Overview
Oregano is a perennial herb. Its taste is zesty and strong and is commonly used in Italian dishes.
Conditions
Grows best in sandy soils that drain well. For the best quality leaves, provide full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight) and water thoroughly when soil feels dry to the touch.
Planting
Use our grow calendar tool to find specific dates for your region! Seeds germinate in 7-14 days.
Plant seeds indoors in trays or containers 8-10 weeks before last frost. Sprinkle seeds on top of the soil and push them gently in. Do not cover seeds fully, as they require light to germinate. Keep moist until germination. Transplant to individual containers when seedlings have 4 true leaves, then outdoors to the garden once weather is warm.
Care
When the danger of frost has passed in the spring, transplant outside, spacing plants 12" apart. To keep plants healthy, pinch back new growth, remove any old wood at the end of the winter, and replace the plants every 4 years.
Harvest
Harvest entire stems just as plants are coming into bloom, cutting about 2" above the base of the plant. An established planting can be cut back two to six times during the growing season.
