When to plant oregano in Bellingham, WA

Plant young oregano plants in Bellingham Mar 15 – May 10.

Easy Plant young plants

Why these dates

Bellingham's typical last spring frost is March 31. As a cool-season crop that handles light frost, this crop doesn't need to wait for that date. In the west-side valleys, though, the soil usually isn't ready to work until about March 15.

West-side valleys. The Willamette Valley, Puget Sound and southern Oregon valleys. Long frost-free seasons, but soil stays cold and wet into May, so warm crops wait for warm soil, not just the last frost.

Difficulty: Easy
Sun: Full sun
Spacing: 12 to 18 inches apart
Planting depth: Plant at the depth it grew in the nursery pot
Frost: Handles light frost
First harvest: Pick lightly the first year, freely after that

Step by step

Pick a sunny spot with soil that drains well, and mix in an inch or two of compost.
Plant young oregano plants Mar 15 – May 10, 12 to 18 inches apart. Plant at the depth it grew in the nursery pot.
Water sparingly once established. Rich soil makes the flavor milder, so skip the fertilizer.
Harvest: Cut stems just before flowering, when flavor peaks. Dry bunches upside down in a shady, airy spot.

Varieties that do well here

Greek oregano (strongest flavor)
Italian oregano
Golden oregano

Watch out for

Few pests. Plants sprawl and get woody; cut them back by half in early summer.

A hardy perennial that thrives on neglect. Flavor is strongest just before it flowers.

Common questions

When is the last frost in Bellingham, WA?

Typically March 31. In 9 years out of 10, frost is over by April 18. These are 1991–2020 NOAA climate normals for Bellingham International Airport.

Is it too late to plant oregano in Bellingham?

The spring planting window runs through May 10. Later plantings tend to struggle in summer heat.

How long until I can pick oregano?

Pick lightly the first year, freely after that. Cut stems just before flowering, when flavor peaks. Dry bunches upside down in a shady, airy spot.

Also plant in Bellingham around the same time

Planting dates for oregano in nearby areas

Portland, OR Mar 15 – May 10
Gresham, OR Mar 15 – May 10
Wilsonville and Canby, OR Mar 15 – May 10
Salem, OR Mar 15 – May 10
Eugene, OR Mar 15 – May 10
Roseburg, OR Mar 15 – May 10

Full planting calendar for Bellingham · Oregano in every city