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When to Plant Fava Beans in Okmulgee County, OK

Okmulgee County, Oklahoma Zone 7b May

This month in Okmulgee County, Oklahoma

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

Avg. last frost April 3
Avg. first frost November 2
Soil temp (4") 67°F
Watering Low
Pest pressure Moderate
Daylight 13.9 hrs
  1. Sow fava beans in trays indoors

    You're about 26 weeks out from your last frost — the perfect window to get these germinating indoors.

Before June arrives, get these ready
  • First harvests: fava beans

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Fava beans are a cool-season legume with large, meaty beans inside thick pods. They fix nitrogen in the soil and are one of the oldest cultivated crops.

Okmulgee County, Oklahoma is in USDA Zone 7b. The average last spring frost is April 3 and the first fall frost is November 2, giving you a growing season of approximately 213 days.

At an elevation of 657 feet, Okmulgee County receives approximately 28.9 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly loam soil. Summer highs average 91°F, providing good warmth for Fava Beans during the growing season.

Okmulgee County, OK (Zone 7b) Long season
213 days
Last Spring Frost April 3
213 growing days
First Fall Frost November 2
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Okmulgee County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Loam

Soil pH

6.7-7.6

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (97 days to spare)
Start indoors: Feb 18 Transplant: Mar 25 🍅 Harvest: Jun 10 – Jul 22
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (94 days to spare)
Start indoors: Feb 27 Transplant: Apr 3 🍅 Harvest: Jun 19 – Jul 31
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (102 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 11 Transplant: Apr 15 🍅 Harvest: Jul 1 – Aug 12

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 Okmulgee County

How your county's soil matches Fava Beans's growing requirements.

Soil pH

Your soil pH (6.7–7.6) is more alkaline than Fava Beans prefers (6.0–7.0). Add sulfur or peat moss to lower pH.

Soil Texture

The loam soil in Okmulgee County is excellent for Fava Beans — good drainage, moisture retention, and nutrient holding capacity.

Organic Matter

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

How to Plant Fava Beans

1"
Planting Depth
15"
Between Plants
24"
Between Rows

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

Succession Planting Fava Beans

3
successive plantings in your 213-day season

Sow every 8.6 weeks. Last sowing by Jul 25 to harvest before frost.

For a dedicated fall crop, sow by Aug 24.

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 979 gal / 100 sq ft
Drought risk

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

Monthly Watering Guide for Fava Beans

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

Month Fava Beans Needs Rainfall You Supplement Action
Jan 0.8" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Feb 1" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Mar 1.9" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Apr 4.3" 3.5" 0.8" 💧 Light watering
May 4.3" 4.2" 0.1" 💧 Light watering
Jun 4.3" 4.6" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Jul 4.3" 3.7" 0.6" 💧 Light watering
Aug 4.3" 3.3" 1" 💧 Light watering
Sep 4.3" 2.5" 1.8" 💧 Light watering
Oct 4.3" 1.7" 2.6" 🚿 Regular watering
Nov 4.3" 1" 3.3" 🚿 Regular watering
Dec 0.8" 0" ❄️ Dormant

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

Fava Beans 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.

Fava Beans needs ~1,597 GDD — county provides 3,887 GDD Excellent fit

Fava Beans Planting Timeline — Okmulgee County, OK

Fava Beans Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors February 27 Feb 27 – Mar 13
Transplant Outdoors April 3 Apr 3 – Apr 17
Direct Sow March 20 Mar 20 – Apr 10
Harvest June 19 Jun 19 – Jul 31
Fall Sowing August 24 Aug 24 – Sep 7

Plant 1" deep · 15" apart · Rows 24" apart

Month-by-Month Timeline

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

☀️ Sun

Full Sun (6-8+ hours)

💧 Water

1"/week · 1-2 times/week

📅 Days to Maturity

75–100 days

🧪 Soil pH

Needs 6–7 · Your soil: too_alkaline

🗺️ USDA Zone

Zone 7b

📆 Growing Season

213 days in Okmulgee County

Growing Tips for Fava Beans in Okmulgee County

Direct sow Fava Beans outdoors after April 03 in Okmulgee County when soil has warmed and frost danger has passed.

Common pests for Fava Beans 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. Pinch growing tips when pods begin to form to redirect energy and reduce aphid problems. Stake tall varieties.

Companion Planting

Good Companions

Avoid Planting Near

  • Onion
  • Garlic

Check more plant combinations with our Companion Planting Checker →

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I plant Fava Beans in Okmulgee County, OK?

Okmulgee County is in Zone 7b with an average last frost of April 3. Plan your Fava Beans planting based on this frost date — see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Okmulgee County, OK?

Okmulgee County, Oklahoma is in USDA Hardiness Zone 7b. The average last spring frost is April 3 and first fall frost is November 2.

🌱

Your Okmulgee County Garden Planner — Free

A 24-page printable planner built for Okmulgee 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.

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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 Okmulgee 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.