Growing Oregano

How does your garden grow? To start growing oregano, you need to know which variety you want to sow. There are culinary and ornamental types of oregano. You cannot go wrong growing oregano, it is simple to cultivate, harvest, and consume!

For growing oregano for use in the kitchen, there are two common varieties:

'Greek Oregano' is used in Mediterranean style cooking. We associate this type most with oregano flavor.

'Wild Marjoram', Origanum vulgare, is popular in French cuisine; it has a less intense odor and sweeter taste.

Different varieties of growing oregano have purple or pink clusters that bloom in June. This perennial herb grows well in most temperate climates.

You may be surprised to learn that oregano is a member of the mint family. The Greek word oregano means "joy of the mountain." Oregano grew like wildfire on the hills in Greece. The shepherds encouraged the growth for their grazing flocks, believing the white flowered herb made the meat tender and tasty.

Plant oregano seeds in a worked bed, and cover lightly with well-drained soil. You can start seeds indoors and transplant when temperatures remain above 45 degrees F. This herb does not tolerate cold weather. Oregano plants can be placed in window boxes during the winter.

Make sure the ground does not retain water.

Do not add compost or fertilizer to the soil because it will alter the taste of the growing herb.

Do not over water. When growing oregano you can let the ground dry a tad, and then water lightly. You do not want the ground to be soaked.

If you cannot furnish a well-drained bed for the plants, try growing oregano in pots instead.

Place the oregano plants a foot apart. This flavorful herb needs at least eight hours of full sun each day.

Oregano may grow two foot high but normally it averages a height of ten to twelve inches.

Growing Oregano Tips

Do not use mulch on oregano plants that will retain moisture such as wood chips, straw, or grass. Using stone mulch helps prevent root rot.

Pinch off the flower heads if your plant begins to bloom to give you more oregano leaves at harvest time.

When the oregano has reached a height of around five inches, you can begin harvesting by pinching the leaves off the plants.

Cut the growing plant back about three inches continually throughout the season to encourage new growth.

Oregano Benefits

The most beneficial medical uses of growing oregano are for respiratory infections, arthritis, glaucoma, and hypertension.

For colds or flu, a small handful of oregano in a quart of boiling water is a natural remedy. Not only does this aromatherapy vaporize a head cold but also it leaves your skin soft and moisturized.

Oregano uses

Fresh oregano leaves are savory additions to soup, meats, sauces, salad dressings, and egg dishes.

Oregano can be dried and stored or chopped and saved in the freezer.

Growing oregano is as easy as pizza pie! The best part besides the flavor is having the herb available all year.

Michael Floren is a gardening enthusiast and has been Growing Oregano for more then a decade. Visit http://grow-herbs.net/ to learn more about growing oregano and other great herbs.

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