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When to Plant Oregano in Yakutat City and Borough, AK

Yakutat City and Borough, Alaska Zone 6b May

What to do in May

If you only do a handful of things in the garden this May, make it these. They're sequenced around your zone's frost timing.

Avg. last frost May 20
Avg. first frost September 25
Soil temp (4") 62°F
Watering High
Pest pressure Low
Daylight 16.7 hrs
  1. Harden off and plant oregano

    Plant tomatoes deep — bury the stem up to the first true leaves to grow extra roots. Everything else goes in at the same depth it grew in the tray.

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

Yakutat City and Borough, Alaska is in USDA Zone 6b. The average last spring frost is May 20 and the first fall frost is September 25, giving you a growing season of approximately 128 days.

At an elevation of 246 feet, Yakutat City and Borough receives approximately 40.9 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly silt loam soil. Summer highs average 66°F, so choose short-season varieties of Oregano to ensure they mature before fall.

Yakutat City and Borough, AK (Zone 6b) Short season
128 days
Last Spring Frost May 20
128 growing days
First Fall Frost September 25

Yakutat City and Borough Soil Profile

Soil Type

Silt Loam

Soil pH

5.2-6.3

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✗ May not fit
Transplant: May 22 🍅 Harvest: Jul 24 – Oct 2
Recommended (50%) ✗ May not fit
Transplant: May 27 🍅 Harvest: Jul 29 – Oct 7
Safe Start (90%) ✗ May not fit
Transplant: Jun 8 🍅 Harvest: Aug 10 – Oct 19

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 Yakutat City and Borough

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

Soil pH

Your soil pH (5.2–6.3) is more acidic than Oregano prefers (6.0–8.0). Add garden lime to raise pH.

Soil Texture

The silt loam soil in Yakutat City and Borough is excellent for Oregano — good drainage, moisture retention, and nutrient holding capacity.

Drainage

Oregano prefers dry conditions but your soil drains poorly. Use raised beds or mounded rows to prevent root rot.

Organic Matter

Organic matter is excellent (5.1%) — Oregano will thrive.

How to Plant Oregano

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

Succession Planting Oregano

2
successive plantings in your 128-day season

Sow every 6.9 weeks. Last sowing by Jun 27 to harvest before frost.

Plant Water Budget

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

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 2.2" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Feb 2" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Mar 1.6" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Apr 1.3" 0" ❄️ Dormant
May 1.3" 2" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Jun 1.3" 2.7" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Jul 1.3" 5.1" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Aug 1.3" 6.8" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Sep 1.3" 7.5" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Oct 4.3" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Nov 3.1" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Dec 2.2" 0" ❄️ Dormant

Water needs are for active growing months only (May–Sep in Yakutat City and Borough). Supplement amounts are based on average rainfall — 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" — every day above 50°F 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 ~0 GDD — county provides 0 GDD May not mature

Oregano Planting Timeline — Yakutat City and Borough, AK

Oregano Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Transplant Outdoors May 27 May 27 – Jun 10
Harvest July 29 Jul 29 – Oct 7

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

Month-by-Month Timeline

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

Growing Conditions

☀️ Sun

Full Sun (6-8+ hours)

💧 Water

0.3"/week · Natural rainfall sufficient

📅 Days to Maturity

60–90 days

🧪 Soil pH

Needs 6–8 · Your soil: too_acidic

🗺️ USDA Zone

Zone 6b

📆 Growing Season

128 days in Yakutat City and Borough

Growing Tips for Oregano in Yakutat City and Borough

Direct sow Oregano outdoors after May 20 in Yakutat City and Borough 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 Yakutat City and Borough, AK?

Yakutat City and Borough is in Zone 6b with an average last frost of May 20. Plan your Oregano planting based on this frost date — see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Yakutat City and Borough, AK?

Yakutat City and Borough, Alaska is in USDA Hardiness Zone 6b. The average last spring frost is May 20 and first fall frost is September 25.

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Your Yakutat City and Borough Garden Planner — Free

A 24-page printable planner built for Yakutat City and Borough (Zone 6b). Planting dates, a month-by-month schedule, harvest log, seed inventory, and succession charts — all dialed in for your exact growing season.

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Data sources: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (2023), NOAA 30-Year Climate Normals. Frost dates are based on 50% probability averages for Yakutat City and Borough, AK. Local conditions may vary. Last updated: May 2026.

Sources & credits

Every number on this page traces back to a primary horticulture or government data source. Click through to verify.