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When to Plant Belgian Endive in Haskell County, OK

Haskell County, Oklahoma Zone 7a April

April in the garden — Haskell County, Oklahoma

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

Avg. last frost March 28
Avg. first frost November 3
Soil temp (4") 57°F
Watering Moderate
Pest pressure Moderate
Daylight 12.9 hrs
Before May arrives, get these ready
  • Starting indoors: belgian endive

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Belgian endive is produced by forcing chicory roots in darkness to create tight, pale, torpedo-shaped heads called chicons. They have a mild bitterness and elegant crunch.

Haskell County, Oklahoma is in USDA Zone 7a. The average last spring frost is March 28 and the first fall frost is November 3, giving you a growing season of approximately 220 days.

At an elevation of 691 feet, Haskell County receives approximately 29.2 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly loam soil. Summer highs average 91°F, providing good warmth for Belgian Endive during the growing season.

Haskell County, OK (Zone 7a) Long season
220 days
Last Spring Frost March 28
220 growing days
First Fall Frost November 3
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Haskell 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 (52 days to spare)
Start indoors: Feb 14 Transplant: Mar 21 🍅 Harvest: Jul 11 – Sep 5
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (52 days to spare)
Start indoors: Feb 21 Transplant: Mar 28 🍅 Harvest: Jul 18 – Sep 12
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (55 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 10 Transplant: Apr 14 🍅 Harvest: Aug 4 – Sep 29

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 Haskell County

How your county's soil matches Belgian Endive's growing requirements.

Soil pH

Your soil pH (6.5–7.5) overlaps with Belgian Endive's range (5.5–7.0), though not a perfect match.

Soil Texture

The loam soil in Haskell County is excellent for Belgian Endive — good drainage, moisture retention, and nutrient holding capacity.

Organic Matter

Organic matter is excellent (4.3%) — Belgian Endive will thrive.

How to Plant Belgian Endive

0.5"
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
0.6″/week
You supply
0.5″/week
Watering frequency 1-2 times/week
Season total 1,040 gal / 100 sq ft
Drought risk

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

Monthly Watering Guide for Belgian Endive

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

Month Belgian Endive Needs Rainfall You Supplement Action
Jan 0.7" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Feb 1.1" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Mar 4.3" 1.9" 2.4" 🚿 Regular watering
Apr 4.3" 2.9" 1.4" 💧 Light watering
May 4.3" 4" 0.3" 💧 Light watering
Jun 4.3" 4.8" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Jul 4.3" 3.8" 0.5" 💧 Light watering
Aug 4.3" 3" 1.3" 💧 Light watering
Sep 4.3" 3.1" 1.2" 💧 Light watering
Oct 4.3" 2.1" 2.2" 🚿 Regular watering
Nov 4.3" 1" 3.3" 🚿 Regular watering
Dec 0.7" 0" ❄️ Dormant

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

Belgian Endive 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.

Belgian Endive needs ~2,372 GDD — county provides 4,015 GDD Excellent fit

Belgian Endive Planting Timeline — Haskell County, OK

Belgian Endive Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors February 21 Feb 21 – Mar 7
Transplant Outdoors March 28 Mar 28 – Apr 11
Direct Sow March 14 Mar 14 – Apr 4
Harvest July 18 Jul 18 – Sep 12
Fall Sowing August 25 Aug 25 – Sep 8

Plant 0.5" deep · 6" apart · Rows 12" apart

Month-by-Month Timeline

MonthActivities
January
February Start Indoors
March Start Indoors Transplant Outdoors Direct Sow
April Transplant Outdoors Direct Sow
May
June
July Harvest
August Fall Sowing Harvest
September Fall Sowing Harvest
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

110–150 days

🧪 Soil pH

Needs 5.5–7 · Your soil: acceptable

🗺️ USDA Zone

Zone 7a

📆 Growing Season

220 days in Haskell County

Growing Tips for Belgian Endive in Haskell County

Direct sow Belgian Endive outdoors after March 28 in Haskell County when soil has warmed and frost danger has passed.

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

General growing tips

Grow chicory roots in the garden during summer, then dig in fall. Trim tops and force roots in moist sand in a dark cellar at 50-60F. Chicons emerge in 3-4 weeks.

Companion Planting

Good Companions

Avoid Planting Near

  • Fennel

Check more plant combinations with our Companion Planting Checker →

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I plant Belgian Endive in Haskell County, OK?

Haskell County is in Zone 7a with an average last frost of March 28. Plan your Belgian Endive planting based on this frost date — see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Haskell County, OK?

Haskell County, Oklahoma is in USDA Hardiness Zone 7a. The average last spring frost is March 28 and first fall frost is November 3.

🌱

Your Haskell County Garden Planner — Free

A 24-page printable planner built for Haskell 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 Haskell County, OK. Local conditions may vary. Last updated: April 2026.

Sources & credits

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