Best Brassicas to Grow in Oklahoma
Oklahoma spans USDA Zones 6–8, typically Zone 7. We've broken out 79 brassica varieties by zone — pick your zone below or find the right varieties for your specific part of the state.
Varieties
79
for Oklahoma
USDA
Zones 6–8
180–240 days season
Beginner
65
easy to grow
Heirloom
34
heritage varieties
Oklahoma in USDA Zones 6–8
Oklahoma spans Zones 6–8. Variety lists below are organized by zone — start with your zone for the most accurate recommendations.
Growing Brassicas in Oklahoma
Zone 7 gardeners hit the sweet spot for brassica growing, with a generous 210-day growing season that accommodates both cool-season favorites and heat-tolerant varieties. The moderate climate allows for successful spring and fall crops, though the key challenge lies in navigating the summer heat that can cause bolting in temperature-sensitive varieties like lettuce and spinach relatives. Your average last frost around April 1st gives you an early start, while the October 30th first frost provides enough time for slow-maturing crops like Brussels sprouts to develop properly.
When selecting brassica varieties for Zone 7, prioritize heat tolerance for spring plantings and cold hardiness for fall crops that will mature into winter. Fast-maturing varieties like Arugula 'Rocket' and Early White Vienna Kohlrabi are perfect for succession planting throughout the growing season, while slower developers like Brussels Sprouts 'Long Island Improved' can be planted once for a late fall harvest. The extended season also means you can grow specialty varieties like Romanesco and Watermelon Radish that need extra time to develop their unique characteristics.
Zone 7 Brassicas for Oklahoma★ Most of OK
79 varieties · Last frost April 1 · 210-day season
Zone 6 Brassicas for Oklahoma
79 varieties · Last frost April 15 · 180-day season
Zone 8 Brassicas for Oklahoma
79 varieties · Last frost March 15 · 240-day season
Zone 7 Growing Tips for Oklahoma
Start your spring brassica seeds indoors 6-8 weeks before your last frost date (mid-February for Zone 7), then transplant seedlings outside 2-3 weeks before the last frost when soil temperatures reach 40°F. Hardy varieties like kale and Brussels sprouts can handle light frosts, but protect tender transplants with row covers if temperatures drop below 28°F. For fall crops, direct sow or transplant 12-16 weeks before your first frost – that means getting Brussels sprouts, cabbage, and cauliflower in the ground by mid-July.
Zone 7's summer heat is your biggest challenge, often causing spring crops to bolt prematurely and making mid-summer plantings difficult. Use shade cloth (30-50%) during peak summer months and focus on heat-tolerant varieties like Lacinato Kale and Georgia Southern Collards for continuous harvest. Keep soil consistently moist but well-draining, and consider raised beds which warm up faster in spring but may need extra watering in summer. Fall plantings often perform better than spring crops because they mature in cooling temperatures, developing sweeter flavors and avoiding most pest pressure.