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When to Plant Rosemary in Jackson County, OK

Rosemary is an aromatic evergreen shrub with needle-like leaves and a piney, citrus flavor. It is a Mediterranean herb that thrives in warm, dry conditions.

Jackson County, Oklahoma is in USDA Zone 7b. The average last spring frost is April 5 and the first fall frost is November 4, giving you a growing season of approximately 213 days.

At an elevation of 695 feet, Jackson County receives approximately 28.7 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly loam soil. Summer highs average 92ยฐF, providing good warmth for Rosemary during the growing season.

Jackson County, OK (Zone 7b) Long season
213 days
Last Spring Frost April 5
213 growing days
First Fall Frost November 4

Jackson County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Loam

Soil pH

6.7-7.7

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✗ May not fit
Transplant: Apr 4 🍅 Harvest: Jun 27 – Nov 14
Recommended (50%) ✗ May not fit
Transplant: Apr 12 🍅 Harvest: Jul 5 – Nov 22
Safe Start (90%) ✗ May not fit
Transplant: Apr 22 🍅 Harvest: Jul 15 – Dec 2

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 Jackson County

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

Soil pH

Your soil pH (6.7โ€“7.7) overlaps with Rosemary's range (6.0โ€“7.5), though not a perfect match.

Soil Texture

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

Organic Matter

Organic matter is excellent (4.2%) โ€” Rosemary will thrive.

How to Plant Rosemary

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

Succession Planting Rosemary

3
successive plantings in your 213-day season

Sow every 9.1 weeks. Last sowing by May 08 to harvest before frost.

Plant Water Budget

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

Water stress score is 8/10 โ€” consider drought-tolerant varieties and mulching

Monthly Watering Guide for Rosemary

Rosemary 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 Rosemary Needs Rainfall You Supplement Action
Jan โ€” 0.8" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Feb โ€” 0.9" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Mar โ€” 1.8" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Apr 1.3" 2.9" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
May 1.3" 4.2" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Jun 1.3" 4.8" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Jul 1.3" 4.2" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Aug 1.3" 3.1" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Sep 1.3" 2.5" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Oct 1.3" 1.7" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Nov 1.3" 1.1" 0.2" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
Dec โ€” 0.6" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant

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

Rosemary 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.

Rosemary needs ~2,470 GDD — county provides 4,047 GDD Excellent fit

Rosemary Planting Timeline โ€” Jackson County, OK

Rosemary Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Transplant Outdoors April 12 Apr 12 โ€“ Apr 26
Harvest July 5 Jul 5 โ€“ Nov 22

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 โ€”
July Harvest
August Harvest
September Harvest
October Harvest
November Harvest
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

80โ€“180 days

๐Ÿงช Soil pH

Needs 6โ€“7.5 ยท Your soil: acceptable

๐Ÿ—บ๏ธ USDA Zone

Zone 7b

๐Ÿ“† Growing Season

213 days in Jackson County

Growing Tips for Rosemary in Jackson County

Direct sow Rosemary outdoors after April 05 in Jackson County when soil has warmed and frost danger has passed.

General growing tips

Grow in well-drained soil and avoid overwatering. In cold climates, grow in containers and bring indoors for winter. Propagate from stem cuttings for faster results than seed.

Companion Planting

Good Companions

Check more plant combinations with our Companion Planting Checker →

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I plant Rosemary in Jackson County, OK?

Jackson County is in Zone 7b with an average last frost of April 5. Plan your Rosemary planting based on this frost date โ€” see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Jackson County, OK?

Jackson County, Oklahoma is in USDA Hardiness Zone 7b. The average last spring frost is April 5 and first fall frost is November 4.

๐ŸŒฑ

Plan Your Garden with Confidence

Get our free Garden Planner โ€” designed to help Jackson County gardeners in Zone 7b 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 Jackson County, OK. Local conditions may vary. Last updated: April 2026.