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When to Plant Collard Greens in Seminole County, OK

Seminole County, Oklahoma Zone 7b May

May in Seminole County, Oklahoma — your action list

Your garden in Seminole County, Oklahoma is working on a schedule, even when you're not. Here's where you should be this May.

Avg. last frost March 31
Avg. first frost November 6
Soil temp (4") 69°F
Watering Moderate
Pest pressure Moderate
Daylight 13.8 hrs
  1. Indoor seed-starting week for collard greens

    These need a head start before your last frost (March 31). Sow into cells now so you're ready to transplant in a few weeks.

  2. Bring in the collard greens

    This is the payoff month. Bring a basket, bring a friend, and get into the beds.

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

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Collard greens are a heat-tolerant member of the cabbage family with large, sturdy leaves. They are a Southern staple and one of the most nutritious leafy greens.

Seminole County, Oklahoma is in USDA Zone 7b. The average last spring frost is March 31 and the first fall frost is November 6, giving you a growing season of approximately 220 days.

At an elevation of 961 feet, Seminole County receives approximately 20.7 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly loam soil. Summer highs average 94°F, providing good warmth for Collard Greens during the growing season.

Seminole County, OK (Zone 7b) Long season
220 days
Last Spring Frost March 31
220 growing days
First Fall Frost November 6

Seminole County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Loam

Soil pH

6.7-7.5

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (99 days to spare)
Start indoors: Feb 17 Transplant: Mar 24 🍅 Harvest: May 19 – Jul 21
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (101 days to spare)
Start indoors: Feb 24 Transplant: Mar 31 🍅 Harvest: May 26 – Jul 28
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (103 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 11 Transplant: Apr 15 🍅 Harvest: Jun 10 – 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 Seminole County

How your county's soil matches Collard Greens's growing requirements.

Soil pH

Your soil pH (6.7–7.5) is more alkaline than Collard Greens prefers (6.0–7.0). Add sulfur or peat moss to lower pH.

Soil Texture

The loam soil in Seminole County is excellent for Collard Greens — good drainage, moisture retention, and nutrient holding capacity.

Organic Matter

Organic matter is moderate (3.9%). Annual compost additions will help Collard Greens.

How to Plant Collard Greens

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 Collard Greens

4
successive plantings in your 220-day season

Sow every 6.3 weeks. Last sowing by Aug 23 to harvest before frost.

For a dedicated fall crop, sow by Aug 28.

Plant Water Budget

Plant needs
0.8″/week
Rainfall provides
0.4″/week
You supply
0.5″/week
Watering frequency 1-2 times/week
Season total 951 gal / 100 sq ft
Drought risk

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

Monthly Watering Guide for Collard Greens

Collard Greens needs approximately 0.8 inches of water per week (3.5" per month). Here's how your county's rainfall compares month by month.

Month Collard Greens Needs Rainfall You Supplement Action
Jan 0.6" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Feb 0.8" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Mar 3.5" 1.4" 2.1" 🚿 Regular watering
Apr 3.5" 2.1" 1.4" 💧 Light watering
May 3.5" 3.2" 0.3" 💧 Light watering
Jun 3.5" 3.3" 0.2" 💧 Light watering
Jul 3.5" 2.4" 1.1" 💧 Light watering
Aug 3.5" 2.8" 0.7" 💧 Light watering
Sep 3.5" 1.7" 1.8" 🚿 Regular watering
Oct 3.5" 1.3" 2.2" 🚿 Regular watering
Nov 3.5" 0.8" 2.7" 🚿 Regular watering
Dec 0.5" 0" ❄️ Dormant

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

Collard Greens 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.

Collard Greens needs ~1,332 GDD — county provides 4,510 GDD Excellent fit

Collard Greens Planting Timeline — Seminole County, OK

Collard Greens Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors February 24 Feb 24 – Mar 10
Transplant Outdoors March 31 Mar 31 – Apr 14
Direct Sow March 17 Mar 17 – Apr 7
Harvest May 26 May 26 – Jul 28
Fall Sowing August 28 Aug 28 – Sep 11

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

Month-by-Month Timeline

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

Growing Conditions

☀️ Sun

Full Sun (6-8+ hours)

💧 Water

0.8"/week · 1-2 times/week

📅 Days to Maturity

55–75 days

🧪 Soil pH

Needs 6–7 · Your soil: too_alkaline

🗺️ USDA Zone

Zone 7b

📆 Growing Season

220 days in Seminole County

Growing Tips for Collard Greens in Seminole County

Direct sow Collard Greens outdoors after March 31 in Seminole County when soil has warmed and frost danger has passed.

Common pests for Collard Greens in this region include cabbage worm and flea beetles. Use row covers early in the season and inspect plants weekly.

General growing tips

Start seeds indoors or direct sow 4-6 weeks before last frost. Harvest lower leaves first, leaving the growing tip intact. Flavor improves after exposure to frost.

Companion Planting

Good Companions

Avoid Planting Near

  • Strawberries
  • Tomatoes

Check more plant combinations with our Companion Planting Checker →

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I plant Collard Greens in Seminole County, OK?

Seminole County is in Zone 7b with an average last frost of March 31. Plan your Collard Greens planting based on this frost date — see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Seminole County, OK?

Seminole County, Oklahoma is in USDA Hardiness Zone 7b. The average last spring frost is March 31 and first fall frost is November 6.

🌱

Your Seminole County Garden Planner — Free

A 24-page printable planner built for Seminole 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 Seminole 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.