK

Lovage Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Transplant Outdoors April 14 Apr 14 – Apr 28
Harvest June 23 Jun 23 – Aug 25

Plant 0.5" deep · 8" apart · Rows 12" apart

Month-by-Month Timeline

MonthActivities
January
February
March
April Transplant Outdoors
May
June Harvest
July Harvest
August Harvest
September
October
November
December
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Growing Conditions

☀️ Sun

Partial Shade (3-6 hours)

💧 Water

1"/week · 1-2 times/week

📅 Days to Maturity

70–90 days

🧪 Soil pH

Needs 6–7 · Your soil: too_alkaline

🗺️ USDA Zone

Zone 7a

📆 Growing Season

207 days in Alfalfa County

Growing Tips for Lovage in Alfalfa County

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

Common pests for Lovage in this region include carrot rust fly and parsleyworm. Use row covers early in the season and inspect plants weekly.

General growing tips

Start seeds indoors or direct sow in spring. One plant is usually enough for a family. Harvest outer stems and leaves as needed. Divide clumps every 3-4 years.

Companion Planting

Good Companions

Check more plant combinations with our Companion Planting Checker →

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I plant Lovage in Alfalfa County, OK?

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

What planting zone is Alfalfa County, OK?

Alfalfa County, Oklahoma is in USDA Hardiness Zone 7a. The average last spring frost is April 7 and first fall frost is October 31.

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Your Alfalfa County Garden Planner — Free

A 24-page printable planner built for Alfalfa County (Zone 7a). 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 Alfalfa County, OK. Local conditions may vary. Last updated: May 2026.

Sources & credits

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