Oregano: Sowing, planting and harvest calendar
How do you sow oregano indoors?
Sow oregano indoors in spring in small pots or a module tray filled with moist seed compost. Scatter the tiny seeds on the surface and gently press them down without covering them: they need light to germinate.
Keep the seed tray warm, around 20 °C, in a bright place. Keep the compost slightly moist without soaking it and water gently to avoid moving the seeds. If you use a clear cover, ventilate regularly. Germination usually takes one to three weeks depending on conditions.
When the seedlings have several leaves, transplant them into individual pots. Keep them in good light and gradually harden them off before planting outdoors after the last frost, in well-drained soil in sun. Space plants at least 20 to 30 cm apart, according to their growth.
A level surface helps seeds remain in contact with the compost without burying them. To moisten it again without moving the seeds, you can briefly let the container absorb water through its drainage holes, then lift it out and drain it. Do not leave the saucer permanently full. Label the variety and date, and do not discard a sowing too soon when germination is still incomplete.
How do you sow oregano outdoors?
Sow oregano outdoors in spring after the last frost, once the soil has warmed. Choose a sunny spot with well-drained soil. Weed and prepare a fine, level surface for sowing; routine deep digging is not needed.
Scatter the tiny seeds thinly on the surface and press them down gently without covering them, as they need light to germinate. Keep the surface slightly moist with gentle watering, without standing water. Do not let the seedbed dry out as you might for an established adult plant.
Once the seedlings are large enough to handle, thin or transplant them to leave at least 20 to 30 cm between plants, according to their growth. This spacing applies to plants, not individual seeds. In cool climates, sowing indoors gives you more control over germination conditions.
Mark the sown area precisely, as surface-sown seeds are difficult to find again. Choose a spot where runoff will not wash them away with the first watering or shower. Check the surface after rain before deciding to sow again. Gently remove weeds emerging nearby without scraping over the whole area: you could bury or displace the oregano seeds along with them.
How do you plant oregano?
Plant young oregano plants in spring after the last frost. If you raised them indoors, gradually harden them off before planting. Choose a warm, sunny spot with well-drained soil. In heavy or damp soil, use a raised bed or a pot with drainage holes to avoid standing water.
Plant at the same depth as in the original pot and leave at least 20 to 30 cm between plants, according to their growth. Water after planting to help roots establish, then as needed during dry spells. Once established in the ground, oregano tolerates drought; in pots, check more often for dry compost.
Weed around young plants and avoid overwatering. In the ground, oregano generally needs no extra fertiliser. For a plant kept in the same pot for several years, adjust feeding to the condition of the compost and the product instructions.
How do you harvest oregano?
Harvest a few young shoots as needed from late spring to autumn while the plant is growing. Leaves are generally more aromatic before the flowers open. Cut with clean scissors, leaving foliage on the plant to allow regrowth. Use the leaves fresh or dry them.
For drying, keep healthy shoots and hang them in a dry, dark, well-ventilated place. Wait until the leaves are completely dry before stripping them off and putting them in an airtight jar away from light and moisture. Check their condition before use and discard mouldy leaves. Aroma fades over time; keeping all the flavour for several months is not guaranteed.
Spread your cuts across several stems instead of stripping one side of the plant bare. Cut above a leafy section and avoid pulling on the branches to remove leaves. For drying, make small, loose bunches that allow air to circulate through their centres. Sort the shoots before hanging them and keep batches separate if you harvest several different varieties of oregano.
Oregano
- Type : Aromatic plants
- Subtype : Leafy vegetables
- Botanical Family : Lamiaceae (labiate)
Characteristics
- Lifecycle : Perennial
- Exposure : Full Sun
- Frost Hardiness : Frost Resistant
- Cultivation Difficulty : Easy
- Mature height : 60 cm
Sowing & Planting
- Greenhouse Growing : Not Required
- Plant Spacing : 30 cm
- Row Spacing : 30 cm
Maintenance
- Maintenance : Low
- Water Requirements : Low
Other characteristics
- Soil Type : Sandy
- Soil pH Preference : Neutral
- Pest Sensitivity : Moderate
- Disease Sensitivity : Moderate
- Weed Sensitivity : Low
- Pollination : Insect-pollinated
- Propagation : Sowing