Fall · September 8, 2026

Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

Prairies & Great Plains·Hardiness zone 7b

Now

38°C · Partly cloudy

Today

39° / 26°

Soil 6 cm

34°C

First frost

~62 days (Nov 9)

Gardening in Oklahoma City

AI field guide · refreshed weekly

Oklahoma City Gardening: Early Fall Planting & Harvest — September 8–14

Zone 7b with first frost Nov 9 (62 days away). Soil at 34°C is still warm enough for cool-season crops to germinate reliably. Daytime highs 26–40°C this week with low humidity and wind—water deeply and mulch to retain moisture. You're past the worst heat; this is prime planting season for fall vegetables.

Sow outdoors now

  • Lettuce & Spinach

    Sow 'Buttercrunch', 'Jericho', or 'Space' spinach directly. Germinates in 7–10 days at 34°C soil; thin to 10 cm (4 in) spacing. Ready to harvest in 40–50 days before frost.

  • Kale

    Direct-sow 'Winterbor' or 'Lacinato' now for cold-hardy fall/winter harvests. Germinates in 5–8 days; thin to 30 cm (12 in). Flavor improves after light frost.

  • Radish

    Plant 'Cherry Belle' or 'Icicle' for quick 25–30 day harvest. Sow every 2 weeks through October for continuous supply.

  • Turnip & Rutabaga

    Sow 'Purple Top' turnip or 'Laurentian' rutabaga now; thin to 15 cm (6 in). Both store well and tolerate frost; ready in 60–70 days.

  • Brassica Transplants

    If you have 4–6 week old seedlings of broccoli, cabbage, or cauliflower, transplant now 45–60 cm (18–24 in) apart. They'll mature before November 9.

Start indoors now

  • Onion & Garlic

    Garlic cloves can go directly into soil now for spring harvest, but start onion seed indoors under lights for transplant in 4–6 weeks. Aim for 15 cm (6 in) tall seedlings by late October.

  • Leek

    Start seed indoors; leeks need 10–12 weeks to reach transplant size. Move to garden by late October for winter growth.

  • Cilantro & Parsley

    Start indoors in seed trays; both germinate slowly (14–21 days) and prefer cooler temps. Transplant in 4 weeks for fall/winter harvest.

Harvest now

  • Okra

    Pods are still tender; pick every 2–3 days at 7–10 cm (3–4 in) length. Frost will kill plants, so harvest aggressively through September.

  • Southern Peas

    Black-eyed peas, crowder peas, and purple hulls are at peak. Shell fresh or leave on vine to dry for storage.

  • Tomato & Pepper

    Pick ripe fruit now; unripe green tomatoes can be ripened indoors or fried. Frost risk in 62 days means no new fruit will mature—focus on current crop.

  • Herbs

    Basil, rosemary, and oregano are still productive. Cut stems for drying before first frost kills tender annuals.

Tasks this week

  • Water deeply 2–3 times this week—high temps, low humidity, and wind will dry soil fast even after rain.
  • Mulch newly sown beds with 5 cm (2 in) compost or straw to keep soil cool and moist during germination.
  • Stake or trellis fall brassicas if wind gusts exceed 30 km/h (common this week).
  • Scout for spider mites on okra and peppers in dry heat; spray neem oil early morning if webbing appears.
  • Deadhead spent flowers on ornamentals to redirect energy; many perennials will reflush in cooler September weather.

Watch out for

  • Grasshoppers are active in dry, windy conditions—row cover young brassica and lettuce seedlings if populations spike.
  • Powdery mildew can appear on squash and beans as nights cool; ensure good air circulation and avoid overhead watering.
  • Soil moisture stress combined with heat can trigger early bolting in lettuce and spinach—keep soil consistently moist, not soggy.

Useful gear

The gardening note for Oklahoma City, every week

One email, Sunday evening. Unsubscribe anytime.