What to plant this week in Oklahoma City, OK
With last frost averaging March 28, Oklahoma City gardeners are well into the heat of Zone 7b summer, making this prime time to harvest prolific crops like okra and watermelon. Your focus now shifts from protecting tender seedlings to managing moisture in our red clay soil while picking fresh bush beans and sweet corn.
The next 7 days
Oklahoma City, OKGrowing in Oklahoma City right now
- Oklahoma City's heavy red clay retains water poorly during our intense July/August heat; amend beds with compost or use raised rows for drainage when irrigating squash and melons.
- Don't plant transplants now; wait until late October, as the ground freezes early in November and most perennials are dormant by then.
- Take advantage of current warmth to harvest garlic before heavy rains return, ensuring your bulbs cure properly on the stalks or just after digging.
Sow this week
4 crops- Bush Bean
- French Marigold
- Yellow Summer Squash
- Zucchini
Transplant this week
Nothing is due to go out this week.
Harvest soon
37 crops- Basil
- Borage
- Bush Bean
- Cantaloupe
- Cleome (Spider Flower)
- Cosmos
- Cowpea (Black-Eyed Pea)
- Cucumber
- Edamame
- Fennel
- Flour Corn
- French Marigold
- Garden Verbena
- Garlic
- Gourd (Ornamental/Bottle)
- Honeydew Melon
- Lima Bean
- Loofah (Luffa)
- Malabar Spinach
- Nasturtium
- Okra
- Pole Bean
- Pumpkin
- Roselle (Cranberry Hibiscus)
- Scarlet Runner Bean
- Shiso (Japanese Basil)
- Summer Savory
- Sunflower
- Sweet Corn
- Sweet Potato
- Thai Basil
- Vinca (Madagascar Periwinkle)
- Watermelon
- Winter Squash
- Yellow Summer Squash
- Zinnia
- Zucchini
Seasonal tips
- Start succession sowing with Pole Beans or Peas every two weeks for a continuous supply of fresh pods.
- Pinch back the tops of Basil to encourage bushier growth before the heat sets in.
- Apply a light layer of compost around harvested crops to replenish soil nutrients.
Pest & disease watch
- Watch for spider mites on sunflowers and zinnias as humidity drops in our dry summer air, causing stippled leaves.
- Monitor cucumber and squash plants for powdery mildew, a common fungal issue when temperatures climb past 90°F without rain.
- Check the undersides of okra leaves for loopers or flea beetles that thrive on the lush green growth during our humid spells.
Watering this week
Provide about 1 to 2 inches of water per week, ensuring deep watering during hot afternoons.
Harvest Basil in the morning when essential oils are most concentrated for peak flavor.
Oklahoma City gardening questions
3When should I plant my fall vegetables like kale or spinach?
While you can sow bush beans and squash now, cool-season crops for winter harvest aren't in this week's list; wait until after the first frost of mid-November to see if late plantings are viable, though most perennials will be dormant.
How do I fix waterlogged spots in my garden bed?
Our local clay soil tends to pool water; dig deep furrows with a hoe to encourage runoff and mix in generous amounts of organic matter like compost to improve drainage for your zucchini and melons.
Are my okra plants producing enough pods right now?
Yes, this is the peak harvest time for okra in Oklahoma City; pick every two days to encourage continued production before the heat slows growth later in the season.
Other cities in zone 7b
12See the full zone 7b guide → · Plan your Oklahoma City garden in SproutGuide →