Blog

When to Plant Tomatoes in Pushmataha County, OK

Pushmataha County, Oklahoma Zone 8a May

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

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") 68°F
Watering Moderate
Pest pressure Moderate
Daylight 13.8 hrs
  1. Begin indoor sowing: tomatoes

    You're about 25 weeks out from your last frost — the perfect window to get these germinating indoors.

A few tasks this May that'll pay off in June
  • First harvests: tomatoes

Instant PDF download. No spam, unsubscribe any time.

Tomatoes are the most popular home garden crop, available in thousands of varieties from tiny cherries to massive beefsteaks. They are warm-season plants needing full sun.

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 Tomatoes during the growing season.

Pushmataha County, OK (Zone 8a) Long season
213 days
Last Spring Frost April 2
213 growing days
First Fall Frost November 1

Pushmataha County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Loam

Soil pH

6.3-7.8

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (72 days to spare)
Start indoors: Feb 1 Transplant: Apr 5 🍅 Harvest: Jun 7 – Aug 16
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (66 days to spare)
Start indoors: Feb 12 Transplant: Apr 16 🍅 Harvest: Jun 18 – Aug 27
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (73 days to spare)
Start indoors: Feb 28 Transplant: May 2 🍅 Harvest: Jul 4 – Sep 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 Pushmataha County

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

Soil pH

Your soil pH (6.3–7.8) is more alkaline than Tomatoes prefers (6.0–7.0). Add sulfur or peat moss to lower pH.

Soil Texture

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

Organic Matter

Organic matter is moderate (4.0%). Annual compost additions will help Tomatoes.

How to Plant Tomatoes

0.5"
Planting Depth
24"
Between Plants
36"
Between Rows

Succession Planting Tomatoes

4
successive plantings in your 213-day season

Sow every 6.9 weeks. Last sowing by Aug 08 to harvest before frost.

Plant Water Budget

Plant needs
1.2″/week
Rainfall provides
0.4″/week
You supply
0.9″/week
Watering frequency 2-3 times/week
Season total 1,738 gal / 100 sq ft
Drought risk

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

Monthly Watering Guide for Tomatoes

Tomatoes needs approximately 1.2 inches of water per week (5.2" per month). Here's how your county's rainfall compares month by month.

Month Tomatoes Needs Rainfall You Supplement Action
Jan 0.5" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Feb 0.7" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Mar 1.5" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Apr 5.2" 2.4" 2.8" 🚿 Regular watering
May 5.2" 3.3" 1.9" 💧 Light watering
Jun 5.2" 3.3" 1.9" 💧 Light watering
Jul 5.2" 2.6" 2.6" 🚿 Regular watering
Aug 5.2" 2.9" 2.3" 💧 Light watering
Sep 5.2" 2" 3.2" 🚿 Regular watering
Oct 5.2" 1.4" 3.8" 🚿 Regular watering
Nov 5.2" 0.8" 4.4" 🚿 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.

Tomatoes 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.

Tomatoes needs ~1,269 GDD — county provides 3,727 GDD Excellent fit

Tomatoes Planting Timeline — Pushmataha County, OK

Tomatoes Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors February 12 Feb 12 – Feb 26
Transplant Outdoors April 16 Apr 16 – Apr 30
Direct Sow April 9 Apr 9 – Apr 30
Harvest June 18 Jun 18 – Aug 27

Plant 0.5" deep · 24" apart · Rows 36" apart

Month-by-Month Timeline

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

Growing Conditions

☀️ Sun

Full Sun (6-8+ hours)

💧 Water

1.2"/week · 2-3 times/week

📅 Days to Maturity

60–85 days

🧪 Soil pH

Needs 6–7 · Your soil: too_alkaline

🗺️ USDA Zone

Zone 8a

📆 Growing Season

213 days in Pushmataha County

Growing Tips for Tomatoes in Pushmataha County

Direct sow Tomatoes outdoors after April 02 in Pushmataha County when soil has warmed and frost danger has passed.

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

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

General growing tips

Start seeds indoors 6-8 weeks before last frost. Bury transplants deep to encourage rooting along the stem. Provide consistent moisture to prevent blossom end rot and cracking.

Companion Planting

Good Companions

Avoid Planting Near

  • Cabbage
  • Fennel
  • Potatoes

Check more plant combinations with our Companion Planting Checker →

🌾 Save Your Own Tomatoes Seeds
Life Cycle Annual
Pollination Self-Pollinating
How to Collect Scoop seeds from ripe fruit; ferment 2-3 days to remove gel coating.
Storage Store airtight; viable 4-6 years at 35°F, under 45% humidity.

Isolate 25 ft between varieties for purity. Use open-pollinated varieties for true-to-type seeds.

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I plant Tomatoes in Pushmataha County, OK?

Pushmataha County is in Zone 8a with an average last frost of April 2. Plan your Tomatoes 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.

🌱

Your Pushmataha County Garden Planner — Free

A 24-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.

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 Pushmataha 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.