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When to Plant Bachelor's Button in Pushmataha County, OK

Pushmataha County, Oklahoma Zone 8a June

This month in Pushmataha County, Oklahoma

Each item below is timed to Pushmataha County, Oklahoma's frost dates and soil temperatures. Skip nothing, stress about nothing.

Avg. last frost April 2
Avg. first frost November 1
Soil temp (4") 77°F
Watering Moderate
Pest pressure High
Daylight 14.3 hrs
  1. Pick bachelor's button

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

A few tasks this June that'll pay off in July
  • First harvests: bachelor's button

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Bachelor's Button (Centaurea cyanus), also called cornflower, is a carefree cool-season annual best known for its vivid cobalt-blue flowers — one of the truest blues in the annual garden. It tolerates light frosts, self-seeds prolifically, and thrives in poor to average soils. A traditional cut flower and pollinator magnet, it has been cultivated in gardens for centuries.

Pushmataha County, Oklahoma is in USDA Zone 8a. The average last spring frost is April 2 and the first fall frost is November 1, giving you a growing season of approximately 213 days.

At an elevation of 465 feet, Pushmataha County receives approximately 22.1 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly loam soil. Summer highs average 90°F, providing good warmth for Bachelor's Button during the growing season.

Annual Blooms in Spring Pollinator-friendly Deer-resistant Good for cutting
Pushmataha County, OK (Zone 8a) Long season
213 days
Last Spring Frost April 2
213 growing days
First Fall Frost November 1
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Pushmataha County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Loam

Soil pH

6.3-7.8

Drainage

Well Drained

Bachelor's Button Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (65 days to spare)
Transplant: Mar 8 🌸 Bloom: May 10 – Aug 23
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (59 days to spare)
Transplant: Mar 19 🌸 Bloom: May 21 – Sep 3
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (66 days to spare)
Transplant: Apr 4 🌸 Bloom: Jun 6 – Sep 19

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 Pushmataha County

How your county's soil matches Bachelor's Button's growing requirements.

Soil pH

Your soil pH (6.3–7.8) overlaps with Bachelor's Button's range (6.0–7.5), though not a perfect match.

Soil Texture

The loam soil in Pushmataha County is excellent for Bachelor's Button — good drainage, moisture retention, and nutrient holding capacity.

Organic Matter

Organic matter is moderate (4.0%). Annual compost additions will help Bachelor's Button.

How to Plant Bachelor's Button

0.3"
Planting Depth
12"
Between Plants
12"
Between Rows

Fall planting: Sow 8 weeks before your first frost date for a fall harvest.

Succession Planting Bachelor's Button

4
successive plantings in your 213-day season

Sow every 6.9 weeks. Last sowing by Aug 03 to harvest before frost.

For a dedicated fall crop, sow by Sep 06.

Bachelor's Button Water Budget

Plant needs
0.5″/week
Rainfall provides
0.4″/week
You supply
0.1″/week
Watering frequency Only during dry spells
Season total 146 gal / 100 sq ft
Drought risk

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

Monthly Watering Guide for Bachelor's Button

Bachelor's Button needs approximately 0.5 inches of water per week (2.2" per month). Here's how your county's rainfall compares month by month.

Month Bachelor's Button Needs Rainfall You Supplement Action
Jan 0.5" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Feb 0.7" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Mar 1.5" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Apr 2.2" 2.4" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
May 2.2" 3.3" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Jun 2.2" 3.3" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Jul 2.2" 2.6" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Aug 2.2" 2.9" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Sep 2.2" 2" 0.2" 💧 Light watering
Oct 2.2" 1.4" 0.8" 💧 Light watering
Nov 2.2" 0.8" 1.4" 🚿 Regular watering
Dec 0.6" 0" ❄️ Dormant

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

Bachelor's Button 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.

Bachelor's Button needs ~1,312 GDD — county provides 3,727 GDD Excellent fit

Bachelor's Button Planting Timeline — Pushmataha County, OK

Bachelor's Button Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Transplant Outdoors March 19 Mar 19 – Apr 2
Direct Sow February 19 Feb 19 – Mar 12
Bloom May 21 May 21 – Sep 3
Fall Sowing September 6 Sep 6 – Sep 20

Plant 0.3" deep · 12" apart · Rows 12" apart

Month-by-Month Timeline

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

☀️ Sun

Full Sun (6-8+ hours)

💧 Water

0.5"/week · Only during dry spells

📅 Days to Maturity

60–90 days

🧪 Soil pH

Needs 6–7.5 · Your soil: acceptable

🗺️ USDA Zone

Zone 8a

📆 Growing Season

213 days in Pushmataha County

Growing Tips for Bachelor's Button in Pushmataha County

Direct sow Bachelor's Button outdoors after April 02 in Pushmataha County when soil has warmed and frost danger has passed.

Common pests for Bachelor's Button in this region include aphids and slugs. Use row covers early in the season and inspect plants weekly.

Pushmataha County receives only 22" of rain annually. Bachelor's Button needs consistent moisture — install drip irrigation or water deeply 2-3 times per week.

General growing tips

Direct-sow in early spring as soon as soil can be worked; seeds need a brief cold period for best germination (refrigerate for a few days before planting if spring arrives quickly). In zones 6+, fall-sow for the earliest spring bloom. Thin to 12 inches; do not over-fertilize — too much nitrogen produces foliage at the expense of flowers. Deadhead to prolong blooming or allow self-seeding for a naturalized colony.

Companion Planting

Good Companions

Check more plant combinations with our Companion Planting Checker →

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I plant Bachelor's Button in Pushmataha County, OK?

Pushmataha County is in Zone 8a with an average last frost of April 2. Plan your Bachelor's Button planting based on this frost date — see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Pushmataha County, OK?

Pushmataha County, Oklahoma is in USDA Hardiness Zone 8a. The average last spring frost is April 2 and first fall frost is November 1.

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Your Pushmataha County Garden Planner — Free

A 22-page printable planner built for Pushmataha County (Zone 8a). 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 Pushmataha County, OK. Local conditions may vary. Last updated: June 2026.

Sources & credits

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