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Growing Oregano
Planting, Growing, and Harvesting Oregano Plants
Planting, Growing, and Harvesting Oregano Plants
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Oregano is a perennial herb with rose-purple or white flowers and a taste reminiscent of thyme. Here’s how to grow oregano plants in your garden—plus, delicious recipes using oregano.
Oregano’s taste is zesty and strong and is commonly used in Italian dishes. It is a hardy plant and makes for a good ground cover.
Planting
- Oregano loves the sun, so ensure that your placement has full, strong sun for strong flavor. Some folks plant later in the season for assured warm weather.
- However, for a head start, plant the seeds/cuttings 6 to 10 weeks before the last spring frost. (See local frost dates.)
- Oregano can easily be started from seeds, though you can also use cuttings from an established plant.
- Plant the seeds/cuttings in well-drained soil anytime after the last spring frost. The soil should be around 70ºF.
- For thin plants, plant 8 to 10 inches apart. The plants will grow 1 to 2 feet tall and spread about 18 inches.
- Oregano makes a good companion plant for any vegetable in the garden.
Care
- Allow oregano plants to grow to about 4 inches tall and then pinch or trim lightly to encourage a denser and bushier plant.
- Regular trimming will not only cause the plant to branch again, but also avoid legginess.
- Oregano doesn’t need quite as much water as most herbs. As the amount of watering depends on many variables, just water when the soil feels dry to the touch. Remember that it’s better to water thoroughly and less often.
- If you have a container, water until the water comes out of the drainage holes in the bottom of the container.
- To ensure the best-quality plants, thin out plants that are 3 or 4 years old in the early spring. Oregano is self-seeding, so the plants will easily grow back.
- You can divide the plants in late spring if you want to put one indoors.
Pests/Diseases
- Root and stem rots
- Aphids
- Spider mites
Harvest/Storage
- Harvest the leaves as you need them. The most flavor-filled leaves are found right before the flowers bloom.
- You can freeze the leaves to use during the winter. Oregano leaves store well and are easily dried. Keep them in an airtight container once dried.
Recommended Varieties
- Greek oregano (Origanum vulgare var. hirtum) for cooking.
- Common oregano for decoration (its lavender flowers look pretty in the garden and are also used in wreaths).
Wit & Wisdom
- Oregano tea relaxes nerves and settles an upset stomach.
- Oregano was once used in many old-fashioned herbal remedies.
- For other greens to use in your cuisine, see the Leafy Greens: Health Benefits page.
- Oregano plants are said to symbolize “substance.” Find out more about plant meanings here.
Recipes
Cooking Notes
Oregano is an extremely useful herb that appears in countless remedies and tastes a bit like thyme. It is great to have in the kitchen, especially when fresh from the garden! Learn about more flavorful kitchen herbs here.
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Reader Comments
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No, these are different
No, these are different plants.
Hi. I bought an oregano plant
Hi. I bought an oregano plant with two other herbs-thyme and spearmint- in the same pot. Will this effect the care of the plants, such as watering, etc.?I also can't plant them because I don't have a place with the right sunlight.
Mediterranean perennial herbs
Mediterranean perennial herbs such as oregano and thyme have similar soil and watering requirements. They need full sun and slightly dry soil. Mint needs to be in a separate container or place; it prefers partial shade, moderate water and cooler temperatures. Also, mint spreads quickly and can take over other plants.
My oregano plant is dying a
My oregano plant is dying a little. Is it ok to eat the dried leaves pulled off the plant?
Of course, you can eat dried
Of course, you can eat dried oregano. If you wish, let the dry leaves fall off, collect and crumble them up with your fingers to make them powdery, and put the dried herb into airtight jars to keep.
What, if any, are the
What, if any, are the benefits of harvesting only to dry them? Isn't it better to just pick & cook fresh oregano?
Do the leaves of Oregano die/fall off in the Winter (zone 7-8)?
Dried oregano is a way to
Dried oregano is a way to save the herb for the winter months in areas where the plant dies back in the winter. The flavor of fresh oregano is most intense in mid-summer just before it blooms and some people like to dry the leaves during this time. Oregano is a hardy perennial and will come back next year.
What about the flowers... if
What about the flowers... if you cut the stalks and hang to dry, to you miss the flower pods in to what you keep to cook with, or just use them for seed / discard (or throw in the fire for fragrance as in one suggestion!)
My oregano has long since
My oregano has long since bloomed--bees loved it. The leaves I know are more flavorful prior to blooming. My question is--does it ever get too old to harvest the leaves? With my thyme I cut the stems--let dry and easily take the leaves off, does that work with oregano? This is my first year having a plant big enough to harvest
If you keep harvesting the
If you keep harvesting the oregano leaves during the warmer months the plant will get bushier and will grow new leaves that also can be dried. The plant will die back during the colder months. Cut sprigs of oregano and tie them into bundles. Hang to dry and then take the dried leaves off the stems.
i do not appreciate my
i do not appreciate my comment being deleted especially when i have the best oregano plant. i am the best grower of these plants. i won to help everyone get best plants too. thanks
Your last note encouraged
Your last note encouraged readeres to contact you. Please note that our readers can not contact you nor do we want private emails to be posted here as we want to protect our readers' privacy, especially from spam. We do invite you, however, to join this free community space. You can share your expertise by answering questions on the wall based on your experience. Or, you can share some your best tips which made you such a great grower. Thanks, the OFA
Hi, I have a lot of dried
Hi, I have a lot of dried Mexican Oregano crushed leaves,(widely used in Mexican dishes). Can I use them in place of seeds, pot them in rich soil and have a successful bloom? Thanks
Andriana, The plant grows
Andriana, The plant grows from seeds not from leaves. However, the crushed leaves have many other uses besides food. Since Egyptian times, the crushed oregao leaves have been used as herbal remedy for skin burns, cuts and bruises. You may want to explore its medicinal benefits!
Not Much Flavor!
When buying Oregano plants, we always pick ones with strong aroma. After planting, the plants become very mild - not what I want. Could it be our soil?
The leaves have the most
The leaves have the most intense flavor right before it blooms. We would suggest that you keep it well trimmed so it doesn't start to put the energy into creating new buds or begin to bloom. Also, be sure you have the right variety. Greek oregano is the common "strong aroma" type.
What about watering??? How
What about watering??? How much or how little?
Watering oregano
water when the soil feels dry to the touch. We've added more detail above. Thanks.
Hi I am from India and
Hi I am from India and looking to do business in market for selling Herbs to catering ...can u provide me details for some import
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