by Stefani Andrews

Created on: May 15, 2011   Last Updated: May 17, 2011

Oregano is an herb that has had its cooking and medicinal uses for generations and luckily for the beginning gardener, it is pretty easy to grow successfully too.  In herbal medicine it is used to stimulate the appetite, which makes it a very apt addition to any garden and kitchen.  Oregano is related to the marjoram plant and is very similar to it in taste, but is generally more mild and sweet.  It is a very hardy plant and so many beginning fumbles in the gardening process will be forgiven and acclimated to by the

oregano plant. 

As with any gardening venture, the first step is planning where the oregano will be planted.  There are a few important things to keep in mind before making this decision.  The first is that oregano is a perennial plant, meaning that it will continue to grow and bloom year after year.  So be sure that the area it will be planted in is the best one since it will be a big hassle to have to move the plants every year to a better location.

It’s also important to note that oregano can act as a natural deterrent to some kinds of garden pests, so if planted wisely it can greatly reduce the number of pests in the garden overall.  Oregano will grow best in full sun but can be cultivated very successfully in partial shade if given a little more careful attention.  Oregano plants are not picky about the kind of soil they will thrive in as long as it is well drained. It can be heavy or sandy soil but it must drain or the plants will not grow well.

The next decision is to decide to purchase fresh seeds or nursery stock seedlings.  Oregano is fairly easy to grow from seeds and has a tendency to spread quickly on its own.  The most cost-effective method is to try growing from seed first.  If this doesn’t work or there is apprehension to try it then purchase nursery stock.  When buying from a nursery make sure that the grower is a reputable one, and that the plants are bright green and not root bound with no yellowing leaves or insect damage.

Each oregano plant will need plenty of room to grow since they grow to about two feet tall and will spread out to about 20 inches.  Plant new seeds about ¼ inch deep.  Seedlings should be planted about 18 inches apart.  If seed was planted, it’s important to thin out the seedlings once they start to sprout to leave about 12 inches in between each thriving plant.

The plants will be ready to harvest in mid-spring right before the flowers of the oregano plant begin to open.  Or it can also be harvested selectively as needed for cooking.  If harvesting selectively be sure to only trim off about the first six inches of the stem and remove the leaves.  The plant may be damaged if it is overly pruned.  Wash the trimmings well and roll the leaves into a ball before chopping. 

When winter comes around it is important to mulch the plants with grass or straw so that they are protected from cold and frost.  Once the frost season is over the mulch can be removed and the plants will begin to bloom again.  In order to spread the oregano plants, they can be propagated in mid-spring by dividing the plants during their peak growth and replanting them.  However it is important to do this before flowers appear or the plant may become too stressed to recover from the transplanting.

Learn more about this author, Stefani Andrews.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.