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When to Plant Begonias in Cleveland County, OK

Cleveland County, Oklahoma Zone 7b June

What to do in June

A quick June briefing for Cleveland County, Oklahoma gardeners — what's urgent, what's next, and what can wait.

Avg. last frost April 2
Avg. first frost November 5
Soil temp (4") 76°F
Watering Moderate
Pest pressure High
Daylight 14.4 hrs
  1. Start begonias under lights

    You're about 21 weeks out from your last frost — the perfect window to get these germinating indoors.

  2. Pick begonias

    Don't tug. Use scissors or pruners for clean cuts — torn stems invite disease.

July will be here before you know it — start on
  • First harvests: begonias

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Wax begonias (Begonia × semperflorens) are the workhorse shade bedding plant of American horticulture, offering continuous bloom from transplant to hard frost. Bronze or green-leaved varieties perform well from deep shade to full sun (in northern zones) and tolerate summer humidity better than most cool- season flowers. A staple of mass plantings, containers, and window boxes.

Cleveland County, Oklahoma is in USDA Zone 7b. 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 931 feet, Cleveland County receives approximately 26.4 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly loam soil. Summer highs average 94°F, providing good warmth for Begonias during the growing season.

Annual Blooms in Multi-season Pollinator-friendly Deer-resistant
Cleveland County, OK (Zone 7b) Long season
217 days
Last Spring Frost April 2
217 growing days
First Fall Frost November 5
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Cleveland County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Loam

Soil pH

6.5-7.4

Drainage

Well Drained

Begonias Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (26 days to spare)
Start indoors: Jan 10 Transplant: Mar 21 🌸 Bloom: May 30 – Oct 3
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (21 days to spare)
Start indoors: Jan 22 Transplant: Apr 2 🌸 Bloom: Jun 11 – Oct 15
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (24 days to spare)
Start indoors: Feb 4 Transplant: Apr 15 🌸 Bloom: Jun 24 – Oct 28

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 Cleveland County

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

Soil pH

Your soil pH (6.5–7.4) is more alkaline than Begonias prefers (5.5–6.5). Add sulfur or peat moss to lower pH.

Soil Texture

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

Organic Matter

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

How to Plant Begonias

8"
Between Plants
10"
Between Rows

Succession Planting Begonias

3
successive plantings in your 217-day season

Sow every 8 weeks. Last sowing by Aug 07 to harvest before frost.

Begonias 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 1,133 gal / 100 sq ft
Drought risk

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

Monthly Watering Guide for Begonias

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

Month Begonias Needs Rainfall You Supplement Action
Jan 0.7" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Feb 0.9" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Mar 1.8" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Apr 4.3" 2.7" 1.6" 💧 Light watering
May 4.3" 4.5" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Jun 4.3" 3.7" 0.6" 💧 Light watering
Jul 4.3" 3.8" 0.5" 💧 Light watering
Aug 4.3" 2.9" 1.4" 💧 Light watering
Sep 4.3" 2.2" 2.1" 💧 Light watering
Oct 4.3" 1.6" 2.7" 🚿 Regular watering
Nov 4.3" 0.9" 3.4" 🚿 Regular watering
Dec 0.6" 0" ❄️ Dormant

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

Begonias 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.

Begonias needs ~1,640 GDD — county provides 4,448 GDD Excellent fit

Begonias Planting Timeline — Cleveland County, OK

Begonias Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors January 22 Jan 22 – Feb 5
Transplant Outdoors April 2 Apr 2 – Apr 16
Bloom June 11 Jun 11 – Oct 15

· 8" apart · Rows 10" apart

Month-by-Month Timeline

MonthActivities
January Start Indoors
February Start Indoors
March
April Transplant Outdoors
May
June Bloom
July Bloom
August Bloom
September Bloom
October Bloom
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 5.5–6.5 · Your soil: too_alkaline

🗺️ USDA Zone

Zone 7b

📆 Growing Season

217 days in Cleveland County

Growing Tips for Begonias in Cleveland County

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

General growing tips

Start seeds indoors 10–12 weeks before last frost — seed is dust-fine; surface-sow on moist mix under lights, do not cover. Bottom heat (70–75°F) speeds germination. Transplant after frost; begonias are not direct-sown in practice. Pinch seedlings once for branching. Keep soil evenly moist; avoid waterlogged conditions. Bronze-leaf types tolerate more sun; green- leaf types prefer shade to part-sun.

Companion Planting

Good Companions

Check more plant combinations with our Companion Planting Checker →

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I plant Begonias in Cleveland County, OK?

Cleveland County is in Zone 7b with an average last frost of April 2. Plan your Begonias planting based on this frost date — see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Cleveland County, OK?

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

🌱

Your Cleveland County Garden Planner — Free

A 22-page printable planner built for Cleveland 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 Cleveland 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.