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When to Plant Rue in Bryan County, OK

Rue is a bitter, aromatic perennial herb with bluish-green foliage used historically in medicine and as a pest deterrent. Handle with care as its sap can cause skin irritation.

Bryan County, Oklahoma is in USDA Zone 7b. The average last spring frost is March 25 and the first fall frost is November 11, giving you a growing season of approximately 231 days.

At an elevation of 928 feet, Bryan County receives approximately 22.3 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly loam soil. Summer highs average 90ยฐF, providing good warmth for Rue during the growing season.

Bryan County, OK (Zone 7b) Long season
231 days
Last Spring Frost March 25
231 growing days
First Fall Frost November 11

Bryan County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Loam

Soil pH

6.2-7.1

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (96 days to spare)
Transplant: Mar 18 🍅 Harvest: May 27 – Jul 29
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (91 days to spare)
Transplant: Apr 1 🍅 Harvest: Jun 10 – Aug 12
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (89 days to spare)
Transplant: Apr 22 🍅 Harvest: Jul 1 – Sep 2

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 Bryan County

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

Soil pH

Your soil pH (6.2โ€“7.1) is within Rue's preferred range (6.0โ€“7.5).

Soil Texture

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

Organic Matter

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

How to Plant Rue

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

Succession Planting Rue

3
successive plantings in your 231-day season

Sow every 8 weeks. Last sowing by Aug 13 to harvest before frost.

Plant Water Budget

Plant needs
0.5″/week
Rainfall provides
0.4″/week
You supply
0.1″/week
Watering frequency Only during dry spells
Season total 233 gal / 100 sq ft
Drought risk

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

Monthly Watering Guide for Rue

Rue 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 Rue Needs Rainfall You Supplement Action
Jan โ€” 0.5" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Feb โ€” 0.7" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Mar 2.2" 1.6" 0.6" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
Apr 2.2" 2.3" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
May 2.2" 3" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Jun 2.2" 3.6" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Jul 2.2" 2.8" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Aug 2.2" 2.6" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Sep 2.2" 2.4" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Oct 2.2" 1.5" 0.7" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
Nov 2.2" 0.8" 1.4" ๐Ÿšฟ Regular watering
Dec โ€” 0.6" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant

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

Rue 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.

Rue needs ~1,400 GDD — county provides 4,042 GDD Excellent fit

Rue Planting Timeline โ€” Bryan County, OK

Rue Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Transplant Outdoors April 1 Apr 1 โ€“ Apr 15
Harvest June 10 Jun 10 โ€“ Aug 12

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

โ˜€๏ธ Sun

Full Sun (6-8+ hours)

๐Ÿ’ง Water

0.5"/week ยท Only during dry spells

๐Ÿ“… Days to Maturity

70โ€“90 days

๐Ÿงช Soil pH

Needs 6โ€“7.5 ยท Your soil: ideal

๐Ÿ—บ๏ธ USDA Zone

Zone 7b

๐Ÿ“† Growing Season

231 days in Bryan County

Growing Tips for Rue in Bryan County

Direct sow Rue outdoors after March 25 in Bryan County when soil has warmed and frost danger has passed.

Bryan County receives only 22" of rain annually. Rue needs consistent moisture โ€” install drip irrigation or water deeply 2-3 times per week.

General growing tips

Start seeds indoors or direct sow. Plant in well-drained soil. Wear gloves when handling as sap can cause phytophotodermatitis. Prune in early spring.

Companion Planting

Good Companions

Avoid Planting Near

  • Basil
  • Sage

Check more plant combinations with our Companion Planting Checker →

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I plant Rue in Bryan County, OK?

Bryan County is in Zone 7b with an average last frost of March 25. Plan your Rue planting based on this frost date โ€” see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Bryan County, OK?

Bryan County, Oklahoma is in USDA Hardiness Zone 7b. The average last spring frost is March 25 and first fall frost is November 11.

๐ŸŒฑ

Plan Your Garden with Confidence

Get our free Garden Planner โ€” designed to help Bryan County gardeners in Zone 7b 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 Bryan County, OK. Local conditions may vary. Last updated: April 2026.