Oregano is a savory herb that pairs well with herbs such as basil and thyme. Excellent in dips, dressings, and even on pizza, oregano is the perfect herb for those who have less than a green thumb. Growing your own oregano is easy, and whether you are planting it in the ground or in a pot it is sure to perform well for you. If you are considering growing oregano in your on garden, take a look at these tips for growing oregano so you too can enjoy an excellent crop!
How to Grow Oregano
How to plant oregano seedlings:
Enjoy your oregano quicker when you plant it from seedlings instead of seeds. You can find oregano seedlings at most garden centers for just a dollar or two, and just a plant or two will give you enough of the herb to satisfy all of your culinary needs.
When planting oregano, you want to be sure you choose a full sun spot. Oregano will grow quickly when warm. Choose soil that is loose, nutrient rich, and drains well as oregano won’t like soggy roots. Plant your seedlings 8-10 inches apart so they have room to grow. Oregano loves to spread out and even has a vine effect to it, making it excellent to use as ground cover or even in window boxes.
How to plant oregano in pots:
Oregano is the perfect plant for growing in pots because it likes to spill over the sides and trail out. This can have a beautiful effect. When planting oregano in pots be sure you use the same soil as mentioned above and that the pot has proper drainage. If you don’t have a constantly sunny spot don’t worry, as your pot can be moved as needed to follow the warmth of the sun. One plant per 8-10 inch pot is sufficient as you don’t want to over plant.
How to care for oregano seedlings:
Oregano is quote simple to tend to. Give your plants about one inch of water per week, allowing the soil to dry out in between watering. Oregano doesn’t care for fertilizer, so you can skip this step. Just weed as you see them appear since you don’t want weeds to get tangled up in the vine effect of the plant.
Aphids do like oregano, so if you see any pick them off by hand and use a food safe repellant. Avoid rot by removing any dead foliage and avoid over watering.
How to harvest oregano:
Once your oregano plant is about 6 inches tall and right before it blooms it is perfect for harvest. You can remove a few leaves at a time or remove a whole stem. When cutting a stem, cut just below its lowest leaves. This helps the plant grow back strong and bushy. Oregano can be dried, which brings out the flavor even more, or it can be used fresh. If you can’t use your harvest all at once, don’t be afraid to freeze it!
Oregano is perfect in spaghetti sauce, can be used on fish, eggs, and salads. It is an ideal herb in most of your Italian dishes, and brings out the flavors in your Greek recipes as well. Consider growing oregano in your garden this year, and see how handy this easy to grow herb can be.
More Herb Gardening Tips:
- How to Grow Thyme
- How to Grow Chives
- How to Grow Chamomile
- How to Grow Cilantro
- How to Grow Sage
- How to Grow Mint
- How to Grow Lavender
- How to Grow Marjoram
- How to Grow Rosemary
- How to Grow Fennel
- How to Grow Basil
Would you like to save this article?
We'll email this post to you, so you can come back to it later!
Leave a Reply