Where to get oregano plant

Grow oregano in free-draining soil or compost in a sunny, sheltered spot. Harvest the leaves as and when you need to, cutting the plant back completely every so often to encourage a fresh flush of foliage. If growing in pots, repot every couple of years in fresh compost. Prevent water-logging in winter by adding grit to the planting hole. As plant of Mediterranean origin, oregano needs plenty of full sun with good drainage.

It does best in a free-draining compost in porus pots such as terracotta pots. To grow oregano from seed, fill small pots with peat-free seed compost and water well, allowing to drain.

Sow a few seeds on the surface of the compost. The seeds need heat to germinate, so place pots in either a heated propagator or on a warm windowsill. When seedlings are large enough to handle, pot them on into larger pots filled with peat-free, multi-purpose compost. Alternatively, buy ready-grown plants from your local garden centre or nursery, and plant them into a dedicated herb garden or pot.

Keep your oregano in a sunny, sheltered spot and water sparingly throughout the growing season. Harvest the leaves as and when you need to, either pinching them out with your thumb and finger or using scissors to cut a good-sized bunch. Cut plants back completely in midsummer to encourage fresh new leaves. Alternatively let the plants flower to provide nectar and pollen for bees. This is also a good time to cut the woody stems back to the base of the plant to encourage fresh new growth.

The most common way to store oregano leaves is to dry them. Harvest large bunches and bundle them together in a large paper bag, and then hang them upside down to dry. There are lots of other oreganos within the same genus Origanum, as well as some that are in different genera and not true oreganos, such as Cuban oregano Pectranthus amboinicus.

Within the Origanum genus, there are several that are used just for ornamental value, and do not have as good or as intense a flavor; most are not used in cooking.

Some types may have pink or purple flowers and purple, yellow, or bluish leaves. Greek oregano is a bit more compact, has a more intense flavor, and its flower is white; when the leaves are rubbed, they emit a strong scent. Some oreganos will look very similar. Hope this helps!

When does oregano bloom? I planted two of them in pots last spring and they are now huge and really need pruning. In some of the comments, it is suggested that they be pruned just before blooming.

Thanks for any advice. Oregano blooms in mid- to late summer. Prune them in the spring and they will put out new growth for the summer!

I may have over-watered my plant but I don't know for sure. Is my oregano plant gone for good or will it grow back? I had left the Oregano in pots and dried out in the greenhouse, without heat, all winter.

Will it still come back? I am needing more greenhouse space, but don't want to kill them if there is a chance. Some of the flower bulbs and rhubarb that I left out in the same way are coming back but I don't see any progress on the oregano. I sell market plants, vegetables and canned goods and was experimenting with Oregano from seed last year for my tomato sauces. I cannot put perennials in the ground right now, as I may be moving one of these years.

How long are the roots after one or two weeks from the time I stem-cut them? Is there an specific measure I should expect? This will help the plant produce side shoots for additional harvesting and also keep the bush compact and bushy. When you trim the plant, it helps the plant to survive better, because the roots aren't required to support as many leaves.

The roots will continue to grow deeper, while the plant replaces lost leaves. This results in a plant that is stronger and more able to survive drought. Already thinking about next year, I want to move my oregano to a sunnier spot after this season. Should I move it in the Fall when putting the garden to bed or wait till Spring and move it then?

I have an oregano plant in my garden and want to plan another oregano plant which is different than I have now. How can I tell it is Italian oregano or Greek oregano? There are many different types or oregano. Many plants listed as Italian oregano in the nursery or garden store are actually marjoram.

The only way to tell, that I know of, is to taste it. Oregano is spicy and numbs the tongue. Marjoram is not as strong of a flavor, but it is similar. If you really want to know that you have a specific strain of oregano, then order it from a specialty nursery that specializes in herbs. I cut my oregano before a blizzard and dried it out. Most of the dried leaves are now black instead of green. Does the black color mean they are moldy and unfit for consumption?

Or are they okay to store and eat? Are they really black or brown or dark green? Fit for consumption? When the leaves become dry, it is advised to remove them from the stems and store them in containers. Does this sound like your treatment? You might crush a few, and smell them. Assuming they were not damp, display no mold, and crush not mash as rotted or damp leaves might , they are probably fine.

Is it ok to dry oregano before the winter, after the plant had flowered already? I missed the harvest time and want to still have oregano for the winter. Will it just be less flavorful? Leaves on oregano can be used at any stage of growth. In fact, cutting back blooms will stimulate growth. Place the cuttings in a glass of water in a bright but not sunny location. When a good network of roots appears, plant the cuttings in a small pot filled with potting mix to grow onward.

You can also simply divide plants at the root ball to make more plants. In early spring or fall, divide plants into segments when the centers begin to die out or the stems become too woody. In cold-winter climates, cut back the stems of the oregano plant after the first frost kills the foliage.

Leave a short umbrella of stems to protect the root ball, Cover the ground with 3 to 4 inches of dry mulch for the winter. Remove the mulch in spring as soon as the snow melts. This overwintering treatment is really necessary only in the northern part of the hardiness range, zone 4.

The plant generally overwinters fine in warmer zones. Although it is grown predominately as a culinary herb, oregano makes a nice edging plant and ground cover , requiring little maintenance. The smaller varieties also do well in rock and alpine gardens. Bees love oregano flowers and will cover the plants as they take up nectar and pollen. Beekeepers purposefully plant oregano near apiaries because it adds a wonderful flavor to honey made by oregano-eating bees. Actively scan device characteristics for identification.

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