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When to Plant Soybeans in Woods County, OK

Woods County, Oklahoma Zone 6b April

Woods County, Oklahoma gardeners: here's your April plan

Welcome to April in Zone 6b. These are the moves that will have the biggest impact on your growing season.

Avg. last frost April 12
Avg. first frost October 26
Soil temp (4") 54°F
Watering Moderate
Pest pressure Low
Daylight 12.9 hrs
  1. Direct-sow soybeans

    Keep the top inch of soil moist until germination — a gentle morning watering for 5–7 days does the job.

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Soybeans (edamame) are a high-protein legume that fixes nitrogen in the soil. Fresh green soybeans harvested at the edamame stage are a nutritious snack.

Woods County, Oklahoma is in USDA Zone 6b. The average last spring frost is April 12 and the first fall frost is October 26, giving you a growing season of approximately 197 days.

At an elevation of 882 feet, Woods County receives approximately 23.1 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly loam soil. Summer highs average 88°F, providing good warmth for Soybeans during the growing season.

Woods County, OK (Zone 6b) Moderate season
197 days
Last Spring Frost April 12
197 growing days
First Fall Frost October 26
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Woods County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Loam

Soil pH

6.7-7.8

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (58 days to spare)
Transplant: Apr 6 🍅 Harvest: Jun 29 – Aug 24
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (57 days to spare)
Transplant: Apr 12 🍅 Harvest: Jul 5 – Aug 30
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (63 days to spare)
Transplant: Apr 23 🍅 Harvest: Jul 16 – Sep 10

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 Woods County

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

Soil pH

Your soil pH (6.7–7.8) is more alkaline than Soybeans prefers (6.0–7.0). Add sulfur or peat moss to lower pH.

Soil Texture

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

Organic Matter

Organic matter is moderate (3.4%). Annual compost additions will help Soybeans.

How to Plant Soybeans

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

Succession Planting Soybeans

2
successive plantings in your 197-day season

Sow every 9.1 weeks. Last sowing by Jun 28 to harvest before frost.

Plant Water Budget

Plant needs
1.0″/week
Rainfall provides
0.5″/week
You supply
0.6″/week
Watering frequency 1-2 times/week
Season total 1,068 gal / 100 sq ft
Drought risk

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

Monthly Watering Guide for Soybeans

Soybeans needs approximately 1 inches of water per week (4.3" per month). Here's how your county's rainfall compares month by month.

Month Soybeans Needs Rainfall You Supplement Action
Jan 0.7" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Feb 0.8" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Mar 1.6" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Apr 4.3" 2.8" 1.5" 💧 Light watering
May 4.3" 3.3" 1" 💧 Light watering
Jun 4.3" 3.3" 1" 💧 Light watering
Jul 4.3" 3" 1.3" 💧 Light watering
Aug 4.3" 2.7" 1.6" 💧 Light watering
Sep 4.3" 1.9" 2.4" 🚿 Regular watering
Oct 4.3" 1.7" 2.6" 🚿 Regular watering
Nov 0.8" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Dec 0.6" 0" ❄️ Dormant

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

Soybeans 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.

Soybeans needs ~1,600 GDD — county provides 3,152 GDD Excellent fit

Soybeans Planting Timeline — Woods County, OK

Soybeans Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Direct Sow April 19 Apr 19 – May 10
Harvest July 12 Jul 12 – Sep 6

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

Month-by-Month Timeline

MonthActivities
January
February
March
April Direct Sow
May Direct Sow
June
July Harvest
August Harvest
September Harvest
October
November
December
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Growing Conditions

☀️ Sun

Full Sun (6-8+ hours)

💧 Water

1"/week · 1-2 times/week

📅 Days to Maturity

80–120 days

🧪 Soil pH

Needs 6–7 · Your soil: too_alkaline

🗺️ USDA Zone

Zone 6b

📆 Growing Season

197 days in Woods County

Growing Tips for Soybeans in Woods County

Direct sow Soybeans outdoors after April 12 in Woods County when soil has warmed and frost danger has passed.

Common pests for Soybeans in this region include bean beetles and aphids. Use row covers early in the season and inspect plants weekly.

Woods County receives only 23" of rain annually. Soybeans needs consistent moisture — install drip irrigation or water deeply 2-3 times per week.

General growing tips

Direct sow after soil warms to 60F. Plant in blocks rather than rows for better pollination. Harvest for edamame when pods are plump and bright green.

Companion Planting

Good Companions

Avoid Planting Near

  • Onion
  • Garlic

Check more plant combinations with our Companion Planting Checker →

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I plant Soybeans in Woods County, OK?

Woods County is in Zone 6b with an average last frost of April 12. Plan your Soybeans planting based on this frost date — see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Woods County, OK?

Woods County, Oklahoma is in USDA Hardiness Zone 6b. The average last spring frost is April 12 and first fall frost is October 26.

🌱

Your Woods County Garden Planner — Free

A 24-page printable planner built for Woods County (Zone 6b). 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 Woods County, OK. Local conditions may vary. Last updated: April 2026.

Sources & credits

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