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When to Plant Cucumber in Mayes County, OK

Mayes County, Oklahoma Zone 7a May

May to-do list for Mayes County, Oklahoma

May is a pivotal month for Mayes County, Oklahoma gardens. Focus on these tasks first and you'll set up the rest of the season for success.

Avg. last frost April 9
Avg. first frost October 27
Soil temp (4") 69°F
Watering Low
Pest pressure Moderate
Daylight 13.9 hrs
  1. Indoor seed-starting week for cucumber

    Give them 6–8 weeks indoors before the last frost and you'll transplant into warm soil with seedlings that are already leaping.

June prep starts now
  • First harvests: cucumber

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Cucumbers are a warm-season vine crop available in slicing and pickling varieties. They are prolific producers when given warmth, moisture, and a trellis to climb.

Mayes County, Oklahoma is in USDA Zone 7a. The average last spring frost is April 9 and the first fall frost is October 27, giving you a growing season of approximately 201 days.

At an elevation of 777 feet, Mayes County receives approximately 26.4 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly loam soil. Summer highs average 93°F, providing good warmth for Cucumber during the growing season.

Mayes County, OK (Zone 7a) Long season
201 days
Last Spring Frost April 9
201 growing days
First Fall Frost October 27

Mayes County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Loam

Soil pH

6.7-7.3

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (74 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 5 Transplant: Apr 16 🍅 Harvest: Jun 11 – Aug 6
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (75 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 12 Transplant: Apr 23 🍅 Harvest: Jun 18 – Aug 13
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (81 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 29 Transplant: May 10 🍅 Harvest: Jul 5 – Aug 30

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 Mayes County

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

Soil pH

Your soil pH (6.7–7.3) overlaps with Cucumber's range (6.0–7.0), though not a perfect match.

Soil Texture

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

Drainage

Cucumber is a heavy drinker but your soil drains very quickly. Mulch heavily and consider drip irrigation.

Organic Matter

Organic matter is moderate (4.0%). Annual compost additions will help Cucumber.

How to Plant Cucumber

0.5"
Planting Depth
24"
Between Plants
48"
Between Rows

Succession Planting Cucumber

4
successive plantings in your 201-day season

Sow every 5.7 weeks. Last sowing by Aug 18 to harvest before frost.

Plant Water Budget

Plant needs
1.5″/week
Rainfall provides
0.6″/week
You supply
1.4″/week
Watering frequency 2-3 times/week
Season total 2,502 gal / 100 sq ft

Monthly Watering Guide for Cucumber

Cucumber needs approximately 1.5 inches of water per week (6.5" per month). Here's how your county's rainfall compares month by month.

Month Cucumber Needs Rainfall You Supplement Action
Jan 0.7" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Feb 0.9" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Mar 1.8" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Apr 6.5" 2.5" 4" 🚿 Regular watering
May 6.5" 4.1" 2.4" 💧 Light watering
Jun 6.5" 4.2" 2.3" 💧 Light watering
Jul 6.5" 3.7" 2.8" 💧 Light watering
Aug 6.5" 3" 3.5" 🚿 Regular watering
Sep 6.5" 2.4" 4.1" 🚿 Regular watering
Oct 6.5" 1.7" 4.8" 🚿 Regular watering
Nov 0.8" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Dec 0.6" 0" ❄️ Dormant

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

Cucumber 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.

Cucumber needs ~1,185 GDD — county provides 3,969 GDD Excellent fit

Cucumber Planting Timeline — Mayes County, OK

Cucumber Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors March 12 Mar 12 – Mar 26
Transplant Outdoors April 23 Apr 23 – May 7
Direct Sow April 16 Apr 16 – May 7
Harvest June 18 Jun 18 – Aug 13

Plant 0.5" deep · 24" apart · Rows 48" apart

Month-by-Month Timeline

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

Growing Conditions

☀️ Sun

Full Sun (6-8+ hours)

💧 Water

1.5"/week · 2-3 times/week

📅 Days to Maturity

50–70 days

🧪 Soil pH

Needs 6–7 · Your soil: acceptable

🗺️ USDA Zone

Zone 7a

📆 Growing Season

201 days in Mayes County

Growing Tips for Cucumber in Mayes County

Direct sow Cucumber outdoors after April 09 in Mayes County when soil has warmed and frost danger has passed.

Common pests for Cucumber in this region include squash vine borer and cucumber beetles. Use row covers early in the season and inspect plants weekly.

General growing tips

Direct sow after last frost or start indoors 3 weeks early. Provide a trellis for vining types to save space and improve air circulation. Harvest frequently to encourage production.

Companion Planting

Good Companions

Avoid Planting Near

  • Potatoes
  • Sage

Check more plant combinations with our Companion Planting Checker →

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I plant Cucumber in Mayes County, OK?

Mayes County is in Zone 7a with an average last frost of April 9. Plan your Cucumber planting based on this frost date — see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Mayes County, OK?

Mayes County, Oklahoma is in USDA Hardiness Zone 7a. The average last spring frost is April 9 and first fall frost is October 27.

🌱

Your Mayes County Garden Planner — Free

A 24-page printable planner built for Mayes 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.

Instant PDF download. No spam, unsubscribe any time.

Data sources: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (2023), NOAA 30-Year Climate Normals. Frost dates are based on 50% probability averages for Mayes County, OK. Local conditions may vary. Last updated: May 2026.

Sources & credits

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