Oregano is an integral part of Mediterranean cuisine. We show how you can successfully propagate it for cultivation in your own garden.
Sowing
Like the majority of all plants, oregano (Origanum vulgare), which originates in the Mediterranean region, can be propagated by seeds. If the seed is to be sown directly outdoors, it is advisable not to do this before the end of April. At an earlier stage there is a risk that the tender seedlings will fall victim to late frosts. In a cold frame or in the house, however, sowing can take place as early as February. So you can plant early young plants in the bed in May.
Oregano is a light germinator. It is therefore a hindrance if the seed is covered with a substrate layer that protects it from drying out. This is very critical when sowing outdoors, because it makes it easier for the seeds to be blown away by the wind. If the seed is placed in a seed tray indoors, you can put a pane of glass over it. This protects the swelling seed from drying out. When the first cotyledons appear, the pane of glass should be removed to prevent fungal attack. This takes 20 to 25 days at an average temperature of around 15 °C.
Tip: When sowing and planting oregano, use herbal soil that is optimally tailored to its needs. This is also the case with our peat-free Plantura organic herb and seed soil.
Partition
If there is already an oregano plant in the stock, it can simply be divided. Oregano forms an underground runner system (rhizome system). That's why the Mediterranean herb is great for dividing. Singularly planted with sufficient distance in the bed or in a pot with fresh substrate, the propagated plants will thank you if they are watered vigorously. A slightly more generous topiary in the same operation also promotes branching and new growth of the plants. The optimal time for division is spring (April).
Cuttings
In spring (from the end of April) oregano can also be propagated very successfully using cuttings. For this purpose, young, strong shoots are taken from the mother plant and simply placed in our permeable organic herb and seed soil. The good supply of oxygen to the cut point of the cutting promotes root formation. It is best to keep the cuttings in a nursery for the first two to three weeks. There is high humidity there, so that the cuttings hardly evaporate any water. This is very good, otherwise they could quickly start to droop due to the lack of roots.
There is a promising choice for propagating oregano in your own garden so that you can use it at the next Italian cooking evening.