Fall in zone 8aPhoto: George Chernilevsky, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Frost dates for ZIP 73443 (Lone Grove, 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 7WNW Mesonet, OK (7 miles away).
- Average last spring frostMar 2150% chance of a 32°F freeze after this date
- Average first fall frostNov 850% chance of a 32°F freeze by this date
- Growing season (frost-free)231 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
65°F 55°F or warmer
24-hour average · latest 63°F, as of Oct 18, 1:00 AM CDT
Estimate Not a measurement at this ZIP: distance-weighted average of Prairie Hill Nocona (30 mi), Filter Plant Nocona (35 mi), Berkley Ranch (51 mi).
4-inch depth
67°F 55°F or warmer
24-hour average · latest 66°F, as of Oct 18, 1:00 AM CDT
Estimate Not a measurement at this ZIP: distance-weighted average of Prairie Hill Nocona (30 mi), Filter Plant Nocona (35 mi), Berkley Ranch (51 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 73443 load here. You can also open the NWS forecast for this ZIP.
Pre-emergent
Soil is 67°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 6 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 8: 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) | Mar 3 |
| 50% (the "average" last frost) | Mar 21 |
| 10% (cautious: only 1 year in 10 freezes later) | Apr 10 |
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 24 |
| 50% (the "average" first frost) | Nov 8 |
| 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 5 | Nov 1 |
| 32°F (freeze) | Mar 21 | Nov 8 |
| 28°F (hard freeze) | Mar 7 | Nov 19 |
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 73443
Dates count from your average last spring frost (Mar 21) and first fall frost (Nov 8). 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 24–Feb 7 | Mar 28–Apr 11 (transplant) | Jul 12–Aug 9 (transplant) |
| Pepper (sweet and hot) | Jan 10–24 | Apr 4–18 (transplant) | Jul 19–Aug 9 (transplant) |
| Eggplant | Jan 10–24 | Apr 4–18 (transplant) | Jul 19–Aug 9 (transplant) |
| Tomatillo | Jan 24–Feb 7 | Mar 28–Apr 11 (transplant) | – |
| Lettuce | Jan 24–Feb 7 | Feb 28–Mar 21 (transplant) Feb 21–Apr 4 (sow outdoors) | Sep 13–Oct 4 (transplant) Aug 30–Sep 27 (sowing) |
| Spinach | – | Feb 7–28 (sow outdoors) | Sep 13–Oct 4 (sowing) |
| Kale | Jan 24–Feb 7 | Feb 21–Mar 7 (transplant) Feb 21–Mar 7 (sow outdoors) | Aug 16–Sep 13 (transplant) Aug 2–30 (sowing) |
| Collards | Jan 24–Feb 7 | Feb 21–Mar 21 (transplant) Feb 21–Mar 21 (sow outdoors) | Aug 16–Sep 13 (transplant) Aug 2–30 (sowing) |
| Broccoli | Jan 10–24 | Feb 21–Mar 7 (transplant) | Aug 2–30 (transplant) |
| Cabbage | Jan 10–24 | Feb 21–Mar 7 (transplant) | Aug 2–30 (transplant) |
| Cauliflower | Jan 10–24 | Mar 7–21 (transplant) | Aug 2–30 (transplant) |
| Brussels sprouts | Dec 27–Jan 10 | Feb 21–Mar 7 (transplant) | Jul 19–Aug 9 (transplant) |
| Kohlrabi | Jan 24–Feb 7 | Feb 21–Mar 7 (transplant) Feb 21–Mar 7 (sow outdoors) | Aug 30–Sep 13 (sowing) |
| Bok choy / Asian greens | – | Feb 21–Mar 7 (sow outdoors) | Sep 13–27 (sowing) |
| Arugula | – | Feb 21–Mar 21 (sow outdoors) | Sep 13–Oct 11 (sowing) |
| Mustard greens | – | Feb 21–Mar 14 (sow outdoors) | Sep 13–27 (sowing) |
| Swiss chard | Feb 7–21 | Mar 7–28 (transplant) Mar 7–Apr 4 (sow outdoors) | Aug 30–Sep 13 (sowing) |
| Beet | – | Feb 21–Mar 21 (sow outdoors) | Aug 30–Sep 13 (sowing) |
| Carrot | – | Feb 28–Mar 28 (sow outdoors) | Aug 16–30 (sowing) |
| Radish | – | Feb 14–Mar 28 (sow outdoors) | Sep 27–Oct 11 (sowing) |
| Turnip | – | Feb 21–Mar 14 (sow outdoors) | Aug 30–Sep 13 (sowing) |
| Parsnip | – | Feb 28–Mar 21 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pea (garden, snap, snow) | – | Jan 24–Feb 21 (sow outdoors) | Aug 16–30 (sowing) |
| Onion (bulbing) | Dec 27–Jan 10 | Feb 7–21 (transplant) | – |
| Green onion / scallion | – | Feb 7–Mar 7 (sow outdoors) | Aug 30–Sep 13 (sowing) |
| Leek | Dec 27–Jan 10 | Feb 21–Mar 7 (transplant) | – |
| Garlic | – | – | Sep 27–Oct 25 (sowing) |
| Shallot | – | Feb 7–21 (transplant) | Sep 27–Oct 25 (sowing) |
| Potato | – | Feb 21–Mar 7 (transplant) | Jul 19–Aug 2 (transplant) |
| Sweet potato | – | Apr 11–25 (transplant) | – |
| Sweet corn | – | Mar 28–Apr 11 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, bush (snap) | – | Mar 28–Apr 11 (sow outdoors) | Aug 16–30 (sowing) |
| Bean, pole | – | Mar 28–Apr 11 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Lima bean | – | Apr 4–18 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Southern pea (cowpea, black-eyed pea) | – | Apr 11–May 2 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cucumber | Feb 21–28 | Mar 28–Apr 11 (transplant) Mar 28–Apr 11 (sow outdoors) | Aug 16–30 (sowing) |
| Summer squash / zucchini | Feb 21–28 | Mar 28–Apr 11 (transplant) Mar 28–Apr 11 (sow outdoors) | Aug 16–30 (sowing) |
| Winter squash | Feb 21–28 | Mar 28–Apr 11 (transplant) Mar 28–Apr 11 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pumpkin | – | Mar 28–Apr 11 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Watermelon | Feb 21–28 | Apr 4–18 (transplant) Apr 4–18 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cantaloupe / muskmelon | Feb 21–28 | Apr 4–18 (transplant) Apr 4–18 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Okra | Feb 7–21 | Apr 4–18 (transplant) Apr 4–18 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Celery | Dec 27–Jan 10 | Mar 28–Apr 4 (transplant) | – |
| Basil | Feb 7–21 | Mar 28–Apr 11 (transplant) Mar 28–Apr 11 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cilantro | – | Mar 7–Apr 4 (sow outdoors) | Sep 13–27 (sowing) |
| Parsley | Jan 10–24 | Mar 7–21 (transplant) Feb 28–Mar 21 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Dill | – | Mar 21–Apr 4 (sow outdoors) | Sep 13–27 (sowing) |
| Sunflower | – | Mar 21–Apr 4 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Asparagus (crowns) | – | Feb 21–Mar 7 (transplant) | – |
| Rhubarb (crowns) | – | Feb 21–Mar 7 (transplant) | – |
| Strawberry (plants) | – | Feb 21–Mar 7 (transplant) | Aug 30–Sep 27 (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 21 here (the average last frost). Not affiliated with the program.
Where these numbers come from
Station: Ardmore 7WNW Mesonet, OK (NOAA GHCN-Daily ID USC00340312), elevation 928 ft, 7.1 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, OK | 8 mi | Mar 15 | Nov 14 |
| Healdton 3 E, OK | 9 mi | Apr 6 | Nov 1 |
| Ardmore 3ENE Mesonet, OK | 12 mi | Mar 18 | Nov 10 |
The average last-frost dates of these stations span 22 days, a rough guide to local variation. See data sources & methods.
Frost questions for 73443
When is the last frost in 73443?
The average (50% chance) last spring freeze of 32°F for ZIP 73443 is March 21. For a more cautious planting date, use April 10, when only 1 year in 10 still sees a later freeze.
When is the first frost in 73443?
The average first fall freeze is November 8. In 1 year in 10 it comes by October 24.
What hardiness zone is 73443?
ZIP 73443 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 73443 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
73463 Wilson 73453 73401 Ardmore 73458 73438 Healdton 73437 73436 Gene Autry 73435 Fox
Other ZIP codes in Carter County
73401 73435 73436 73437 73438 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.