Oregano, scientific name origanum vulgare, is a very popular aromatic plant for its culinary and health-promoting properties. It is a fundamental ingredient of the Mediterranean diet, whose leaves are usually consumed dried to flavor dishes or to make infusions.
If you want to have this aromatic plant at home and learn how to take care of it to take advantage of it, join us in this EcologíaVerde article on when and how to plant oreganotake care of it and dry it for consumption.
When to plant oregano
Towards late winter you can start preparing seedbeds to plant oregano. If you want to plant directly in its final location, you will have to wait until spring, when temperatures do not drop below 19ºC, but we recommend earlier sowing using the hotbed method. It is important that the room in which the seedbed is kept maintains a stable temperature of between 19 and 22ºC.
How to plant oregano
Follow these steps to sow seeds and then plant the oregano:
- If you have your oregano seeds, prepare some seedbeds with a substrate made with one part peat, one part coconut fiber and one part earthworm humus, as well as a small addition of vermiculite and perlite. This is a universal seedbed substrate that works very well and you can make it at home for not a lot of money.
- Spread the oregano seeds over the seedbeds, then cover them and water by spraying so that the water does not pile them all up in the same spot.
- Keep the seedlings in a lighted room but not exposed to direct sunlight, at a temperature between 19 and 22 ºC, and water enough to keep the substrate moist but never waterlogged.
- After about three weeks, your oregano seeds should have germinated and grown enough to be ready for potting or transplanting outdoors.
- When doing so, make sure that you place them in a pot at least 30 cm deep, and if you plant them in the ground, respect a distance of less than half a meter between plants.
It is also possible and highly recommended reproduce oregano by cuttingssince these root very easily and reproduction tends to be successful.
- To carry out the cutting, cut a branch of at least 10 cm from the plant in spring. It is advisable to do it below a node, and also free the lower half of the stem from secondary branches.
- Once this is done, submerge the stem in water, and change it every two days.
- It shouldn’t take long to see the first roots appear. Oregano does not need the use of rooting agents to stimulate the appearance of roots, but if it seems to you that your plant needs a boost, you can use one of the natural rooting agents available, such as cinnamon powder.
- Once the branch has developed roots, it is ready to be planted.
Oregano plant: basic care
Now that you know how to plant oregano, both getting seedlings from seeds and cuttings, learn the basic care of the oregano plant:
Substratum
Oregano is a plant that is not picky about the type of soil. Use generic substrate, and simply add a contribution of earthworm humus to enrich it in organic matter. This addition of organic matter should be repeated once a year, to enrich it and prevent the soil from compacting excessively.
Light
This aromatic plant will also appreciate receiving direct sunlight for at least 4 hours a day. Put the pot or plant in as sunny a place as possible.
oregano irrigation
Like most plants, oregano does not like its substrate to become waterlogged. In fact, this is very detrimental to almost any plant. Water periodically, but without excess water, so that the substrate always has some moisture, but never becomes waterlogged.
Temperature
Oregano can withstand low temperatures, but its quality as an aromatic and ingredient will be greater if it grows in warm climates.
How to dry oregano
Oregano must be harvested after the plant has flowered, so it is usual harvest oregano in early summer, which is when its leaves are more aromatic and tasty. To dry the oregano
- Cut the branches you want to harvest with properly disinfected pruning shears, making a clean cut at ground level or the upper half of the stem.
- Tie the stems into a bunch with string or twine.
- Hang it upside down somewhere dry, ventilated and in the shade.
- Depending on the local climate, it will take a variable amount of time to dry completely, although the average time is around a week.
- Once dry, separate the leaves and flowers from the stems, and store them in an airtight container.
If you like this type of plants, we recommend you learn more about the Types of aromatic plants with this guide and How to grow aromatic herbs at home with this other guide.
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