Fall in zone 8aPhoto: George Chernilevsky, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Frost dates for ZIP 73436 (Gene Autry, OK)
Average last spring and first fall frost dates with 10%, 50% and 90% odds, from NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the nearest weather station, Ardmore 3ENE Mesonet, OK (7 miles away).
- Average last spring frostMar 1850% chance of a 32°F freeze after this date
- Average first fall frostNov 1050% chance of a 32°F freeze by this date
- Growing season (frost-free)238 daysmedian, 32°F threshold
- USDA hardiness zone8a10 to 15°F avg. coldest night
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This week in your yard
As of Oct 18, 2026, from your frost dates, zone and soil temperature. Lawn timing · Vegetables · Pruning · Plants
Soil temperature now
2-inch depth
64°F 55°F or warmer
24-hour average · latest 62°F, as of Oct 18, 1:00 AM CDT
Estimate Not a measurement at this ZIP: distance-weighted average of Prairie Hill Nocona (46 mi), Filter Plant Nocona (52 mi).
4-inch depth
66°F 55°F or warmer
24-hour average · latest 65°F, as of Oct 18, 1:00 AM CDT
Estimate Not a measurement at this ZIP: distance-weighted average of Prairie Hill Nocona (46 mi), Filter Plant Nocona (52 mi).
Fall: Texas A&M AgriLife times fall pre-emergent (for winter weeds such as annual bluegrass) to soil cooling to about 70°F for several days. The 50–55°F band is the spring trigger. Always read and follow the product label.
7-day forecast and frost risk
The latest National Weather Service 7-day forecast and any Frost Advisory or Freeze Warning for 73436 load here. You can also open the NWS forecast for this ZIP.
Pre-emergent
Soil is 66°F at 4 inches (estimated soil temperature, not a station reading). Fall pre-emergent (annual bluegrass, winter weeds): window open as soil cools through the 70s and 60s.
Fertilizer window
Lawn region: South Central plains. Timing only; always follow the product label.
- Bermudagrass (warm-season): Spring: Several weeks after the lawn is fully green (April–May) (about May 3 here, using green-up about 3–4 weeks after your average last frost); Summer: Every 4–6 weeks through mid-August (heaviest feeder of the group); Late: Light, low-nitrogen/high-potassium feeding about 4 weeks before first frost, or skip. Avoid: Heavy late-fall nitrogen (linked to spring dead spot).
- Tall fescue (cool-season): Early fall: September (main feeding); Late fall: November, while still green; Late winter: Optional light feeding February–March. Avoid: Feeding after mid-spring and through summer in the transition zone (stress and brown patch).
Plant now
Prune now
No frost-timed pruning windows are open this week.
Your average first frost is Nov 10: skip heavy pruning in the 6–8 weeks before it, because new growth may not harden off in time.
Spring-flowering shrubs are pruned right after their flowers fade, not by date. See the pruning guide.
Last spring frost odds
| Chance of a 32°F freeze after this date | Date |
|---|---|
| 90% (early: most years still freeze after this) | Feb 28 |
| 50% (the "average" last frost) | Mar 18 |
| 10% (cautious: only 1 year in 10 freezes later) | Apr 9 |
Most gardeners plant frost-tender crops (tomatoes, peppers, basil) after the 50% date, and closer to the 10% date for less risk.
First fall frost odds
| Chance the first 32°F freeze has happened by this date | Date |
|---|---|
| 10% (early: 1 year in 10 freezes this soon) | Oct 26 |
| 50% (the "average" first frost) | Nov 10 |
| 90% (late: most years have frozen by now) | Nov 28 |
Light frost, freeze and hard freeze
| Threshold | Last spring (50%) | First fall (50%) |
|---|---|---|
| 36°F (light frost possible on clear, calm nights) | Apr 2 | Nov 1 |
| 32°F (freeze) | Mar 18 | Nov 10 |
| 28°F (hard freeze) | Mar 5 | Nov 21 |
n/a means NOAA did not publish a date at that threshold for this station (usually because it rarely gets that cold).
Vegetable planting calendar for 73436
Dates count from your average last spring frost (Mar 18) and first fall frost (Nov 10). Half of years have a frost after the spring date, so give tender crops (tomatoes, peppers, squash) some slack.
| Crop | Start indoors | Spring planting | Fall planting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomato | Jan 21–Feb 4 | Mar 25–Apr 8 (transplant) | Jul 14–Aug 11 (transplant) |
| Pepper (sweet and hot) | Jan 7–21 | Apr 1–15 (transplant) | Jul 21–Aug 11 (transplant) |
| Eggplant | Jan 7–21 | Apr 1–15 (transplant) | Jul 21–Aug 11 (transplant) |
| Tomatillo | Jan 21–Feb 4 | Mar 25–Apr 8 (transplant) | – |
| Lettuce | Jan 21–Feb 4 | Feb 25–Mar 18 (transplant) Feb 18–Apr 1 (sow outdoors) | Sep 15–Oct 6 (transplant) Sep 1–29 (sowing) |
| Spinach | – | Feb 4–25 (sow outdoors) | Sep 15–Oct 6 (sowing) |
| Kale | Jan 21–Feb 4 | Feb 18–Mar 4 (transplant) Feb 18–Mar 4 (sow outdoors) | Aug 18–Sep 15 (transplant) Aug 4–Sep 1 (sowing) |
| Collards | Jan 21–Feb 4 | Feb 18–Mar 18 (transplant) Feb 18–Mar 18 (sow outdoors) | Aug 18–Sep 15 (transplant) Aug 4–Sep 1 (sowing) |
| Broccoli | Jan 7–21 | Feb 18–Mar 4 (transplant) | Aug 4–Sep 1 (transplant) |
| Cabbage | Jan 7–21 | Feb 18–Mar 4 (transplant) | Aug 4–Sep 1 (transplant) |
| Cauliflower | Jan 7–21 | Mar 4–18 (transplant) | Aug 4–Sep 1 (transplant) |
| Brussels sprouts | Dec 24–Jan 7 | Feb 18–Mar 4 (transplant) | Jul 21–Aug 11 (transplant) |
| Kohlrabi | Jan 21–Feb 4 | Feb 18–Mar 4 (transplant) Feb 18–Mar 4 (sow outdoors) | Sep 1–15 (sowing) |
| Bok choy / Asian greens | – | Feb 18–Mar 4 (sow outdoors) | Sep 15–29 (sowing) |
| Arugula | – | Feb 18–Mar 18 (sow outdoors) | Sep 15–Oct 13 (sowing) |
| Mustard greens | – | Feb 18–Mar 11 (sow outdoors) | Sep 15–29 (sowing) |
| Swiss chard | Feb 4–18 | Mar 4–25 (transplant) Mar 4–Apr 1 (sow outdoors) | Sep 1–15 (sowing) |
| Beet | – | Feb 18–Mar 18 (sow outdoors) | Sep 1–15 (sowing) |
| Carrot | – | Feb 25–Mar 25 (sow outdoors) | Aug 18–Sep 1 (sowing) |
| Radish | – | Feb 11–Mar 25 (sow outdoors) | Sep 29–Oct 13 (sowing) |
| Turnip | – | Feb 18–Mar 11 (sow outdoors) | Sep 1–15 (sowing) |
| Parsnip | – | Feb 25–Mar 18 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pea (garden, snap, snow) | – | Jan 21–Feb 18 (sow outdoors) | Aug 18–Sep 1 (sowing) |
| Onion (bulbing) | Dec 24–Jan 7 | Feb 4–18 (transplant) | – |
| Green onion / scallion | – | Feb 4–Mar 4 (sow outdoors) | Sep 1–15 (sowing) |
| Leek | Dec 24–Jan 7 | Feb 18–Mar 4 (transplant) | – |
| Garlic | – | – | Sep 29–Oct 27 (sowing) |
| Shallot | – | Feb 4–18 (transplant) | Sep 29–Oct 27 (sowing) |
| Potato | – | Feb 18–Mar 4 (transplant) | Jul 21–Aug 4 (transplant) |
| Sweet potato | – | Apr 8–22 (transplant) | – |
| Sweet corn | – | Mar 25–Apr 8 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, bush (snap) | – | Mar 25–Apr 8 (sow outdoors) | Aug 18–Sep 1 (sowing) |
| Bean, pole | – | Mar 25–Apr 8 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Lima bean | – | Apr 1–15 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Southern pea (cowpea, black-eyed pea) | – | Apr 8–29 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cucumber | Feb 18–25 | Mar 25–Apr 8 (transplant) Mar 25–Apr 8 (sow outdoors) | Aug 18–Sep 1 (sowing) |
| Summer squash / zucchini | Feb 18–25 | Mar 25–Apr 8 (transplant) Mar 25–Apr 8 (sow outdoors) | Aug 18–Sep 1 (sowing) |
| Winter squash | Feb 18–25 | Mar 25–Apr 8 (transplant) Mar 25–Apr 8 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pumpkin | – | Mar 25–Apr 8 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Watermelon | Feb 18–25 | Apr 1–15 (transplant) Apr 1–15 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cantaloupe / muskmelon | Feb 18–25 | Apr 1–15 (transplant) Apr 1–15 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Okra | Feb 4–18 | Apr 1–15 (transplant) Apr 1–15 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Celery | Dec 24–Jan 7 | Mar 25–Apr 1 (transplant) | – |
| Basil | Feb 4–18 | Mar 25–Apr 8 (transplant) Mar 25–Apr 8 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cilantro | – | Mar 4–Apr 1 (sow outdoors) | Sep 15–29 (sowing) |
| Parsley | Jan 7–21 | Mar 4–18 (transplant) Feb 25–Mar 18 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Dill | – | Mar 18–Apr 1 (sow outdoors) | Sep 15–29 (sowing) |
| Sunflower | – | Mar 18–Apr 1 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Asparagus (crowns) | – | Feb 18–Mar 4 (transplant) | – |
| Rhubarb (crowns) | – | Feb 18–Mar 4 (transplant) | – |
| Strawberry (plants) | – | Feb 18–Mar 4 (transplant) | Sep 1–29 (transplant) |
Typical ranges from university extension planting calendars, adjusted to your frost dates. Probabilities, not guarantees. Fall windows that would overlap spring planting are left out, as are fall crops of frost-tender plants where the frost-free season is under 210 days.
Plants that do well here
Oklahoma has a university or garden plant program: Oklahoma Proven. Plant frost-tender annuals after March 18 here (the average last frost). Not affiliated with the program.
Where these numbers come from
Station: Ardmore 3ENE Mesonet, OK (NOAA GHCN-Daily ID USC00340313), elevation 872 ft, 7.0 miles from the ZIP's center point. NOAA completeness flag: R (representative, 10+ years).
Nearby stations
| Station | Distance | Last frost (50%) | First frost (50%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ardmore 7WNW Mesonet, OK | 10 mi | Mar 21 | Nov 8 |
| Ardmore, OK | 10 mi | Mar 15 | Nov 14 |
| Chickasaw Nra, OK | 15 mi | Apr 4 | Oct 31 |
The average last-frost dates of these stations span 20 days, a rough guide to local variation. See data sources & methods.
Frost questions for 73436
When is the last frost in 73436?
The average (50% chance) last spring freeze of 32°F for ZIP 73436 is March 18. For a more cautious planting date, use April 9, when only 1 year in 10 still sees a later freeze.
When is the first frost in 73436?
The average first fall freeze is November 10. In 1 year in 10 it comes by October 26.
What hardiness zone is 73436?
ZIP 73436 is in USDA zone 8a (10 to 15°F average coldest winter night), per the 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map ZIP listing.
What is the soil temperature in 73436 right now?
This page shows the latest 2-inch and 4-inch soil temperature from the nearest public soil station (USDA SCAN, NOAA USCRN or TexMesonet), or a labeled estimate when no station is close, against the 50–55°F spring pre-emergent band.
Nearby ZIP codes
73401 Ardmore 73032 Dougherty 73447 Mannsville 73086 Sulphur 74856 Mill Creek 73030 Davis 73458 73455 Ravia
Other ZIP codes in Carter County
73401 73435 73437 73438 73443 73444 73458 73463 73481 73487 73488 All Carter County frost dates · Oklahoma frost dates
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- Freeze alerts
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Free. One weekly email plus alerts when your ZIP has a frost or a soil-temperature change worth acting on. After you submit, Kit (our email provider) sends a confirmation email: check your email and click the link to confirm. You aren't subscribed until you do. We collect only your email address and ZIP, sent to Kit to deliver The Dial. Unsubscribe anytime.