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When to Plant Oregano in San Jacinto County, TX

San Jacinto County, Texas Zone 9a May

This month in San Jacinto County, Texas

Welcome to May in Zone 9a. These are the moves that will have the biggest impact on your growing season.

Avg. last frost February 18
Avg. first frost December 1
Soil temp (4") 71°F
Watering Low
Pest pressure High
Daylight 13.5 hrs
  1. Basket week: oregano

    This is the payoff month. Bring a basket, bring a friend, and get into the beds.

To set up a strong June, finish these tasks
  • First harvests: oregano

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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.

San Jacinto County, Texas is in USDA Zone 9a. The average last spring frost is February 18 and the first fall frost is December 1, giving you a growing season of approximately 286 days.

At an elevation of 6 feet, San Jacinto County receives approximately 71.3 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly sandy loam soil. Summer highs average 94°F, providing good warmth for Oregano during the growing season. Sandy soil warms quickly in spring — great for early planting — but Oregano will need more frequent watering and organic matter to retain nutrients. Ample rainfall means less supplemental watering, but ensure good drainage to prevent Oregano root diseases.

San Jacinto County, TX (Zone 9a) Year-round
286 days
Last Spring Frost February 18
286 growing days
First Fall Frost December 1

San Jacinto County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Sandy Loam

Soil pH

5.3-6.7

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (147 days to spare)
Transplant: Feb 17 🍅 Harvest: Apr 21 – Jun 30
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (146 days to spare)
Transplant: Feb 25 🍅 Harvest: Apr 29 – Jul 8
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (143 days to spare)
Transplant: Mar 16 🍅 Harvest: May 18 – Jul 27

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 San Jacinto County

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

Soil pH

Your soil pH (5.3–6.7) overlaps with Oregano's range (6.0–8.0), though not a perfect match.

Soil Texture

Sandy soil in San Jacinto County warms quickly in spring but drains fast. Oregano will need more frequent watering and regular compost additions to retain nutrients.

Organic Matter

Organic matter is moderate (2.2%). Annual compost additions will help Oregano.

How to Plant Oregano

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

Succession Planting Oregano

5
successive plantings in your 286-day season

Sow every 6.9 weeks. Last sowing by Sep 02 to harvest before frost.

Plant Water Budget

Plant needs
0.3″/week
Rainfall provides
1.0″/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 1.7" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Feb 1.3" 2.5" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Mar 1.3" 4.2" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Apr 1.3" 8.5" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
May 1.3" 9.5" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Jun 1.3" 11.4" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Jul 1.3" 9.2" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Aug 1.3" 8" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Sep 1.3" 6.7" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Oct 1.3" 5.2" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Nov 1.3" 2.6" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Dec 1.3" 1.9" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient

Water needs are for active growing months only (Feb–Dec in San Jacinto 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 ~1,538 GDD — county provides 5,883 GDD Excellent fit

Oregano Planting Timeline — San Jacinto County, TX

Oregano Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Transplant Outdoors February 25 Feb 25 – Mar 11
Harvest April 29 Apr 29 – Jul 8

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

Month-by-Month Timeline

MonthActivities
January
February Transplant Outdoors
March Transplant Outdoors
April Harvest
May Harvest
June Harvest
July Harvest
August
September
October
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: acceptable

🗺️ USDA Zone

Zone 9a

📆 Growing Season

286 days in San Jacinto County

Growing Tips for Oregano in San Jacinto County

Direct sow Oregano outdoors after February 18 in San Jacinto County when soil has warmed and frost danger has passed.

Sandy soil in San Jacinto County dries quickly — mulch Oregano with 2-3 inches of straw and water deeply 2-3 times per week rather than lightly every day.

With 71" of annual rainfall in San Jacinto County, ensure good drainage for Oregano — excess moisture can promote root rot and fungal diseases.

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 San Jacinto County, TX?

San Jacinto County is in Zone 9a with an average last frost of February 18. Plan your Oregano planting based on this frost date — see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is San Jacinto County, TX?

San Jacinto County, Texas is in USDA Hardiness Zone 9a. The average last spring frost is February 18 and first fall frost is December 1.

🌱

Your San Jacinto County Garden Planner — Free

A 24-page printable planner built for San Jacinto County (Zone 9a). 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 San Jacinto County, TX. 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.