Have you ever been interested in learning How to Grow Oregano?
Do you think it’s too hard?
Or are you unsure of how to start?
Or where to go for the best information?
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Well, I have great news!
I have created 10 QUICK Tips on How to Grow Oregano so that you can enjoy this tasteful herb all year, no matter where you live.
Choose These 4 Oregano Types (Tips #1)
Are you interested in oregano for a garnish? How about pasta sauce? Or maybe to add flavor to your food?
There are more ways to use oregano than you can count. But in order to have the most success with the uses of oregano, you have to identify the correct type to grow.
I am recommending four general types of Oregano Plants when learning how to grow oregano from seed.
These are the easiest oregano to grow from seed and plant. Also, these four provide the most uses.
1. Common Oregano
Common Oregano, also known as Oregano Vulgare is the most frequently grow oregano across the world.
This type of oregano quickly spreads across your garden, but will only grow 6 inches to 1 foot tall.
It is the perfect herb to grow in hardy zones 5 to 10 and is perfect for pasta sauces and pizza.
If you want a herb that grows perfectly in pots, indoors, and in sunny and well-draining soil outside then you will want to grow common oregano.
Not only this, but it is incredibly easy to grow, maintain, and harvest and is perfect to grow for beginners.
2. Italian Oregano
Italian Oregano is a combination of common oregano and sweet marjoram and grows really well in hardy zones 6 through 9.
This type of oregano is easily identified by its white, spiked flowers and delicate light-green leaves.
It can be used for dozens of dishes and has a flavor that is in between greek oregano and sweet marjoram.
Not only this, but it grows in a similar way of common oregano and is incredibly easy to grow and maintain.
3. Greek Oregano
If you love Mediterranean dishes or cooking with pasta then you’ll want to grow Greek Oregano!
Greek Oregano is one of the most commonly grown types of oregano and you probably have it in your house without even knowing it.
Greek Oregano has a very powerful flavor, grows in hardy zones 5 to 11, and is perfect for almost any dish needing flavor.
Not only this, but it grows incredibly easy, is very aggressive, and is identified by its white flowers and fuzzy leaves.
Thai Sweet Oregano is famous for its spicy, licorice flavor it adds to Asian dishes.
4. Cuban Oregano
Cuban Oregano is actually a member of the mint family and has thick, fuzzy leaves and has a very strong odor.
The herb itself grows up to 18 inches tall and has saw-toothed leaves with pink, lavender, or white flowers.
This type of oregano is best grown indoors or in pots.
It is also recommended to only use small quantities of it to flavor food as it has incredibly strong flavor.
Purchase the BEST Garden Supplies (Tips #2-5)
2. Purchase the Right Seed
When learning how to grow oregano from seed the seed itself is the most important supply.
While vegetables typically have numerous types of seeds like organic, heirloom, GMO, etc. oregano plants typically grow from your traditional seed or organic.
Whether you purchase organic seeds or traditional seeds you will have the same results. There is no benefit to your health and your harvest will be no different.
What is important is where you purchase your oregano seeds from.
If you want seeds that come from reputable companies at a reasonable price and with quick delivery then you want to purchase them from Amazon.
3. Buy 2 Types of Containers
Once you purchase your seeds you will need at least 1 type of pot to start your oregano and two types of pots if you want to garden all year.
I typically don’t recommend planting your seeds directly into the soil because disease, pests, and mother nature will damage or destroy too many of them.
Instead, I recommend starting off your seed in 3-inch pots. My suggestion is GrowKo Peat Pots.
Next, you’ll want a much larger pot if you do not plan on transplanting your oregano into a garden.
The reason for this is that 3 inch pots are great for seeds and starting small plants, but cannot sustain the root growth needed for oregano leaf growth.
I recommend: Viagrow 5 Gallon Nursery Pot.
4. Buy These Garden Tools!
While containers and seeds are the only two essential tools you need when learning how to grow oregano from seed there are other garden tools that will make your life easy.
Of the most basic, but handiest garden supplies to have is a good sprayer
.
You want to use a good sprayer because hoses and cups will flood your seed rendering it useless. I recommend Tolco Spray Bottle 8 oz.
In addition, it is also great to have good garden utensils to help minimize dirt and disorganization.
If you want one of the best gardening tool sets then I recommend Vremi 9 piece tool set.
And finally, you can’t grow oregano seeds inside without a good grow light. If you have access to a warm sunny area for at least 8 hours a day you won’t need a grow light.
Most of us don’t have access to that much sunlight during the winter. And sometimes even if we do a grow light is just more effective for the best results.
I specifically recommend: Hydrofarm Grow Light.
5. Buy Soil & Fertilizer
Just because you have the best seeds and a pot to start your oregano doesn’t mean you’ll have success.
You want to make sure you have the correct soil and good fertilizer.
If you do not have the proper soil your seed will not fully grow and bare leaves. And while you can survive without fertilizer, a good mixture will help you get the most out of your oregano plant.
While there are lots of soil you can buy, we will want to focus on the only one you need, potting mix.
Very simply, this soil will contain the right mixture of soil, sand, and nutrients needed for your Oregano seeds to grow healthy.
I am highly recommending: Miracle-Gro Potting Mix.
I am recommending this type of soil for a couple of reasons.
Everything you need to start seeds and provide your oregano with the correct nutrients can be found in this soil.
And if you decide you want to transplant your oregano plant to another pot you will not need to purchase a different type of soil.
In addition, you want to make sure you have a good fertilizer to help your oregano grow as large and fruitful as possible.
I use and recommend: Miracle-Gro Plant Food.
Why I like this type of fertilizer is that it provides everything your oregano plant needs. And you won’t have to worry about the type of mixture to use or how to use it.
Best of all is that this type of fertilizer can be used on all your vegetable and herb plants!
How to Start Seeds Indoors (Tip #6)
When learning how to grow oregano from seed you should almost always start your process indoors.
Step 1
You will want to start your oregano seeds inside approximately 4 weeks before you plan on moving your oregano into your garden or moving your larger container.
You want to first start by filling your 3 inches pot 80% full with your potting mix.
Next, you will want to spray the soil immediately after 5-10 times. You want the soil to be damp, but not soaked. You will know the soil is damp when it turns a dark brown color.
Step 2
Next, use the tip of a pencil and make a circular motion to form a tiny hole. This will be approximately 1/8 inch deep.
Then place 2 to 3 seeds into the hole and brush the soil over the seeds.
You will then spray the soil again 5 to 8 times. Moisten, but do not dampen the soil.
Step 3
After planting your seeds place your pots in direct sunlight or under your grow light. Your seeds will need approximately 8 hours of sunlight.
If you put your seeds under the grow light keep it approximately 4 inches from the bulb. Anything closer will burn the seeds. Anything further away with not provides enough heat and light.
You will also need to make sure the room temperature is around 70 degrees Fahrenheit.
If the air temperature does not stay around this temperature then your seeds will not germinate or pop through the soil.
If you don’t have an area that will stay consistently around 70 degrees, I would recommend investing in a Plant Heating Mat.
A Plant Heating Mat is the perfect way to keep your pots and seeds at a consistent temperature that we may not otherwise be able to. The best part about a heat mat is you just plug it in and you are all set.
Step 4
After your initial planting, you will need to spray the soil once to twice a day. You will know it’s time to spray if the soil looks a light brown color or feels dry to the touch.
It will take approximately 10-14 days for your seeds to germinate or pop through the soil. Do not worry if it takes a few days later as each growing situation is different.
Step 5
Continue spraying your oregano (as referred to step 4) over the next 4-8 weeks.
Once your oregano reaches 3 inches tall you will either want to move them into your larger containers or move them outside.
If you move your oregano plants into a larger container you can continue to water them twice a day until they are ready to be harvested.
Oregano is an incredibly hardy plant, so you can move them outside even if there is a slight chance of frost.
You can view your hardy zone below to determine your first and last frost date of the year.
When transplanting your oregano plant into a garden you will want to dig a hole that is the size of your oregano plant root ball (where the roots meet the soil). Next, cover it with soil and water it for 30 seconds.
It should also be noted that you will not need to thin your oregano plant like you would with vegetables or herbs. Typically, 2-3 oregano plants can grow in one pot without any problems. This will also give you the fullest harvest.
If you learn better watching a video then I recommend watching the below youtube tutorial:
How to Care for Oregano (Tip #7)
Below are tips for caring for your Oregano throughout the summer:
- Healthy Soil & Fertilizer – Inspect your soil for fungus, pests, and weeds before you plant and throughout the summer. Remove as needed.
- Water. Water once a week when planted outside. Too much water will not kill your oregano but will stunt its growth.
- Harvest Often & Early: One of the best ways to care for your oregano is to harvest it often and early. This will help your oregano to continue to grow and become healthier
- At the end of the season, prune your oregano to the ground so that it grows again every year.
How to Harvest Oregano (Tip #8)
For every oregano plant on this list, you can begin harvesting the leaves 60 to 90 days after your oregano seeds pop through the soil.
Below are critical tips to remember when harvesting oregano:
- Harvest your oregano plants under the leaves. You can harvest your oregano as soon as it grows and spread.
- I highly recommend only harvesting 20% of your oregano at a time. This will allow more leaves to grow at a faster rate.
- After you harvest your oregano leaves you will want to wash them, place them in a plastic bag, and store them in your fridge.
How to Store Oregano (Tip #9)
There is nothing better than fresh oregano. And the best part is that you can harvest your oregano only when needing it, giving you the freshest oregano!
But what happens if you have too much oregano?
How do you store it?
The place way to store your oregano leaves is to wash them, place them in a plastic bag where you remove all oxygen (by pressing on the bag after the leaves are inside), and storing them in your fridge.
If you plan on using the oregano leaves within the next 24 hours you can also repeat the same process as above and leave them in a cool dark space in your house.
If you want to use your leaves longer than a few days or week then I recommend watching the video above to learn how to dry your oregano.
BEST Oregano Use Ideas (Tip #10)
So planting, caring, and harvesting oregano plants is fun, but using oregano is the best part!
Below, are a few of the uses of oregano that are both easy and most enjoyable:
- Creating essential oil: Oregano can be used to help arthritis, is great for your skin, and can help repel mosquitoes and other insects.
- Health: If you are interested in learning more about health remedies that oregano can be used for, I highly recommend reviewing WebMD
- Food: There are so many different uses, but if you want to learn my favorite ways to use fresh oregano then check out: Food Network
Conclusion
After reading this article you should now have a much better idea on How to Grow Oregano from seeds and how to have the greatest chance for success.
If you want to have the most success, I recommend these 10 SIMPLE Tips:
- Use one of the 4 recommended types of Oregano for the best chance of success
- Buy the Correct Seeds. Organic or traditional doesn’t matter as much as where you purchase them from
- Buy two different types of containers to help allow your oregano to grow to its fullest potential
- Garden tools aren’t essential, but they will make gardening easier!
- The correct soil and fertilizer can turn your oregano from good to great
- There are only 5 simple steps for starting your seed in a pot and this should take less than 15 minutes
- Proper care for your oregano will allow you to get the most harvest
- Harvesting oregano is easy. Harvest oregano whenever you are ready to use it.
- Oregano leaves can be stored in cool, dark places, the fridge, or even can be dried
- There are many great uses for oregano leaves. Don’t be afraid to try different recipes
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