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When to Plant Oregano in Dickey County, ND

Dickey County, North Dakota Zone 4b May

This month in Dickey County, North Dakota

Here's what deserves your attention in Dickey County, North Dakota this month. Everything below is tailored to Zone 4b and timed around your local frost dates.

Avg. last frost May 10
Avg. first frost September 29
Soil temp (4") 52°F
Watering High
Pest pressure Low
Daylight 14.8 hrs
  1. Move oregano into the garden

    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.

Dickey County, North Dakota is in USDA Zone 4b. The average last spring frost is May 10 and the first fall frost is September 29, giving you a growing season of approximately 142 days.

At an elevation of 550 feet, Dickey County receives approximately 20.9 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly loam soil. Summer highs average 81°F, so choose short-season varieties of Oregano to ensure they mature before fall.

Dickey County, ND (Zone 4b) Short season
142 days
Last Spring Frost May 10
142 growing days
First Fall Frost September 29
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Dickey County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Loam

Soil pH

6.6-7.7

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (4 days to spare)
Transplant: May 9 🍅 Harvest: Jul 11 – Sep 19
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (2 days to spare)
Transplant: May 17 🍅 Harvest: Jul 19 – Sep 27
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (7 days to spare)
Transplant: May 26 🍅 Harvest: Jul 28 – Oct 6

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 Dickey County

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

Soil pH

Your soil pH (6.6–7.7) is within Oregano's preferred range (6.0–8.0).

Soil Texture

The loam soil in Dickey County is excellent for Oregano — good drainage, moisture retention, and nutrient holding capacity.

Drainage

Drainage is adequate for Oregano.

Organic Matter

Organic matter is moderate (3.5%). Annual compost additions will help Oregano.

How to Plant Oregano

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

Succession Planting Oregano

2
successive plantings in your 142-day season

Sow every 6.9 weeks. Last sowing by Jul 01 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 6/10 — 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 0.6" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Feb 0.7" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Mar 1.5" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Apr 2" 0" ❄️ Dormant
May 1.3" 2.7" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Jun 1.3" 3.1" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Jul 1.3" 3.1" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Aug 1.3" 2.7" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Sep 1.3" 2" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Oct 1.3" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Nov 0.7" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Dec 0.5" 0" ❄️ Dormant

Water needs are for active growing months only (May–Sep in Dickey County). 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 ~806 GDD — county provides 1,526 GDD Excellent fit

Oregano Planting Timeline — Dickey County, ND

Oregano Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Transplant Outdoors May 17 May 17 – May 31
Harvest July 19 Jul 19 – Sep 27

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

Month-by-Month Timeline

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

🗺️ USDA Zone

Zone 4b

📆 Growing Season

142 days in Dickey County

Growing Tips for Oregano in Dickey County

Direct sow Oregano outdoors after May 10 in Dickey 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 Dickey County, ND?

Dickey County is in Zone 4b with an average last frost of May 10. Plan your Oregano planting based on this frost date — see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Dickey County, ND?

Dickey County, North Dakota is in USDA Hardiness Zone 4b. The average last spring frost is May 10 and first fall frost is September 29.

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Your Dickey County Garden Planner — Free

A 24-page printable planner built for Dickey County (Zone 4b). 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 Dickey County, ND. 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.