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When to Plant Peas in Murray County, OK

Murray County, Oklahoma Zone 7b May

Top priorities for Murray County, Oklahoma gardeners in May

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

Avg. last frost March 28
Avg. first frost November 2
Soil temp (4") 68°F
Watering Moderate
Pest pressure Moderate
Daylight 13.8 hrs
  1. Indoor seed-starting week for peas

    A seed-starting mix and a sunny window (or a grow light) are all you need. Keep soil warm — around 70°F — for fast germination.

  2. Start harvesting peas

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

Get ahead of June
  • First harvests: peas

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Peas are a cool-season legume that fixes nitrogen in the soil. Garden peas are shelled, while snap and snow peas are eaten pod and all.

Murray County, Oklahoma is in USDA Zone 7b. The average last spring frost is March 28 and the first fall frost is November 2, giving you a growing season of approximately 219 days.

At an elevation of 640 feet, Murray County receives approximately 23.2 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly loam soil. Summer highs average 94°F, providing good warmth for Peas during the growing season.

Murray County, OK (Zone 7b) Long season
219 days
Last Spring Frost March 28
219 growing days
First Fall Frost November 2

Murray County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Loam

Soil pH

6.5-7.7

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (109 days to spare)
Start indoors: Feb 14 Transplant: Mar 21 🍅 Harvest: May 16 – Jul 11
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (107 days to spare)
Start indoors: Feb 21 Transplant: Mar 28 🍅 Harvest: May 23 – Jul 18
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (108 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 13 Transplant: Apr 17 🍅 Harvest: Jun 12 – Aug 7

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 Murray County

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

Soil pH

Your soil pH (6.5–7.7) overlaps with Peas's range (6.0–7.5), though not a perfect match.

Soil Texture

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

Organic Matter

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

How to Plant Peas

1"
Planting Depth
4"
Between Plants
18"
Between Rows

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

Succession Planting Peas

4
successive plantings in your 219-day season

Sow every 6.3 weeks. Last sowing by Aug 24 to harvest before frost.

For a dedicated fall crop, sow by Aug 24.

Plant Water Budget

Plant needs
0.7″/week
Rainfall provides
0.4″/week
You supply
0.3″/week
Watering frequency 1-2 times/week
Season total 597 gal / 100 sq ft
Drought risk

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

Monthly Watering Guide for Peas

Peas needs approximately 0.7 inches of water per week (3" per month). Here's how your county's rainfall compares month by month.

Month Peas Needs Rainfall You Supplement Action
Jan 0.6" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Feb 0.8" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Mar 3" 1.4" 1.6" 🚿 Regular watering
Apr 3" 2.3" 0.7" 💧 Light watering
May 3" 3.5" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Jun 3" 3.5" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Jul 3" 2.8" 0.2" 💧 Light watering
Aug 3" 3.1" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Sep 3" 2.3" 0.7" 💧 Light watering
Oct 3" 1.4" 1.6" 🚿 Regular watering
Nov 3" 0.8" 2.2" 🚿 Regular watering
Dec 0.6" 0" ❄️ Dormant

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

Peas 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.

Peas needs ~1,281 GDD — county provides 4,489 GDD Excellent fit

Peas Planting Timeline — Murray County, OK

Peas 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 May 23 May 23 – Jul 18
Fall Sowing August 24 Aug 24 – Sep 7

Plant 1" deep · 4" apart · Rows 18" apart

Month-by-Month Timeline

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

Growing Conditions

☀️ Sun

Full Sun (6-8+ hours)

💧 Water

0.7"/week · 1-2 times/week

📅 Days to Maturity

55–70 days

🧪 Soil pH

Needs 6–7.5 · Your soil: acceptable

🗺️ USDA Zone

Zone 7b

📆 Growing Season

219 days in Murray County

Growing Tips for Peas in Murray County

Direct sow Peas outdoors after March 28 in Murray County when soil has warmed and frost danger has passed.

Summer highs in Murray County reach 94°F — grow Peas as a spring or fall crop. Use shade cloth if planting in summer.

Common pests for Peas in this region include bean beetles and aphids. Use row covers early in the season and inspect plants weekly.

General growing tips

Direct sow as early as soil can be worked in spring. Inoculate seeds with rhizobium for best nitrogen fixation. Provide trellising for climbing varieties.

Recommended Peas Varieties for Murray County

Heat-tolerant peas — plant very early or as fall crop

Wando (68d) Oregon Sugar Pod (60d)

Companion Planting

Good Companions

Avoid Planting Near

  • Onion
  • Garlic

Check more plant combinations with our Companion Planting Checker →

🌾 Save Your Own Peas Seeds
Life Cycle Annual
Pollination Self-Pollinating
How to Collect Let pods dry brown and papery on the vine.
Storage Store airtight; viable 3 years at 35°F, under 45% humidity.

Very easy to save. Self-pollinating means varieties stay true.

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I plant Peas in Murray County, OK?

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

What planting zone is Murray County, OK?

Murray County, Oklahoma is in USDA Hardiness Zone 7b. The average last spring frost is March 28 and first fall frost is November 2.

🌱

Your Murray County Garden Planner — Free

A 24-page printable planner built for Murray 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.

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 Murray 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.