Blog

When to Plant Mulberries in Muskogee County, OK

Muskogee County, Oklahoma Zone 7b May

Muskogee County, Oklahoma gardeners: here's your May plan

May rewards gardeners who work with the weather, not against it. Here's how to stay in step this month in Muskogee County, Oklahoma.

Avg. last frost April 4
Avg. first frost October 30
Soil temp (4") 67°F
Watering Moderate
Pest pressure Moderate
Daylight 13.9 hrs

Instant PDF download. No spam, unsubscribe any time.

Mulberries are fast-growing, long-lived trees that produce abundant sweet-tart berries over an extended harvest period. The berries resemble elongated blackberries.

Muskogee County, Oklahoma is in USDA Zone 7b. The average last spring frost is April 4 and the first fall frost is October 30, giving you a growing season of approximately 209 days.

At an elevation of 651 feet, Muskogee County receives approximately 25.9 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly loam soil. Summer highs average 92°F, providing good warmth for Mulberries during the growing season.

Muskogee County, OK (Zone 7b) Long season
209 days
Last Spring Frost April 4
209 growing days
First Fall Frost October 30

Muskogee County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Loam

Soil pH

6.2-7.6

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season
Transplant: Apr 16
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season
Transplant: Apr 25
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season
Transplant: May 8

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 Muskogee County

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

Soil pH

Your soil pH (6.2–7.6) overlaps with Mulberries's range (5.5–7.0), though not a perfect match.

Soil Texture

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

Organic Matter

Organic matter is excellent (4.2%) — Mulberries will thrive.

How to Plant Mulberries

120"
Between Plants
144"
Between Rows

Plant Water Budget

Plant needs
1.0″/week
Rainfall provides
0.5″/week
You supply
0.6″/week
Watering frequency 1-2 times/week
Season total 1,070 gal / 100 sq ft
Drought risk

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

Monthly Watering Guide for Mulberries

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

Month Mulberries Needs Rainfall You Supplement Action
Jan 0.5" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Feb 0.9" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Mar 1.8" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Apr 4.3" 2.9" 1.4" 💧 Light watering
May 4.3" 3.4" 0.9" 💧 Light watering
Jun 4.3" 4.4" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Jul 4.3" 3.6" 0.7" 💧 Light watering
Aug 4.3" 3" 1.3" 💧 Light watering
Sep 4.3" 2.6" 1.7" 💧 Light watering
Oct 4.3" 1.5" 2.8" 🚿 Regular watering
Nov 0.8" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Dec 0.6" 0" ❄️ Dormant

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

Mulberries 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.

Mulberries needs ~24,272 GDD — county provides 3,971 GDD May not mature

Mulberries Planting Timeline — Muskogee County, OK

Mulberries Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Transplant Outdoors April 25 Apr 25 – May 9

· 120" apart · Rows 144" apart

Month-by-Month Timeline

MonthActivities
January
February
March
April Transplant Outdoors
May Transplant Outdoors
June
July
August
September
October
November
December

Growing Conditions

☀️ Sun

Full Sun (6-8+ hours)

💧 Water

1"/week · 1-2 times/week

📅 Days to Maturity

730–1825 days

🧪 Soil pH

Needs 5.5–7 · Your soil: acceptable

🗺️ USDA Zone

Zone 7b

📆 Growing Season

209 days in Muskogee County

Growing Tips for Mulberries in Muskogee County

Direct sow Mulberries outdoors after April 04 in Muskogee County when soil has warmed and frost danger has passed.

Your 209.0-day growing season in Muskogee County is tight for Mulberries (730.0-1825.0 days to maturity). Start indoors and choose early-maturing varieties.

General growing tips

Plant away from driveways and patios as fallen berries stain. Minimal pruning is needed. Harvest by shaking branches over a tarp. Birds love mulberries so plant extra.

Companion Planting

Good Companions

Check more plant combinations with our Companion Planting Checker →

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I plant Mulberries in Muskogee County, OK?

Muskogee County is in Zone 7b with an average last frost of April 4. Plan your Mulberries planting based on this frost date — see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Muskogee County, OK?

Muskogee County, Oklahoma is in USDA Hardiness Zone 7b. The average last spring frost is April 4 and first fall frost is October 30.

🌱

Your Muskogee County Garden Planner — Free

A 24-page printable planner built for Muskogee 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 Muskogee 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.