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When to Plant Oregano in Ozark County, MO

Oregano is a robust perennial herb essential to Italian and Greek cuisine. Its pungent, savory leaves intensify in flavor when dried.

Ozark County, Missouri is in USDA Zone 6b. The average last spring frost is April 9 and the first fall frost is October 26, giving you a growing season of approximately 200 days.

At an elevation of 1,321 feet, Ozark County receives approximately 31.6 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly silt loam soil. Summer highs average 90ยฐF, providing good warmth for Oregano during the growing season.

Ozark County, MO (Zone 6b) Long season
200 days
Last Spring Frost April 9
200 growing days
First Fall Frost October 26

Ozark County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Silt Loam

Soil pH

5.3-6.6

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (60 days to spare)
Transplant: Apr 10 🍅 Harvest: Jun 12 – Aug 21
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (60 days to spare)
Transplant: Apr 16 🍅 Harvest: Jun 18 – Aug 27
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (65 days to spare)
Transplant: Apr 29 🍅 Harvest: Jul 1 – Sep 9

Percentages indicate frost risk at transplant. The 70% safe window means there is a 30% chance of frost after transplant — suitable for cold-hardy crops or gardeners with frost protection. The 90% safe window is best for tender plants.

Soil Compatibility in Ozark County

How your county's soil matches Oregano's growing requirements.

Soil pH

Your soil pH (5.3โ€“6.6) is more acidic than Oregano prefers (6.0โ€“8.0). Add garden lime to raise pH.

Soil Texture

The silt loam soil in Ozark County is excellent for Oregano โ€” good drainage, moisture retention, and nutrient holding capacity.

Organic Matter

Organic matter is moderate (2.4%). Annual compost additions will help Oregano.

How to Plant Oregano

0.5"
Planting Depth
8"
Between Plants
12"
Between Rows

Succession Planting Oregano

3
successive plantings in your 200-day season

Sow every 6.9 weeks. Last sowing by Jul 28 to harvest before frost.

Plant Water Budget

Plant needs
0.3″/week
Rainfall provides
0.7″/week
Watering frequency Natural rainfall sufficient
Season total 0 gal / 100 sq ft
Drought risk

Water stress score is 6/10 โ€” consider drought-tolerant varieties and mulching

Monthly Watering Guide for Oregano

Oregano needs approximately 0.3 inches of water per week (1.3" per month). Here's how your county's rainfall compares month by month.

Month Oregano Needs Rainfall You Supplement Action
Jan โ€” 1.2" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Feb โ€” 1.4" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Mar โ€” 1.9" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Apr 1.3" 2.9" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
May 1.3" 3.4" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Jun 1.3" 4.2" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Jul 1.3" 3.7" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Aug 1.3" 3.6" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Sep 1.3" 2.8" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Oct 1.3" 2.6" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Nov โ€” 2" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Dec โ€” 1.8" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant

Water needs are for active growing months only (Aprโ€“Oct in Ozark County). Supplement amounts are based on average rainfall โ€” actual needs vary with temperature, soil, and mulching.

Oregano Heat Requirements (GDD)

What are Growing Degree Days (GDD)?

Growing Degree Days measure the total warmth your plants receive during the growing season. Think of it as a "heat bank" โ€” every day above 50ยฐF deposits warmth that helps your plants grow.

Each plant needs a certain amount of accumulated heat to mature. If your county provides more GDD than the plant needs, it's a great fit. If it's close, you may want to choose faster-maturing varieties or start seeds indoors to get a head start.

Oregano needs ~1,312 GDD — county provides 3,500 GDD Excellent fit

Oregano Planting Timeline โ€” Ozark County, MO

Oregano Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Transplant Outdoors April 16 Apr 16 โ€“ Apr 30
Harvest June 18 Jun 18 โ€“ Aug 27

Plant 0.5" deep ยท 8" apart ยท Rows 12" apart

Month-by-Month Timeline

MonthActivities
January โ€”
February โ€”
March โ€”
April Transplant Outdoors
May โ€”
June Harvest
July Harvest
August Harvest
September โ€”
October โ€”
November โ€”
December โ€”

Growing Conditions

โ˜€๏ธ Sun

Full Sun (6-8+ hours)

๐Ÿ’ง Water

0.3"/week ยท Natural rainfall sufficient

๐Ÿ“… Days to Maturity

60โ€“90 days

๐Ÿงช Soil pH

Needs 6โ€“8 ยท Your soil: too_acidic

๐Ÿ—บ๏ธ USDA Zone

Zone 6b

๐Ÿ“† Growing Season

200 days in Ozark County

Growing Tips for Oregano in Ozark County

Direct sow Oregano outdoors after April 09 in Ozark County when soil has warmed and frost danger has passed.

General growing tips

Start from seed, cuttings, or divisions. Harvest just before flowering for strongest flavor. Cut plants back to a few inches in spring to encourage vigorous new growth.

Companion Planting

Good Companions

Check more plant combinations with our Companion Planting Checker →

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I plant Oregano in Ozark County, MO?

Ozark County is in Zone 6b with an average last frost of April 9. Plan your Oregano planting based on this frost date โ€” see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Ozark County, MO?

Ozark County, Missouri is in USDA Hardiness Zone 6b. The average last spring frost is April 9 and first fall frost is October 26.

๐ŸŒฑ

Plan Your Garden with Confidence

Get our free Garden Planner โ€” designed to help Ozark County gardeners in Zone 6b organize planting dates, track what's growing, and never miss a planting window.

Get Your Free Garden Planner →

Free download. Plan your entire garden season in minutes.

Data sources: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (2023), NOAA 30-Year Climate Normals. Frost dates are based on 50% probability averages for Ozark County, MO. Local conditions may vary. Last updated: April 2026.