What Grows in Pittsburg County, Oklahoma

USDA Zones 7b · 836K acres

Pittsburg County, in Oklahoma, sits in USDA hardiness zone 7b — a range where zone-matched perennials and frost-aware annual timing set what succeeds.

Crops well matched to these conditions include pecan, tomato, okra, and redbud — though what thrives on any one site still turns on its specific soil, sun, and drainage.

Grounded in USDA PHZM 2023 · Growable Ground suitability scoring · NOAA 1991–2020 Climate Normals

Score your parcel · free

Pittsburg County holds more than one microclimate.

Soils and elevations shift across Pittsburg County, so your frost dates and drainage aren't the county average. Enter your address and we'll score 1,112 plants against your land's actual soil, sun, and frost.

We read public map data for this spot — soil, climate, flood, and parcel records. How we handle your address.

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Quick Facts

USDA Zones

7b

Last Hard Freeze (28°F)

Feb 10

County normal — light frosts run a few weeks later

First Hard Freeze (28°F)

Dec 17

County normal — light frosts arrive a few weeks earlier

County Area

836K acres

Hardiness Zone Range

7b7b
3a (Cold)13b (Hot)

Zone maps are averages across Pittsburg County. Your yard's slope, trees, and frost pockets shift what actually grows — see your land's exact reading.

Soil in Pittsburg County

Across Pittsburg County, the ground is predominantly Mollisols, where Bengal, Clebit, and Clearview are the most extensive named soil series. The soil is generally well drained with a stony fine sandy loam surface. Topsoil pH runs about 5.3–5.8, strongly acidic. Rainfall drains through hydrologic group D soils.

Soil order

Mollisols

Drainage

Well drained

Prime farmland

19%

Hydric soils

2%

Soil still varies lot by lot — soil types explained.

Is it too late to plant in Pittsburg County?

Too late for some crops, right on time for others — a growing season is a sequence, not a deadline. Cool-season crops can go in from around Jan 13; tender transplants wait until two to three weeks after the last 28°F hard freeze, which lands near Feb 10 (NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals); and from midsummer, planting counts back from the first fall freeze around Dec 17 — long-season crops need about 90 days of runway, quick greens only 30. With almost year-round growing weather, timing is about heat and rainfall more than frost — some bench is always in play.

Growing Challenges in Oklahoma

What an experienced grower plans around here — each one has a move.

Extreme weather variability (tornadoes, ice storms, drought)

Flexible beats fortified here: row covers staged, storm-tough perennials, and quick-replant annual beds.

Red clay soils drain poorly in central OK

A raised bed ends the standing-water fight in a weekend, and fall compost keeps opening the clay below.

Low western rainfall requires irrigation

Western plots run on drip and mulch — plan the water before the planting and the dry years lose their teeth.

For cultivar selection, pest pressure, and planting-time guidance specific to Oklahoma, the Oklahoma State University Extension is the authoritative local source.

Safe to Grow Here?

What the federal record shows across Pittsburg County — and how to grow with it.

Federal record: Elevated

We checked the federal record across Pittsburg County243 documented sites across 7 of the 9 source types we track.

The most significant on record: 2 Superfund sites. Sites tracked in EPA's Superfund program — from assessment-stage CERCLIS entries to confirmed National Priorities List cleanup sites.

There's a meaningful federal record across Pittsburg County — worth a look before you plant food, not a reason to hold back from growing. Proximity to a documented site is information, not a diagnosis of any one yard. A soil test before new food beds is the sensible precaution here, and the map shows exactly which sites sit where, so you can see what's actually near you.

Sources: EPA, USGS1.8M documented sites tracked nationwide across 9 federal source types.

Environmental Intelligence

Understanding what's nearby helps you make informed decisions about where and how to grow.

Total Sites

243

across Pittsburg County

Risk Level

Elevated

Highest-severity

2 Superfund sites

Severity Distribution

across Pittsburg County

High4Moderate68Low171

Highest-Severity Sites

75 Cleaners
Superfund · Superfund (Non-NPL)
Ammunition Plant
Superfund · Superfund (Non-NPL)
Pittsburg CO. Rwd #11 (Kiowa)
PFAS Sampling · PFAS Detected
Pittsburg CO. Rwd #16
PFAS Sampling · PFAS Detected
04N-15W-12 Add 1
Nitrate Monitoring · Well

A note from Gnorman

What an experienced grower watches for around here

In and around Pittsburg County, two things run higher than the national average — PFAS (3 sites) and Underground Storage Tanks (186 sites). Knowing it is half the work — and it's nothing a thoughtful grower can't plan for.

PFAS: PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) are called "forever chemicals" because they do not biodegrade.

Underground Storage Tanks: Underground storage tanks are the single most common source of soil contamination near homes and gardens.

Test irrigation water source — this is the primary pathway for PFAS to reach garden crops.

Use raised beds with imported soil — this eliminates the primary soil-contact pathway.

Free Report

Check your specific parcel in Pittsburg County

Get exact proximity distances to contamination sources for your specific parcel — plus soil, sun, drainage, and 1,112 plant recommendations.

Three things about your exact spot that zone averages miss:

Your soil pHYour frost-free daysYour sun & shade

We read public map data for this spot — soil, climate, flood, and parcel records. How we handle your address.

25+ data sources analyzed in seconds

Your Specific Parcel Matters

Pittsburg County Average

  • USDA Zones 7b
  • Generic soil type for the area
  • State-average frost dates

YOUR Parcel

  • Your exact hardiness zone
  • Your SSURGO soil type & pH
  • Your sun exposure, cast in 3D

See MY Growing Report

Free Report

Read your parcel in Pittsburg County

Pull a site-specific report for your exact address in Pittsburg County, Oklahoma — soil, sun, drainage, frost risk, and scored plant recommendations.

Three things about your exact spot that zone averages miss:

Your soil pHYour frost-free daysYour sun & shade

We read public map data for this spot — soil, climate, flood, and parcel records. How we handle your address.

25+ data sources analyzed in seconds

Key Growing Facts for Pittsburg County, Oklahoma

  • USDA Hardiness Zones: 7b (USDA PHZM 2023)
  • Last Hard Freeze (28°F): Feb 10 (county normal, NOAA 1991–2020 Climate Normals — light frosts can follow for a few weeks)
  • First Hard Freeze (28°F): Dec 17 (county normal, NOAA 1991–2020 Climate Normals — light frosts can arrive a few weeks earlier)
  • Days Between Hard Freezes: ~310 (county normal, NOAA 1991–2020 Climate Normals)
  • County Land Area: 836K acres (US Census TIGER 2025)

Zone data: USDA ARS Plant Hardiness Zone Map 2023. Climate data: NOAA NCEI. County boundaries: US Census TIGER/Line 2025.

Frost dates here are the Pittsburg County average. Low spots and tree cover move them by days on any one yard — see your exact frost windows.

Frequently Asked Questions

What hardiness zone is Pittsburg County, Oklahoma?

Pittsburg County sits in USDA hardiness zone 7b, per the USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map 2023. Zones reflect average annual extreme minimum temperatures from 1991–2020 weather data.

Is it too late to plant in Pittsburg County?

Too late for some crops, right on time for others — a growing season is a sequence, not a deadline. Cool-season crops can go in from around Jan 13; tender transplants wait until two to three weeks after the last 28°F hard freeze, which lands near Feb 10 (NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals); and from midsummer, planting counts back from the first fall freeze around Dec 17 — long-season crops need about 90 days of runway, quick greens only 30. With almost year-round growing weather, timing is about heat and rainfall more than frost — some bench is always in play.

When does frost risk typically end in Pittsburg County?

The last hard freeze (28°F) in Pittsburg County typically lands around Feb 10, per NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals — an earlier marker than the light-frost dates many planting charts quote. That marks the hard freeze, not the last light frost — light frosts can still bite for a few more weeks, so tender transplants usually wait another 2–3 weeks.

How long is the growing season in Pittsburg County?

Measured between 28°F hard freezes, Pittsburg County sees about 310 frost-free days — roughly Feb 10 through Dec 17, per NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals. Tender crops get a somewhat shorter practical window, since lighter frosts reach a few weeks past the hard-freeze dates on both ends.

What vegetables grow in Pittsburg County?

Pittsburg County's zone 7b supports a wide range — strong performers include Pecan, Tomato, Okra, Redbud, and Blackberry. What actually takes on any one site comes down to its soil, sun, and drainage, and we score each plant against the real conditions at your address.

Which hardiness zone is Pittsburg County, really?

Officially, Pittsburg County sits in USDA zone 7b (USDA PHZM 2023) — but a zone is a 30-year average of winter's coldest night across an area, and it can't see any one yard. A south-facing slope, a tree line, or a low frost pocket can shift a single site by half a zone either way, which is why neighboring gardeners often quote different numbers. We read the conditions at your exact address — soil, sun, slope, and frost — and score 1,112 plants against what's actually there.

Is the soil safe to grow vegetables in Pittsburg County?

The federal record around Pittsburg County is a meaningful one — 243 documented sites — so a soil test before new food beds is a sensible precaution here, not a reason to hold back from growing. Remember that proximity to a documented site is information, not a diagnosis of any one yard; the contamination map shows exactly what sits where.

Just moved to Pittsburg County — what should I know before planting?

Start with three facts. Pittsburg County sits in USDA zone 7b, which sets what survives winter; the last 28°F hard freeze typically clears around Feb 10, with about 310 frost-free days to work with (NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals); and 243 documented sites sit on the federal record here, so a soil test before food beds is the smart first step. From there, matching plants to your actual soil and sun is the fun part.

Everything on this page is a Pittsburg County average. Your yard writes its own version — we read soil, sun, drainage, and frost at your exact address. Try it for 14 days — no card required.

Will It Grow Here?

Zone fit is the first question — each answer below reads Oklahoma's frost window, season length, and soil profile against the plant's real requirements.