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Italian cuisine has made oregano famous. We provide helpful tips on how to grow it in your own garden.
Mediterranean oregano prefers a rather permeable, nutrient-poor soil
Oregano (Origanum vulgare) belongs to a pizza like the crunchy dough. The mint family (Lamiaceae) originated in the Mediterranean region. Thanks to its more or less pronounced winter hardiness, however, it is now cultivated worldwide as a spice. Already in the Middle Ages people knew about its antibacterial and anticonvulsant healing powers. It was also believed that using it as an incense plant could keep evil away. We'll show you what you have to consider in order to be able to use oregano from your own garden for the next Mediterranean cooking evening.
Growing oregano - step by step:
- Location: Like every Mediterranean herb, oregano prefers a more permeable, nutrient-poor soil. Waterlogging should be avoided in any case to protect the perennial plant from dying from root fungi. Very clayey or loamy soils should therefore be loosened up with sand or humus and prepared before planting the oregano. Cultivation in pots is also possible, but special organic herb and seed soil should be used for this. Both in the pot and in the bed, the oregano will thank you if you choose a sunny and warm location for it.
- Propagation: Oregano can of course be propagated by sowing. Seeds are available in specialist shops. If you decide to grow young plants indoors, you can sow from February. However, the seeds should not be taken out of the bag directly into the field bed before the end of May in order to protect the tender seedlings from threatening late frosts. It should be noted that oregano is a light germ. It is therefore disadvantageous if the seed is covered with substrate to protect it from drying out. However, when sowing in a seed tray, it can be covered with a glass plate until the first cotyledons appear. This prevents the swelling light germinating seeds from drying out.
Young oregano plants are also available for purchase
Watering and fertilizing: When it comes to water supply, oregano benefits from its origins in warmer climes. Even longer periods of drought, it usually thrives unimpressed when cultivated in beds. Therefore, additional watering is rarely necessary. However, if the oregano is cultivated in a pot, it must be watered daily during hot, sunny times. It should therefore also be paid attention to a suitable size of the planter. If the root ball does not have enough substrate volume, this can mean unnecessary drought stress for the Mediterranean spice.
Oregano also does not expect an extensive supply of nutrients. When cultivating in a bed, the incorporation of a primarily organic fertilizer with a long-term effect, such as our Plantura organic universal fertilizer, is more than sufficient. If the oregano is cultivated in a pot, it is sufficient to fertilize with watering every four to six weeks.
Wintering: Oregano is not entirely hardy. Depending on the variety, it can withstand temperatures down to -15 °C. The most robust is the so-called Greek oregano (Origanum vulgare hirtum), a subspecies of common oregano. It is therefore advisable to cover the plants with twigs, fir branches or mulch as a precautionary measure in late autumn to protect them from frost damage.
Cutting: Over the years, the oregano may become somewhat shapeless and leafless in the lower part. However, the pizza herb can be cut back generously without any problems. This can be done right before budding in early spring. However, you can also cut the oregano generously back to 10 to 15 cm above the soil surface in summer. The clippings can be safely used for seasoning in the kitchen.
Harvest: Either the leaves are plucked individually from the plant or whole shoots are cut off. The oregano doesn't really care which method is chosen. What is certain is that harvesting encourages branching and results in a bushier plant. The time of harvest is more important. The aroma of oregano is strongest in the summer just before flowering. An additional boost in aroma intensity can be given by making sure to harvest in the morning hours and not when it rains.
Storage: Oregano can of course be used fresh. But it is also easily possible to extend its usability without loss of flavoring aromas. In addition to air drying, you can also freeze the leaves or soak them in oil. As with each method besthow to proceed, read Oregano: Harvest and store correctly.
Oregano can be dried and stored without any problem and without loss of taste
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