When to Plant Oregano in Canberra, Cold / Highland Guide
Sow October to January. Right now in September it is out of season. The next sowing month is October.
Published · Last reviewed · By Garden Buddy
Growing advice is reviewed by hand. Planting dates, current conditions and prices on this page update daily.
This Oregano guide is written for the Cold / Highland zone, which takes in Canberra, Cooma and Bright. Somewhere else? Your postcode picks the right one.
Not your zone? Cairns Brisbane Sydney Melbourne Alice Springs Perth
Also handy: will it frost this week? and what grows in shade.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Hardy perennial Mediterranean herb essential to Italian, Greek and Mexican cuisines. Oregano's flavour intensifies when dried. One of the few herbs where dried can be better than fresh. Drought-tolerant, heat-loving, hates wet feet.
Planting Calendar for Cold / Highland
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| T | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | S/T | S/T/D | S/T/D |
S = Seed Tray T = Transplant D = Direct Sow
Want a nudge when it is Oregano sowing time in Canberra?
One email a week with what is worth planting in the Cold / Highland zone right now, Oregano included, plus which veg has jumped in price at the supermarket. Free, and you can stop it in one click.
Current Growing Conditions
Soil temperature: 11.2°C (optimal range: 18–25°C) ✗ Outside optimal range
Modelled from Open-Meteo forecast (Canberra), not a live sensor.
How to Grow Oregano in Cold / Highland Australia
When to Plant
Plant Oct-Dec.
- Soil
- Well-drained, lean soil. Excess fertility reduces flavour.
- pH Range
- 6.0-8.0
- Sunlight
- Full sun. Maximum sun = maximum flavour.
- Spacing
- 30cm apart, 45cm between rows
- Watering
- Low water once established. Overwatering is the #1 killer.
Companion plants: Tomato, Capsicum, Basil, Rosemary, Thyme
Avoid planting near: Mint
Cold / Highland Growing Tips for Oregano
Recommended Varieties
- Common oregano
Key Challenges
- Short season
- Hard frosts
Pro Tips
- Reasonably cold hardy
- Mulch crown for protection
Harvesting Oregano
When ready: Harvest once bushy and 15cm+ tall. Best flavour just before flowering.
How to harvest: Cut stems above a leaf pair. Take up to 2/3 of plant in peak season.
Where to next
Get the Full Interactive Guide
Track your garden, get real-time pest alerts, and plan around your zone's weather.
Open the planting dashboard Join Garden BuddyCommon Questions About Oregano
When do you plant oregano in Australia?
It depends on your climate zone, not the calendar month alone. Planting months by zone:
- Tropical (Cairns): Apr to Aug
- Subtropical (Brisbane): Jan to May, Aug to Dec
- Warm Temperate (Sydney): Jan, Sep to Dec
- Cool Temperate (Melbourne): Jan, Sep to Dec
- Cold / Highland (Canberra): Jan, Oct to Dec
- Arid / Semi-Arid (Alice Springs): Jan to Apr, Aug to Dec
- Mediterranean (Perth): Jan, Sep to Dec
Does oregano grow all year round in Canberra?
No. In the Cold / Highland zone the planting months are Jan, Oct to Dec. Outside that window it either bolts, sulks or gets cut down by the weather.
Which zone am I in?
Type your postcode into the box under the heading and the page tells you, and links this crop in your own zone if it differs. Or look it up on the grow zone map. This page is the Cold / Highland zone, Canberra is its reference city.