When to plant oregano in McMinnville and Newberg, OR

Plant young oregano plants in McMinnville and Newberg Mar 18 – May 13.

Easy Plant young plants

Why these dates

McMinnville and Newberg's typical last spring frost is April 15. As a cool-season crop that handles light frost, this crop can go in about 4 weeks before that.

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 18 – May 13, 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 McMinnville and Newberg, OR?

Typically April 15. In 9 years out of 10, frost is over by May 6. These are 1991–2020 NOAA climate normals for McMinnville Municipal Airport.

Is it too late to plant oregano in McMinnville and Newberg?

The spring planting window runs through May 13. 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 McMinnville and Newberg around the same time

Planting dates for oregano in nearby areas

Salem, OR Mar 15 – May 10
Eugene, OR Mar 15 – May 10
Corvallis and Albany, OR Mar 15 – May 10
Cottage Grove, OR Mar 27 – May 22
Portland, OR Mar 15 – May 10
Gresham, OR Mar 15 – May 10

Full planting calendar for McMinnville and Newberg · Oregano in every city