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When to Plant Ageratum in Love County, OK

Love County, Oklahoma Zone 8a July

July in Love County, Oklahoma — your action list

If you only do a handful of things in the garden this July, make it these. They're sequenced around your zone's frost timing.

Avg. last frost March 26
Avg. first frost November 11
Soil temp (4") 88°F
Watering Moderate
Pest pressure High
Daylight 14.1 hrs
  1. Basket week: ageratum

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  • First harvests: ageratum

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Ageratum (Ageratum houstonianum), the floss flower, produces clusters of fluffy, powder-puff blooms in the rare sky-blue and lavender tones difficult to find among warm-season annuals. Compact mounding habit makes it ideal as a front-of-border edging plant. Blooms from early summer through fall with minimal deadheading; heat and humidity tolerant once established.

Love County, Oklahoma is in USDA Zone 8a. The average last spring frost is March 26 and the first fall frost is November 11, giving you a growing season of approximately 230 days.

At an elevation of 821 feet, Love County receives approximately 24.1 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly loam soil. Summer highs average 94°F, providing good warmth for Ageratum during the growing season.

Annual Blooms in Multi-season Pollinator-friendly Good for cutting
Love County, OK (Zone 8a) Long season
230 days
Last Spring Frost March 26
230 growing days
First Fall Frost November 11

Love County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Loam

Soil pH

6.3-7.3

Drainage

Well Drained

Ageratum Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (44 days to spare)
Start indoors: Jan 31 Transplant: Mar 7 🌸 Bloom: May 2 – Sep 19
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (41 days to spare)
Start indoors: Feb 12 Transplant: Mar 19 🌸 Bloom: May 14 – Oct 1
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (38 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 4 Transplant: Apr 8 🌸 Bloom: Jun 3 – Oct 21

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 Love County

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

Soil pH

Your soil pH (6.3–7.3) overlaps with Ageratum's range (6.0–7.0), though not a perfect match.

Soil Texture

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

Organic Matter

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

How to Plant Ageratum

8"
Between Plants
10"
Between Rows

Succession Planting Ageratum

4
successive plantings in your 230-day season

Sow every 6.9 weeks. Last sowing by Aug 28 to harvest before frost.

Ageratum Water Budget

Plant needs
1.0″/week
Rainfall provides
0.4″/week
You supply
0.7″/week
Watering frequency 1-2 times/week
Season total 1,375 gal / 100 sq ft
Drought risk

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

Monthly Watering Guide for Ageratum

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

Month Ageratum Needs Rainfall You Supplement Action
Jan 0.6" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Feb 0.7" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Mar 4.3" 1.7" 2.6" 🚿 Regular watering
Apr 4.3" 2.5" 1.8" 💧 Light watering
May 4.3" 3.2" 1.1" 💧 Light watering
Jun 4.3" 3.5" 0.8" 💧 Light watering
Jul 4.3" 3.5" 0.8" 💧 Light watering
Aug 4.3" 2.8" 1.5" 💧 Light watering
Sep 4.3" 2.5" 1.8" 💧 Light watering
Oct 4.3" 1.7" 2.6" 🚿 Regular watering
Nov 4.3" 0.8" 3.5" 🚿 Regular watering
Dec 0.5" 0" ❄️ Dormant

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

Ageratum 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.

Ageratum needs ~1,384 GDD — county provides 4,715 GDD Excellent fit

Ageratum Planting Timeline — Love County, OK

Ageratum Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors February 12 Feb 12 – Feb 26
Transplant Outdoors March 19 Mar 19 – Apr 2
Direct Sow March 19 Mar 19 – Apr 9
Bloom May 14 May 14 – Oct 1

· 8" apart · Rows 10" apart

Month-by-Month Timeline

MonthActivities
January
February Start Indoors
March Transplant Outdoors Direct Sow
April Transplant Outdoors Direct Sow
May Bloom
June Bloom
July Bloom
August Bloom
September Bloom
October Bloom
November
December

Growing Conditions

☀️ Sun

Full Sun (6-8+ hours)

💧 Water

1"/week · 1-2 times/week

📅 Days to Maturity

60–75 days

🧪 Soil pH

Needs 6–7 · Your soil: acceptable

🗺️ USDA Zone

Zone 8a

📆 Growing Season

230 days in Love County

Growing Tips for Ageratum in Love County

Direct sow Ageratum outdoors after March 26 in Love County when soil has warmed and frost danger has passed.

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

Love County receives only 24" of rain annually. Ageratum needs consistent moisture — install drip irrigation or water deeply 2-3 times per week.

General growing tips

Start seeds indoors 6–8 weeks before last frost — do not cover seed; it needs light to germinate. Can be direct-sown after last frost once soil warms to 60°F. Transplant or thin to proper spacing after frost danger passes. Deadheading isn't strictly required but tidying spent clusters improves appearance. Provide consistent moisture; drought causes premature setting. Avoid deep shade — blooms best in full sun to light afternoon shade.

Companion Planting

Good Companions

Check more plant combinations with our Companion Planting Checker →

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I plant Ageratum in Love County, OK?

Love County is in Zone 8a with an average last frost of March 26. Plan your Ageratum planting based on this frost date — see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Love County, OK?

Love County, Oklahoma is in USDA Hardiness Zone 8a. The average last spring frost is March 26 and first fall frost is November 11.

🌱

Your Love County Garden Planner — Free

A 22-page printable planner built for Love County (Zone 8a). 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 Love County, OK. Local conditions may vary. Last updated: July 2026.

Sources & credits

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