Gardening Advice: Instruction for Growing Oregano
How to Grow Oregano
in Your Herb Garden
*** EASY TO GROW ***
| Nutrition | Container Gardening | Challenges |
| Climate | Planting Instructions | Harvesting |
| Soil | Watering Instructions | Storage |
Oregano will generally grow as a hardy perennial herb. However, it is one that may need a little help in surviving gardening climates with harsh (cold) winters.
Oregano is primarily used as a culinary herb in Italian, Mexican and Greek cuisines. It is also a tasty flavoring for tomato, vegetable, or meat dishes. Oregano leaves are the plant part used for flavoring.
Gardening Advice Tip: Oregano can grow up to two feet tall, and tends to sprawl, so plan accordingly before planting!
Nutrition Information (back to top)
Oregano has been used for centuries for a variety of it's health improving properties. It contains multiple antibacterial and antimicrobial properties. It's been used to relieve coughs, reduce body odor, soothe digestive muscles, and lower blood pressure. Oregano is a strong antioxidant, with high levels of beneficial acids and flavonoids.
Oregano is also believed to have the following properties: antiseptic, antispasmodic, carminative, diaphoretic, emmenagogue, expectorant, stimulant. In large quantities, it may have a very strong sedative effect, so use in quantity with caution.
Climate & Growing Conditions (back to top)
For optimal growing conditions, plant your oregano patch in a very sunny (full sun) spot in your garden.
How to Grow Oregano in a Container (back to top)
Oregano is an easy plant to grow in a pot or a container. Use a good potting soil (one that's appropriate for vegetables, as some potting mixes contain chemicals that you wouldn't want to eat!). Mix in a little sand, and some well-rotted organic matter or compost. Leave 1" of space between the soil and the top of the container.
Start your plant indoors by placing your seeds on the surface of the soil, and misting the soil until damp. Put a layer of kitchen plastic wrap across the top of the pot or planter and place in a sunny location. Watch for the seeds to sprout within 10 days (normally). Immediately remove the plastic wrap. Keep your young oregano plant indoors until all danger of frost has passed. And keep the oregano planter in a sunny location, until you're ready to take it outdoors.
It's not wise to move your plant directly from your home to your patio. You'll likely scorch your plant, since it's not yet used to direct sunlight. Most gardeners move their plants outside in gradual steps. Starting with a shady location outside, then moving it (day by day) into a fuller sun position.
Gardening Advice Tip: Mulching the plants you are growing in your container garden is a good idea, as it will help keep their roots cooler, and will also help the soil retain water better.
In the fall, bring your oregano pots indoors, for a year round supply of this fresh herb!
How to Prepare the Garden Soil (back to top)
Oregano will grow in nearly any herb garden soil. However, it thrives at a soil pH of between 6.0 and 8.0. For optimal growing conditions, the garden soil should be slightly sandy, well-drained and friable (crumbly).
How to Plant Oregano (back to top)
There are three ways to propagate oregano:
- Starting plants from seed
- Growing plants from cuttings
- Dividing existing bushes into new plants.
Gardening Advice Tip: Growing oregano from seed is not always reliable. Propagating by dividing established plants or from cuttings is the preferred method.
Planting from seed: sow oregano seed in the spring, once the ground has warmed and danger of frost has passed. You can cover the seeds lightly with a seed starting mix, or even just water (mist) the seeds into the soil without covering them. Keep the soil moist until the seeds germinate (misting works best, so that you don't wash your seeds away!). When the seedlings emerge (this can take up to 2 weeks) and grow to 6" tall, thin the plants so that they're spaced at least 1 foot apart.
About 5 weeks after your seedlings emerge, trim the plant to 2 or 3" tall (be sure that there are still leaves attached to the remaining stems). This will help the plant grow bushier and more compact.
Dividing mature oregano plants: To keep your oregano plants growing vigorously and at their best in flavor and health, divide your plants every 3 years. To divide oregano plants, gently dig up the entire plant, keeping as many of the roots intact as possible. (Dig wider than you think the roots go.) Carefully lift the plant from the hole. The preferred method is to take two pitchforks, and insert them (back to back) in the center of the plant. Then gently but firmly pry the pitchforks apart, thus separating the plant into two.
If returning one to the original garden location, refresh the soil with a little compost mixed in. Plant your 2nd plant in a new location, preparing the garden soil as you did for the first.
How to grow new oregano plants from cuttings:
Take cuttings of new shoots that are at least 3" long in the late spring. Remove the bottom most leaves from the stem. Dip the stem in a rooting agent, and place in moist sand. Keep the sand moist (not soggy) until the plants are well rooted. They can then be repotted or moved outside (after hardening-off first).
How to Water (back to top)
Oregano doesn't need much in terms of watering, unless there's a dry spell. If the soil looks like it's drying out, then water. Do not overwater oregano.
How to Fertilize (back to top)
If you've prepared the herb garden soil by digging in some compost or well-rotted manure, you shouldn't need to fertilize at all.
Gardening Advice Tip: If you're growing oregano in a container or a pot, you may want to fertilize monthly during the growing season. Consider using an organic fertilizer like compost tea or manure tea.
Challenges (back to top)
Certain insects can favor Oregano, such as: spider mites, or whiteflies. Consider using organic methods of insect control. Also, it's sometimes susceptible to powdery mildew.
Oregano doesn't compete well with other plants, and prefers a weed-free environment. Mulching around the will help with this, and will also keep the soil moist and keep your leaves cleaner.
Oregano doesn't winter-over well in areas with harsh cold winters. If you're in one of those areas, in the fall, cut your plants back to 3 or 4" tall and apply a heavy layer of mulch, covering your oregano plants. (Remove some of the mulch in the spring.)
Mature oregano stems can become woody. You may wish to cut the old stems out, to make room for the new.
How to Harvest Oregano (back to top)
Oregano's flavor is best when the flowers are starting to form. (Remove the flower buds to keep better flavor in the leaves.) However, you can harvest at any point in the growing season. For fullest flavor, pick your oregano stems in the morning, just after the dew has evaporated.
Harvest from the outside of the plant, inward & downward. Keep a few inches of plant with leaves attached near the base in-tact, for the plant to regenerate new growth.
Storage (back to top)
How to Dehydrate / Dry Oregano (back to top)
Dried oregano's flavor is usually more intense than the fresh herb. To dry oregano, wash the stems, and pat dry. You can dry them by placing them in a paper bag and hanging in an airy (out of the sun) location. Once dry, remove the leaves from the stems and store the oregano leaves in an airtight container, out of the light.
You can also use a dehydrator on it's lowest setting (not more than 100 degrees (F)). Keeping the temperature below 100 degrees helps protect oregano's natural oils and enzymes.
How to Freeze Oregano (back to top)
Wash oregano stems, and pat dry. Place in a single layer on a cookie sheet, and place in your freezer. Once frozen, separate the leaves from the stems, and place the leaves in an airtight container. Return the container with the oregano leaves to the freezer.
Gardening Advice Tips (back to top)
Have a helpful gardening tip (or even a fun story) to share about your oregano growing experience? Share it with us at: gardeningtips@howtogardenadvice.com
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