Oregano Growing and Harvest Information - VeggieHarvest.com (2024)

FAQs

How is oregano grown and harvested? ›

The flavor of oregano is most intense in mid-summer, just before it blooms, making this the best time to harvest leaves for drying. This herb is stronger dried than fresh. For a big harvest, cut the stems just above the plant's lowest set of leaves; this encourages new growth for the next cutting in late summer.

Harvesting oregano couldn't be simpler! Harvest oregano once the stems are at least four inches tall. As a general guide, let them grow to about eight inches tall, and then cut back up to 2/3 of the plant. Don't worry if you've cut the oregano too much — regular trimming encourages new growth!

Oregano plants attain maturity 80-90 days after sowing seeds, but you can start harvesting leaves in as little as 6-8 weeks. Harvest oregano leaves by pinching or snipping a branch just above a leaf node, using care not to cut back more than one-third of the branch or plant at a time.

You may start harvesting your oregano plant once the stems grow at least 4 to 5 inches tall. The best time to harvest oregano is right before it blooms. At that point, the plant has developed its highest concentration of essential oils. The flavor is strong, potent, and at its peak at that time.

I make multiple harvests from my oregano plants. The first takes place about 4 to 6 weeks after our last frost in the spring. The second takes place about 6 weeks after that. Sometimes I harvest the entire plant the first time and then only harvest a portion of the stems with the second harvest.

Oregano doesn't need quite as much water as most herbs. As the amount of watering depends on many variables, just water when the soil feels dry to the touch. Remember that it's better to water thoroughly and less often.

Can you harvest oregano after it flowers? Oregano leaves can be harvested during or after the plant has flowered but the taste will be milder or more bitter, depending on the variety.

Each herb has different requirements as to how much of the plant should be cut back. For example: oregano should be cut back almost to the ground, but lavender and sage only needs a gentle trimming to remove the flowers.

They usually appear in late spring. The flavor in the leaves starts to decline as the plants bloom, so most gardeners do not allow their oregano to bloom. In the case of Greek oregano, the leaves become very bitter after the plants have bloomed.

Does oregano grow back every year? ›

A majority of herbs are perennials throughout most of the United States. That means they come back year after year and usually get bigger or spread in territory each year. Some of our most-used cooking herbs are perennials, including sage, oregano and thyme.

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. Oregano suffers in wet soil, so if you're planting it in the ground and have heavy soil, make sure you include a handful of grit to the planting hole.

Place oregano in a single layer on a baking sheet. You can dry directly on the baking sheet or put down parchment paper. Place in the oven for 1 hour. After 1 hour the leaves should be completely dried.

Cut back no more than 1/3rd of the plant at a time.

This prevents over-pruning. If you cut away too much of the plant at once, your plant may not survive. Before pruning your oregano again, make sure it's grown back to at least 4 inches (10 cm) tall.

How do you harvest oregano without killing the plant? Snip off a few shoots about 2/3 of the way down the plant. Use sharp scissors or a pruner to clip the stem about 2/3 of the way down. Oregano is pretty tough to kill, so don't worry about being super gentle.

Freezing works well for basil, chives, oregano, lemon balm, mint, or tarragon. Frozen herbs can be used in the same proportion as fresh herbs. Remember though they will be limp when defrosted, but will still add fabulous flavor to your cooking.

Water. Oregano only needs about an inch of water per week and is tolerant of moderate drought. Allow the soil to dry out between waterings. Overwatering can cause root rot and other problems.

Fertilize your chives, oregano and dill just once during the summer growing season, spreading 1 1/2 ounces of 5-10-5 fertilizer for every 5 feet of your herb row. Irrigate the herbs immediately after fertilization to help carry the fertilizer's nutrients to the plants' roots.

Fresh and dried oregano leaf and oregano oil are commonly eaten in foods.

Old woody branches that become leggy (more stem than leaf) should be cut out at the end of winter, and plants should be replaced every five years to prevent legginess. The lifespan of oregano is about five or six years, and usually, one harvest is done in the first year and two in the following years.

Does oregano reseed itself? ›

Because oregano is a self-seeding perennial, the plants you grow will come back year after year without you having to put any work forward. However, there are ways to save the seeds if you want to start new plants.

Cut the plants nearly to the ground after the first hard frost, then cover the plants with soil and top the soil with 4 to 6 inches (10-15 cm.) of mulch. A layer of evergreen boughs will also protect perennial herbs from harsh, drying winds.

Leaves Turning Brown

The most common reason oregano will turn brown is rot caused by excess humidity, overwatering, or poor drainage. But it can also be from lack of water. What is this? If left with wet feet for too long, it will begin to experience root rot, which will cause the leaves to turn yellow and then brown.

The ideal temperature range for your oregano is between 60-80 degrees during the day, dropping back to 50-60 at night. It can tolerate temperatures down into the 40's, but it's frost-sensitive.

Cuban oregano readily grows through hot summers, and the plants produce more leaves each time leaf tips are harvested.

Choosing ones that are tolerant of cold conditions is a good start. “Tough perennial herbs such as rosemary, chives, sage, oregano and thyme can be overwintered in the garden,” says Dana. Coriander, parsley, dill and winter savoury will also grow well in cool conditions - but don't over pick.

Oregano is a relatively easy plant to start with. You can take stem cuttings 7-12 cm long from a healthy plant (with a sterilized knife), remove leaves from the bottom half and place the cuttings in water, so that the leaves are above the water. Place your containers in a well lit place, avoiding direct sunlight.

Cut your oregano plant down to the ground after the first frost. The plant will have gone dormant by this time and cutting the stems short will help to protect the plant during the winter.

Herbs such as lemon verbena, basil, dill, and cilantro should be brought indoors before the first frost. Once inside, these plants do best with indoor temperatures ranging between 65 to 75 degrees. Several hardy herbs can actually overwinter outdoors, including mint, oregano, parsley, sage, and thyme.

This drought-tolerant herb needs well-draining soil. Wet or boggy soil leads to rot. During hot weather and dry periods, water oregano deeply and regularly. Feed oregano only occasionally with compost or organic fertilizer.

Does oregano like poor soil? ›

Mediterranean herbs like marjoram, oregano, rosemary, sage and thyme grow best in full sun and free draining poorer soil. Chives and parsley can cope with a slightly shadier spot and richer soil.

Oregano is not a moisture-loving herb. Its soil conditions are usually dryer than those of herbs like basil and mint. It is because of this I recommend not planting these herbs together in a container or pot and instead keep them in separate containers so you can control their watering environment a bit easier.

How do you harvest oregano without killing the plant? Snip off a few shoots about 2/3 of the way down the plant. Use sharp scissors or a pruner to clip the stem about 2/3 of the way down. Oregano is pretty tough to kill, so don't worry about being super gentle.

Luckily, oregano usually grows quickly. Pruning your oregano will encourage new growth. Not only will it grow more leaves, it'll even grow more stems!

Oregano and thyme do best when pinched or cut back to about half their length. Frequent pinching can keep rosemary and lavender to a manageable size during their spring growth spurt and supply you with lots of herbs for cooking.

Old woody branches that become leggy (more stem than leaf) should be cut out at the end of winter, and plants should be replaced every five years to prevent legginess. The lifespan of oregano is about five or six years, and usually, one harvest is done in the first year and two in the following years.

Cold-hardy herbs, such as chives, mint, oregano, parsley, sage and thyme, can often survive cold-winter temperatures while continuing to produce flavorful foliage, as long as they are provided with some protection or grown indoors.

Water. Oregano only needs about an inch of water per week and is tolerant of moderate drought. Allow the soil to dry out between waterings. Overwatering can cause root rot and other problems.

Oregano is a relatively easy plant to start with. You can take stem cuttings 7-12 cm long from a healthy plant (with a sterilized knife), remove leaves from the bottom half and place the cuttings in water, so that the leaves are above the water. Place your containers in a well lit place, avoiding direct sunlight.

How do you harvest oregano seeds? ›

Preparing Sage, Oregano and Thyme for Winter

Don't trim too low down the stems (a light trim of the top leaves is enough) as the plants need time to recover before the cold weather arrives and small tender shoots engendered by fierce pruning won't take kindly to being bathed in frost.

Freezing works well for basil, chives, oregano, lemon balm, mint, or tarragon. Frozen herbs can be used in the same proportion as fresh herbs. Remember though they will be limp when defrosted, but will still add fabulous flavor to your cooking.

Start the root structure

If you aren't using a growth hormone, you'll want to establish a root structure before planting in soil. To do this, you can place your oregano plant in a glass of water, with the 2″ of bare stem fully submerged. After 3-4 weeks you should start seeing roots sprouting out of the stem!