Origanum vulgarevar.hirtum
Greek oregano is perhaps one of the most familiar of the culinary herbs among cooks in North America .
I apply this spicy and flavorful seasoning in just about everything I cook , and therefore it was one of the very first perennials I planted when I start up my garden – I wanted a supplying on hand at all time !
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Feel the same style ? Read on to teach all about growing your own Greek oregano .
What You’ll Learn
Quick Look
Propagation
How to Grow
Where to Buy
Pests and Disease
harvest
maintain
There are anumber of species and cultivarsthat are refer to commonly as oregano , come up from different regions and with unlike savour profile .
A subspecies ofOriganum vulgare , Greek oregano is a slimly spicy herb with an earthy flavor . aboriginal to dry rocky cragged region in the Mediterranean , it is commonly used as a seasoning for pizza , sauces , inwardness , and salads .
Common name(s):Greek oregano
plant life character : Perennial herb
Hardiness ( USDA Zone):5 - 10
Native to : Greece , Turkey
time of year : Summer
photo : Full sun
Soil character : Sandy loam , well draining
Soil pH:6.5 - 7.0 , slenderly acidic to impersonal
Time to maturity:80 - 200 days
Spacing : 12 inches
Planting depth:1/8 column inch ( seeds ) , depth of container ( transplantation )
senesce size:2 fundament wide x 2 feet gamy
piss need : Low
Taxonomy
Order : Lamiales
kinsfolk : Lamiaceae
Genus : Origanum
Species : vulgare
Variety : hirtum
This perennial herb is hardy fromUSDA Zones5 to 10 . It grows about two metrical foot tall and wide , with easy hirsute leave . white-hot fragrant prime bloom from midsummer to devolve , attracting bee and butterflies .
A vigorous agriculturalist , this plant life spreads of course via undercover runners – so well , in fact , that it can even be used as a land cover charge !
ascertain more about develop culinary herb as a primer coat cover here .
Greek oregano spring up wild on mountainous slopes of Greece and Turkey .
It is also commonly touch to in the Mediterranean as “ wild marjoram , ” though it should not be put off withOriganum majorana , which is a dissimilar species in the same genus , that has a milder and gratifying flavor .
Technically , the flavorful culinary herb we call Greek oregano is n’t wild oregano itself , but a much more sapid hybrid race .
Use of Greek Origanum vulgare dates back to ancient Greece , where it was said that it was make by the honey goddess Aphrodite , who grew it in her garden atop Mount Olympus as a symbolic representation of joyfulness . It was commonly planted around homes to ward off evil spirits .
pack with the antimicrobic phenols know as thymol and carvacrol , this herb has also been used to care for a variety of ailments since ancient Grecian and Roman times , such as upset stomach , toothaches , and cough .
It was n’t until the 1940s that it became popular in the United States , when it was brought back by US soldiers who had been fighting in Italy during World War II .
Of course , the most pregnant use of this redolent herbaceous plant is as a culinary spiciness . A common component in Italian and Greek cuisine , it is used in everything from pizza and alimentary paste sauce to nub , soups , and vegetable dish aerial .
plant life can be propagated from cum , transplantation , ascendant cutting , or by sectionalization .
While all of these methods may be successful , my orientation is to take origin cutting from healthy plants . This way you know you are getting an offspring of interchangeable quality and flavor to the parent .
And if you happen to have a supporter with an established industrial plant this method is completely free !
moderate out ourguide to growing oreganofor detailed instructions on multiplication .
This fearless Mediterranean native is fairly kind of nutritionally misfortunate territory , warm winds , and spicy , juiceless conditions .
Let ’s explore how to give Greek wild marjoram the best head start and handle through the growing season :
Spacing
If plant more than one , space plant at least a foundation apart , or eight to 10 column inch apart if farm as ground cover .
utilize bark , shredded leave , or other naturalmaterial to mulcharound the base of plants .
Light
Greek oregano needs full Dominicus — at least six to eight hour per day . This is essential for the plant to develop its full redolent potential .
If you develop oregano in fond shade , it will survive , but the flavor and fossil oil content will be diminished .
In hot southern climates , a little good afternoon shade can be good to reduce focus during heatwaves , but overall , more light equals more feel .
Soil
Oregano does n’t need rich soil — in fact , the flavor can become bland in overly fertile ground . Aim for well - drain , moderately fertile to poor grunge with a pH between 6.5 and 7.0 .
If your territory tends to hold wet , amend it with compostor gumption to increase drain . Avoid overly acidulous or soggy area , which can quick lead to root rot .
Temperature and Humidity
This herb thrives in warm , ironic surround . Ideal growing temperatures fall between 60 to 80 ° F .
It can handle the occasional cold enchantment and even frost once lay down .
However , in humid climates , expert air circulation is fundamental to avoiding mildew and other moisture - related issue .
Water
Provide about aninch of watera week to new plants . Once established , let the soil dry out whole between waterings and water only when the ground palpate ironic .
verify not to overwater . This drouth kind plant is accustomed to dry out climates and does not bask being in waterlogged grime .
Fertilizer
Skip the heavy feeding . Oregano does n’t need much in the way of fertilizer .
If your grime is especially depleted , you’re able to add a light Lucy in the sky with diamonds of balanced fertilizer or compost once in early outpouring as growth resumes .
Excess nitrogen top to lush growth but at the disbursal of essential oil concentration — meaning a milder flavor .
Container Growing
Since these plant do n’t need ceaseless moisture , they are aneasy choice to produce in container .
take a pot with right drainage and use a sandy or gritty potting mix . Lucius DuBignon Clay pots are ideal because they provide the dirt to dry out more quickly .
Keep containers in a gay smirch , water only when the top inch of dirt dries out , and avoid over - fertilizing .
Overwintering
In Zones 7 and above , Hellenic pot marjoram can usually overwinter in the priming with minimum protection .
In colder areas ( Zones 5 - 6 ) , mulch with a heavyset layer of straw or shredded leaves in late fall to protect the beginning .
If you ’re growing in container , move them to a sheltered location like an unheated service department or inhuman bod .
turn off back maturation in late drop to trim back stress on the plant through winter
If you have a friend or neighbor with an established plant , enquire whether they would bear in mind if you take a few cuttings .
Otherwise , this popular perennial can be found at most glasshouse in season , and from online retailers as well .
Greek Oregano
Eden Brothers sells bundle of seedsin a variety of size .
Or to get a jump start , you may discover live plants in packs of threeavailable for purchase at Burpee .
Maintenance
These tough herbs do n’t need much in the fashion of criminal maintenance .
you’re able to pare regularly to encourage shaggy-coated growth rather than sprawl . Since the leaves have the best flavor just before they flower , nip back the plant as bud develop will prolong the tastiest crop , as well as encouraging shaggy emergence .
Of naturally , there are benefits to letting the blossom do their thing , as the bee and butterflies will certify to .
you may also cut back the dead branches after the first frost in declension or in other saltation .
Mulch heavily in fall around the base of plants to protect them through winter , and watch them bring back with vigor the following fountain !
Oregano is a hardy , disease insubordinate plant . It is actually a utilitarian associate plant for most vegetables as the aromatic flowers attract pollinator and otherbeneficial insects . It is also said to repel shekels moth .
While there are n’t too many cuss and diseases to be worry about , industrial plant can still suffer damage fromaphids , leafminers , andspider mites , as well as fungous pathogen that may cause ascendant rot . And as a phallus of themint house , Lamiaceae , they can occasionally ache from mint rust .
Be sure to see to it proper space around plant and avoid overwatering to prevent rotting . Minor pest infestation can often be taken care of with a strongspray from the hose , or by pinching back affected leaf .
particular on how to name and treatoregano pests and diseases can be plant in our guide .
Leaves can be harvest any time after plant life are at least six inch tall , start around 45 day after planting .
The best clip to glean is in mid to later morning , after the dew has evaporate , and when the all important oil message in the foliage is at its highest .
you could reap as needed throughout the time of year , or pick a large amount all at once for drying .
To harvest small quantities for immediate use , choose a fore at least six inch long , and cut just before a band of leaf nodes about two thirds of the way down . Be sure to leave about a third of the leave integral on each stem that you cut .
To harvest more significant quantities , you could burn back the entire works to within a few inches of the ground , go forth at least two to three inches of stem and leaf in place to allow the plant to recover .
Cut each bow about a twenty-five percent column inch above a set of folio nodes . This will cause the plant to separate out and become bushier as it recover and puts on raw increment .
Harvest liberally for dry out , as leave will shrink down to about a third of their saucy size as they dry .
This herb is easy to dry and store for use throughout the twelvemonth .
If you have a food dehydrator , set it on the lowest background , between 95 and 115 ° F , and check periodically . Leaves should be fully ironic in around four hours . Leaves are ready when they can be crushed easily in your hand .
you may also air wry parting by tying stems in bundles and attend them upside down inside a paper pocketbook with a few holes plug in it to allow for airflow . fall the bags in a dry sheltered location .
The bag helps harbour farewell from dust and light photograph while also reducing the jeopardy of stamp , and as the leaves dry , they will lead off to fall from the stems .
For quick drying , you may also use the oven . Separate the leaves from the stem and lay them in a individual layer on a baking bed sheet line with parchment newspaper .
broil in a 200 ° F oven , leave the door slightly ajar for air circulation . Stir every five minutes until leaves are wry enough to crumble , about 10 to 15 minutes full , then turn off the heat and leave in the oven until completely cool .
The dried herbaceous plant can be stored whole , crumbled , or powdered in an airtight container in a dark cupboard . I recommend store the leave whole , as they will continue the strongest smack . They can be crushed or powder easy right before use .
Find more tips on dry out herbaceous plant in our scout .
Spice Up Summertime
It is no wonder Grecian oregano has been so popular for so long !
Not only is it one of the most flavorful culinary herbaceous plant out there , but it is also unbelievably audacious and easy to grow . Plant some this time of year and enjoy your meals seasoned with garden fresh oregano for year to come .
Want to learn recurrent herbs ? checker out these articles next for more ideas :
© Ask the Experts , LLC . ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.See our TOSfor more details . to begin with publish May 28th , 2021 . Last updated : May 17th , 2025 . Product photo via Eden Brothers . Uncredited photos : Shutterstock .
About
Heather Buckner
