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When to Plant Shallot in Harmon County, OK

Shallots are a gourmet allium prized for their complex, sweet, and mild flavor. Each bulb multiplies into a cluster, making them easy and rewarding to grow.

Harmon County, Oklahoma is in USDA Zone 7b. The average last spring frost is March 31 and the first fall frost is November 5, giving you a growing season of approximately 219 days.

At an elevation of 993 feet, Harmon County receives approximately 34.4 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly loam soil. Summer highs average 91ยฐF, providing good warmth for Shallot during the growing season.

Harmon County, OK (Zone 7b) Long season
219 days
Last Spring Frost March 31
219 growing days
First Fall Frost November 5

Harmon County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Loam

Soil pH

6.5-7.5

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (79 days to spare)
Start indoors: Feb 16 Transplant: Mar 23 🍅 Harvest: Jun 22 – Aug 10
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (79 days to spare)
Start indoors: Feb 24 Transplant: Mar 31 🍅 Harvest: Jun 30 – Aug 18
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (79 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 11 Transplant: Apr 15 🍅 Harvest: Jul 15 – 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 Harmon County

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

Soil pH

Your soil pH (6.5โ€“7.5) overlaps with Shallot's range (6.0โ€“7.0), though not a perfect match.

Soil Texture

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

Organic Matter

Organic matter is excellent (4.0%) โ€” Shallot will thrive.

How to Plant Shallot

1"
Planting Depth
6"
Between Plants
12"
Between Rows

Fall planting: Sow 10 weeks before your first frost date for a fall harvest.

Plant Water Budget

Plant needs
1.0″/week
Rainfall provides
0.7″/week
You supply
0.4″/week
Watering frequency 1-2 times/week
Season total 796 gal / 100 sq ft
Drought risk

Water stress score is 8/10 โ€” consider drought-tolerant varieties and mulching

Monthly Watering Guide for Shallot

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

Month Shallot Needs Rainfall You Supplement Action
Jan โ€” 0.9" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Feb โ€” 1.2" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Mar 4.3" 2.3" 2" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
Apr 4.3" 3.7" 0.6" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
May 4.3" 5.1" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Jun 4.3" 5" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Jul 4.3" 4.1" 0.2" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
Aug 4.3" 4.8" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Sep 4.3" 3" 1.3" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
Oct 4.3" 2" 2.3" ๐Ÿšฟ Regular watering
Nov 4.3" 1.3" 3" ๐Ÿšฟ Regular watering
Dec โ€” 1" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant

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

Shallot 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.

Shallot needs ~1,916 GDD — county provides 3,996 GDD Excellent fit

Shallot Planting Timeline โ€” Harmon County, OK

Shallot Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors February 24 Feb 24 โ€“ Mar 10
Transplant Outdoors March 31 Mar 31 โ€“ Apr 14
Direct Sow March 17 Mar 17 โ€“ Apr 7
Harvest June 30 Jun 30 โ€“ Aug 18
Fall Sowing August 27 Aug 27 โ€“ Sep 10

Plant 1" deep ยท 6" apart ยท Rows 12" apart

Month-by-Month Timeline

MonthActivities
January โ€”
February Start Indoors
March Start Indoors Transplant Outdoors Direct Sow
April Transplant Outdoors Direct Sow
May โ€”
June Harvest
July Harvest
August Fall Sowing Harvest
September Fall Sowing
October โ€”
November โ€”
December โ€”

Growing Conditions

โ˜€๏ธ Sun

Full Sun (6-8+ hours)

๐Ÿ’ง Water

1"/week ยท 1-2 times/week

๐Ÿ“… Days to Maturity

90โ€“120 days

๐Ÿงช Soil pH

Needs 6โ€“7 ยท Your soil: acceptable

๐Ÿ—บ๏ธ USDA Zone

Zone 7b

๐Ÿ“† Growing Season

219 days in Harmon County

Growing Tips for Shallot in Harmon County

Direct sow Shallot outdoors after March 31 in Harmon County when soil has warmed and frost danger has passed.

Common pests for Shallot in this region include onion maggots and thrips. Use row covers early in the season and inspect plants weekly.

General growing tips

Plant sets in fall for spring harvest or early spring for summer harvest. Mulch heavily if overwintering. Harvest when tops brown and dry, then cure for storage.

Companion Planting

Good Companions

Avoid Planting Near

  • Peas
  • Green Beans

Check more plant combinations with our Companion Planting Checker →

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I plant Shallot in Harmon County, OK?

Harmon County is in Zone 7b with an average last frost of March 31. Plan your Shallot planting based on this frost date โ€” see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Harmon County, OK?

Harmon County, Oklahoma is in USDA Hardiness Zone 7b. The average last spring frost is March 31 and first fall frost is November 5.

๐ŸŒฑ

Plan Your Garden with Confidence

Get our free Garden Planner โ€” designed to help Harmon 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 Harmon County, OK. Local conditions may vary. Last updated: April 2026.