Frost dates for ZIP 74940 (Poteau, 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, Wister 3S, OK (4 miles away).
- Average last spring frostApr 650% chance of a 32°F freeze after this date
- Average first fall frostNov 250% chance of a 32°F freeze by this date
- Growing season (frost-free)210 daysmedian, 32°F threshold
- USDA hardiness zone7b5 to 10°F avg. coldest night
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This week in your yard
As of Oct 17, 2026, from your frost dates, zone and soil temperature. Lawn timing · Vegetables · Pruning · Plants
Soil temperature now
2-inch depth
No soil station with a fresh reading within 62 miles.
4-inch depth
No soil station with a fresh reading within 62 miles.
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 74940 load here. You can also open the NWS forecast for this ZIP.
Pre-emergent
No soil reading near this ZIP. Typical extension timing for your region: spring mid-February to mid-March; fall September to early October.
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 22 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 2: 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 18 |
| 50% (the "average" last frost) | Apr 6 |
| 10% (cautious: only 1 year in 10 freezes later) | Apr 24 |
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 18 |
| 50% (the "average" first frost) | Nov 2 |
| 90% (late: most years have frozen by now) | Nov 17 |
Light frost, freeze and hard freeze
| Threshold | Last spring (50%) | First fall (50%) |
|---|---|---|
| 36°F (light frost possible on clear, calm nights) | Apr 15 | Oct 24 |
| 32°F (freeze) | Apr 6 | Nov 2 |
| 28°F (hard freeze) | Mar 25 | Nov 12 |
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 74940
Dates count from your average last spring frost (Apr 6) and first fall frost (Nov 2). 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 | Feb 9–23 | Apr 13–27 (transplant) | Jul 6–Aug 3 (transplant) |
| Pepper (sweet and hot) | Jan 26–Feb 9 | Apr 20–May 4 (transplant) | Jul 13–Aug 3 (transplant) |
| Eggplant | Jan 26–Feb 9 | Apr 20–May 4 (transplant) | Jul 13–Aug 3 (transplant) |
| Tomatillo | Feb 9–23 | Apr 13–27 (transplant) | – |
| Lettuce | Feb 9–23 | Mar 16–Apr 6 (transplant) Mar 9–Apr 20 (sow outdoors) | Sep 7–28 (transplant) Aug 24–Sep 21 (sowing) |
| Spinach | – | Feb 23–Mar 16 (sow outdoors) | Sep 7–28 (sowing) |
| Kale | Feb 9–23 | Mar 9–23 (transplant) Mar 9–23 (sow outdoors) | Aug 10–Sep 7 (transplant) Jul 27–Aug 24 (sowing) |
| Collards | Feb 9–23 | Mar 9–Apr 6 (transplant) Mar 9–Apr 6 (sow outdoors) | Aug 10–Sep 7 (transplant) Jul 27–Aug 24 (sowing) |
| Broccoli | Jan 26–Feb 9 | Mar 9–23 (transplant) | Jul 27–Aug 24 (transplant) |
| Cabbage | Jan 26–Feb 9 | Mar 9–23 (transplant) | Jul 27–Aug 24 (transplant) |
| Cauliflower | Jan 26–Feb 9 | Mar 23–Apr 6 (transplant) | Jul 27–Aug 24 (transplant) |
| Brussels sprouts | Jan 12–26 | Mar 9–23 (transplant) | Jul 13–Aug 3 (transplant) |
| Kohlrabi | Feb 9–23 | Mar 9–23 (transplant) Mar 9–23 (sow outdoors) | Aug 24–Sep 7 (sowing) |
| Bok choy / Asian greens | – | Mar 9–23 (sow outdoors) | Sep 7–21 (sowing) |
| Arugula | – | Mar 9–Apr 6 (sow outdoors) | Sep 7–Oct 5 (sowing) |
| Mustard greens | – | Mar 9–30 (sow outdoors) | Sep 7–21 (sowing) |
| Swiss chard | Feb 23–Mar 9 | Mar 23–Apr 13 (transplant) Mar 23–Apr 20 (sow outdoors) | Aug 24–Sep 7 (sowing) |
| Beet | – | Mar 9–Apr 6 (sow outdoors) | Aug 24–Sep 7 (sowing) |
| Carrot | – | Mar 16–Apr 13 (sow outdoors) | Aug 10–24 (sowing) |
| Radish | – | Mar 2–Apr 13 (sow outdoors) | Sep 21–Oct 5 (sowing) |
| Turnip | – | Mar 9–30 (sow outdoors) | Aug 24–Sep 7 (sowing) |
| Parsnip | – | Mar 16–Apr 6 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pea (garden, snap, snow) | – | Feb 9–Mar 9 (sow outdoors) | Aug 10–24 (sowing) |
| Onion (bulbing) | Jan 12–26 | Feb 23–Mar 9 (transplant) | – |
| Green onion / scallion | – | Feb 23–Mar 23 (sow outdoors) | Aug 24–Sep 7 (sowing) |
| Leek | Jan 12–26 | Mar 9–23 (transplant) | – |
| Garlic | – | – | Sep 21–Oct 19 (sowing) |
| Shallot | – | Feb 23–Mar 9 (transplant) | Sep 21–Oct 19 (sowing) |
| Potato | – | Mar 9–23 (transplant) | Jul 13–27 (transplant) |
| Sweet potato | – | Apr 27–May 11 (transplant) | – |
| Sweet corn | – | Apr 13–27 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, bush (snap) | – | Apr 13–27 (sow outdoors) | Aug 10–24 (sowing) |
| Bean, pole | – | Apr 13–27 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Lima bean | – | Apr 20–May 4 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Southern pea (cowpea, black-eyed pea) | – | Apr 27–May 18 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cucumber | Mar 9–16 | Apr 13–27 (transplant) Apr 13–27 (sow outdoors) | Aug 10–24 (sowing) |
| Summer squash / zucchini | Mar 9–16 | Apr 13–27 (transplant) Apr 13–27 (sow outdoors) | Aug 10–24 (sowing) |
| Winter squash | Mar 9–16 | Apr 13–27 (transplant) Apr 13–27 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pumpkin | – | Apr 13–27 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Watermelon | Mar 9–16 | Apr 20–May 4 (transplant) Apr 20–May 4 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cantaloupe / muskmelon | Mar 9–16 | Apr 20–May 4 (transplant) Apr 20–May 4 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Okra | Feb 23–Mar 9 | Apr 20–May 4 (transplant) Apr 20–May 4 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Celery | Jan 12–26 | Apr 13–20 (transplant) | – |
| Basil | Feb 23–Mar 9 | Apr 13–27 (transplant) Apr 13–27 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cilantro | – | Mar 23–Apr 20 (sow outdoors) | Sep 7–21 (sowing) |
| Parsley | Jan 26–Feb 9 | Mar 23–Apr 6 (transplant) Mar 16–Apr 6 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Dill | – | Apr 6–20 (sow outdoors) | Sep 7–21 (sowing) |
| Sunflower | – | Apr 6–20 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Asparagus (crowns) | – | Mar 9–23 (transplant) | – |
| Rhubarb (crowns) | – | Mar 9–23 (transplant) | – |
| Strawberry (plants) | – | Mar 9–23 (transplant) | Aug 24–Sep 21 (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 April 6 here (the average last frost). Not affiliated with the program.
Where these numbers come from
Station: Wister 3S, OK (NOAA GHCN-Daily ID USC00349724), elevation 525 ft, 4.1 miles from the ZIP's center point. NOAA completeness flag: R (representative, 10+ years).
Nearby stations
| Station | Distance | Last frost (50%) | First frost (50%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mc Curtain 1 SE, OK | 23 mi | Mar 23 | Nov 5 |
| Waldron, AR | 31 mi | Apr 8 | Oct 28 |
| Wilburton 9 ENE, OK | 31 mi | Apr 2 | Nov 5 |
The average last-frost dates of these stations span 16 days, a rough guide to local variation. See data sources & methods.
Frost questions for 74940
When is the last frost in 74940?
The average (50% chance) last spring freeze of 32°F for ZIP 74940 is April 6. For a more cautious planting date, use April 24, when only 1 year in 10 still sees a later freeze.
When is the first frost in 74940?
The average first fall freeze is November 2. In 1 year in 10 it comes by October 18.
What hardiness zone is 74940?
ZIP 74940 is in USDA zone 7b (5 to 10°F average coldest winter night), per the 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map ZIP listing.
What is the soil temperature in 74940 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
74953 Poteau 74947 Monroe 74937 Heavener 74956 Shady Point 74966 Fanshawe 74932 Rock Island 72938 Hartford 74939 Hodgen
Other ZIP codes in Le Flore County
74549 74577 74901 74902 74930 74932 74935 74937 74939 74942 74947 74949 74951 74953 74956 74957 74959 74966 All Le Flore County frost dates · Oklahoma frost dates
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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.