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When to Plant Borage in Roger Mills County, OK

Roger Mills County, Oklahoma Zone 7a May

This month in Roger Mills County, Oklahoma

Here's what deserves your attention in Roger Mills County, Oklahoma this month. Everything below is tailored to Zone 7a and timed around your local frost dates.

Avg. last frost April 13
Avg. first frost October 23
Soil temp (4") 68°F
Watering Low
Pest pressure Moderate
Daylight 13.9 hrs
  1. Start borage indoors

    Starting these indoors now means sturdy transplants ready the moment your soil warms up.

To set up a strong June, finish these tasks
  • First harvests: borage

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Borage is a self-seeding annual herb with star-shaped blue flowers that attract pollinators. Its leaves have a cucumber-like flavor and the flowers are edible.

Roger Mills County, Oklahoma is in USDA Zone 7a. The average last spring frost is April 13 and the first fall frost is October 23, giving you a growing season of approximately 193 days.

At an elevation of 697 feet, Roger Mills County receives approximately 27.7 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly loam soil. Summer highs average 92°F, providing good warmth for Borage during the growing season.

Roger Mills County, OK (Zone 7a) Moderate season
193 days
Last Spring Frost April 13
193 growing days
First Fall Frost October 23

Roger Mills County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Loam

Soil pH

6.5-7.6

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (97 days to spare)
Start indoors: Feb 28 Transplant: Mar 28 🍅 Harvest: May 23 – Jul 11
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (95 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 9 Transplant: Apr 6 🍅 Harvest: Jun 1 – Jul 20
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (98 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 24 Transplant: Apr 21 🍅 Harvest: Jun 16 – Aug 4

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 Roger Mills County

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

Soil pH

Your soil pH (6.5–7.6) is more alkaline than Borage prefers (6.0–7.0). Add sulfur or peat moss to lower pH.

Soil Texture

The loam soil in Roger Mills County is excellent for Borage — good drainage, moisture retention, and nutrient holding capacity.

Organic Matter

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

How to Plant Borage

0.5"
Planting Depth
8"
Between Plants
12"
Between Rows

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

Succession Planting Borage

4
successive plantings in your 193-day season

Sow every 5.7 weeks. Last sowing by Aug 24 to harvest before frost.

For a dedicated fall crop, sow by Aug 14.

Plant Water Budget

Plant needs
0.5″/week
Rainfall provides
0.6″/week
Watering frequency Natural rainfall sufficient
Season total 0 gal / 100 sq ft
Drought risk

Water stress score is 8/10 — consider drought-tolerant varieties and mulching

Monthly Watering Guide for Borage

Borage 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 Borage Needs Rainfall You Supplement Action
Jan 0.7" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Feb 0.8" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Mar 1.9" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Apr 2.2" 2.8" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
May 2.2" 4" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Jun 2.2" 4.4" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Jul 2.2" 3.9" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Aug 2.2" 3.5" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Sep 2.2" 2.5" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Oct 2.2" 1.6" 0.6" 💧 Light watering
Nov 1" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Dec 0.6" 0" ❄️ Dormant

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

Borage 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.

Borage needs ~1,045 GDD — county provides 3,667 GDD Excellent fit

Borage Planting Timeline — Roger Mills County, OK

Borage Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors March 9 Mar 9 – Mar 23
Transplant Outdoors April 6 Apr 6 – Apr 20
Direct Sow March 30 Mar 30 – Apr 20
Harvest June 1 Jun 1 – Jul 20
Fall Sowing August 14 Aug 14 – Aug 28

Plant 0.5" deep · 8" apart · Rows 12" apart

Month-by-Month Timeline

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

Growing Conditions

☀️ Sun

Full Sun (6-8+ hours)

💧 Water

0.5"/week · Natural rainfall sufficient

📅 Days to Maturity

50–60 days

🧪 Soil pH

Needs 6–7 · Your soil: too_alkaline

🗺️ USDA Zone

Zone 7a

📆 Growing Season

193 days in Roger Mills County

Growing Tips for Borage in Roger Mills County

Direct sow Borage outdoors after April 13 in Roger Mills County when soil has warmed and frost danger has passed.

General growing tips

Direct sow in spring as borage does not transplant well. Allow some plants to go to seed for next year. Young leaves are best; older leaves become bristly.

Companion Planting

Good Companions

Check more plant combinations with our Companion Planting Checker →

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I plant Borage in Roger Mills County, OK?

Roger Mills County is in Zone 7a with an average last frost of April 13. Plan your Borage planting based on this frost date — see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Roger Mills County, OK?

Roger Mills County, Oklahoma is in USDA Hardiness Zone 7a. The average last spring frost is April 13 and first fall frost is October 23.

🌱

Your Roger Mills County Garden Planner — Free

A 24-page printable planner built for Roger Mills County (Zone 7a). 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 Roger Mills 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.