Rainline Garden
When to plant thyme in John Day, OR
Plant young thyme plants in John Day Apr 30 – Jun 25.
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Sun
- Full sun
- Spacing
- 12 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
Why these dates
John Day's typical last spring frost is May 28. As a cool-season crop that handles light frost, this crop can go in about 4 weeks before that.
High desert and mountains. Central and high eastern Oregon. Frost is possible almost any month. Use row covers, wall-o-water or cloches for warm crops, and choose short-season varieties.
How to grow thyme in John Day
- Pick a sunny spot with soil that drains well, and mix in an inch or two of compost.
- Plant young thyme plants Apr 30 – Jun 25, 12 inches apart. Plant at the depth it grew in the nursery pot.
- Water only until established; thyme prefers dry soil. Replace plants every few years when they get woody.
- Harvest: Snip sprigs before the plant flowers for the best flavor. Trim lightly after flowering to keep it compact.
Key numbers
- 6.0–8.0Soil pH
- Only in long dry spellsWater
- Every 3–5 yearsReplace plants
- Wet winter soilBiggest risk
Growing notes
What makes the difference in Northwest gardens, in plain language.
Drainage beats everything
Thyme comes from dry, rocky Mediterranean hillsides. It handles cold well, but sitting in cold, wet soil all winter rots its roots, and that kills more thyme in western Oregon and Washington than frost ever does. Plant it in a raised bed, at the edge of a rock wall, on a slope or in a pot with gritty mix. Mixing some fine gravel into heavy soil helps.
Skip rich compost and fertilizer. Lean, dry soil keeps plants compact and makes the leaves more flavorful.
Harvesting and drying
Flavor is strongest just before the plant flowers in late spring, which is the best time for a big harvest. Cut the soft, leafy tips, never into old woody stems. Thyme is one of the herbs that dries really well: bundle stems loosely and hang them in a dry, shady spot for a week or two, then strip the leaves and store them in a jar.
Lemon thyme keeps its citrus scent best when used fresh or added at the end of cooking.
Pruning and winter
Trim plants lightly after flowering to keep them dense; unpruned thyme sprawls and turns woody in the middle. Even with good care, plants decline after a few years, so take cuttings or buy a new plant to replace tired ones.
English thyme is very cold hardy and does well on both sides of the Cascades. Lemon and French thyme are a bit more tender; in the coldest eastern areas, grow them in a pot that can move to a sheltered spot.
Common questions
When is the last frost in John Day, OR?
Typically May 28. In 9 years out of 10, frost is over by June 15. These are 1991–2020 NOAA climate normals for John Day.
Is it too late to plant thyme in John Day?
The spring planting window runs through June 25. Later plantings tend to struggle in summer heat.
How long until I can pick thyme?
Pick lightly the first year, freely after that. Snip sprigs before the plant flowers for the best flavor. Trim lightly after flowering to keep it compact.
Why is my thyme dying in the middle?
Thyme naturally gets woody in the center as it ages, especially if it isn't trimmed. Wet soil can also kill the center first. Trim lightly each year after flowering and replace old plants every few years.
Can I grow thyme from seed?
Yes, but the seed is tiny and the seedlings are slow, so most gardeners buy small plants or root cuttings instead. Plants grown from seed can also vary in flavor, while cuttings match the parent.
When should I prune thyme?
Lightly after it flowers in summer, removing spent flowers and a little leafy growth. Avoid heavy pruning in fall, and don't cut into old bare wood, which may not sprout again.
Also plant in John Day around the same time
Peas
Radishes
Spinach
Lettuce
Onions
Carrots
Beets
KalePlanting dates for thyme in nearby areas
- Baker City, OR Apr 27 – Jun 22
- Pendleton, OR Apr 1 – May 27
- The Dalles, OR Apr 1 – May 27
- Hood River, OR Apr 1 – May 27
- Hermiston, OR Apr 1 – May 27
- Ontario, OR Apr 1 – May 27