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When to Plant Tomatillo in Okmulgee County, OK

Tomatillos are a Mexican staple that produces tart, green fruits enclosed in papery husks. They are essential for salsa verde and green sauces.

Okmulgee County, Oklahoma is in USDA Zone 7a. 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 91ยฐF, providing good warmth for Tomatillo during the growing season.

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

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 (69 days to spare)
Start indoors: Feb 4 Transplant: Apr 8 🍅 Harvest: Jun 10 – Aug 19
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (66 days to spare)
Start indoors: Feb 13 Transplant: Apr 17 🍅 Harvest: Jun 19 – Aug 28
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (74 days to spare)
Start indoors: Feb 25 Transplant: Apr 29 🍅 Harvest: Jul 1 – Sep 9

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 Tomatillo's growing requirements.

Soil pH

Your soil pH (6.7โ€“7.6) is more alkaline than Tomatillo prefers (6.0โ€“7.0). Add sulfur or peat moss to lower pH.

Soil Texture

The loam soil in Okmulgee County is excellent for Tomatillo โ€” good drainage, moisture retention, and nutrient holding capacity.

Organic Matter

Organic matter is excellent (4.3%) โ€” Tomatillo will thrive.

How to Plant Tomatillo

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

Succession Planting Tomatillo

4
successive plantings in your 213-day season

Sow every 6.9 weeks. Last sowing by Aug 09 to harvest before frost.

Plant Water Budget

Plant needs
1.1″/week
Rainfall provides
0.6″/week
You supply
0.6″/week
Watering frequency 1-2 times/week
Season total 1,206 gal / 100 sq ft
Drought risk

Water stress score is 6/10 โ€” consider drought-tolerant varieties and mulching

Monthly Watering Guide for Tomatillo

Tomatillo needs approximately 1.1 inches of water per week (4.8" per month). Here's how your county's rainfall compares month by month.

Month Tomatillo Needs Rainfall You Supplement Action
Jan โ€” 0.8" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Feb โ€” 1" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Mar โ€” 1.9" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Apr 4.8" 3.5" 1.3" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
May 4.8" 4.2" 0.6" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
Jun 4.8" 4.6" 0.2" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
Jul 4.8" 3.7" 1.1" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
Aug 4.8" 3.3" 1.5" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
Sep 4.8" 2.5" 2.3" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
Oct 4.8" 1.7" 3.1" ๐Ÿšฟ Regular watering
Nov 4.8" 1" 3.8" ๐Ÿšฟ Regular watering
Dec โ€” 0.8" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant

Water needs are for active growing months only (Aprโ€“Nov in Okmulgee County). Supplement amounts are based on average rainfall โ€” actual needs vary with temperature, soil, and mulching.

Tomatillo 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" โ€” every day above 50ยฐF 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.

Tomatillo needs ~1,323 GDD — county provides 3,887 GDD Excellent fit

Tomatillo Planting Timeline โ€” Okmulgee County, OK

Tomatillo Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors February 13 Feb 13 โ€“ Feb 27
Transplant Outdoors April 17 Apr 17 โ€“ May 1
Direct Sow April 10 Apr 10 โ€“ May 1
Harvest June 19 Jun 19 โ€“ Aug 28

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

Month-by-Month Timeline

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

Growing Conditions

โ˜€๏ธ Sun

Full Sun (6-8+ hours)

๐Ÿ’ง Water

1.1"/week ยท 1-2 times/week

๐Ÿ“… Days to Maturity

60โ€“85 days

๐Ÿงช Soil pH

Needs 6โ€“7 ยท Your soil: too_alkaline

๐Ÿ—บ๏ธ USDA Zone

Zone 7a

๐Ÿ“† Growing Season

213 days in Okmulgee County

Growing Tips for Tomatillo in Okmulgee County

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

Common pests for Tomatillo in this region include tomato hornworm and aphids. Use row covers early in the season and inspect plants weekly.

General growing tips

Start seeds indoors 6-8 weeks before last frost. Plant at least two plants for cross-pollination. Harvest when fruits fill the husk and it begins to split.

Companion Planting

Good Companions

Avoid Planting Near

  • Fennel
  • Dill

Check more plant combinations with our Companion Planting Checker →

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I plant Tomatillo in Okmulgee County, OK?

Okmulgee County is in Zone 7a with an average last frost of April 3. Plan your Tomatillo planting based on this frost date โ€” see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Okmulgee County, OK?

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

๐ŸŒฑ

Plan Your Garden with Confidence

Get our free Garden Planner โ€” designed to help Okmulgee County gardeners in Zone 7a organize planting dates, track what's growing, and never miss a planting window.

Get Your Free Garden Planner →

Free download. Plan your entire garden season in minutes.

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: April 2026.