Your Weekly Electronic Gardening Guide
Practical Horticulture for Busy People.
Oregano
About This Plant...
Family:Labiatae
Genus and species:Origanum vulgare
Plant type:perennial
Height and width:12-24 inches high; 10-20 inches wide
Location and soil:sun; well-drained soil; will grow indoors
Uses:fresh or dried leaves in soups, stews, and sauces; meat, fish, and egg recipes; salads and vegetables; pizza; honeybees like flowers
Propagation methods:seeds, root division, and cuttings
Indoor Sowing...
Time needed to reach transplant size:6-10 weeks
When to transplant to garden:after last spring frost
Outdoor Sowing...
When to sow outdoors:after last spring frost
Other Sowing Guidelines...
Approx. germination time:8-14 days
Germination temp.:70 degrees F.
Days to maturity:
Transplanting Guidelines...
Spacing between plants:10-12 inches
Spacing between rows:18 inches
Growing On...
Pests:aphids, leaf miners, spider mites
Diseases:fungal diseases, root rot
Harvest:pick fresh leaves as needed; for drying, just before full flowering, cut stems with flower heads attached and dry on wire racks in a cool, airy place, then pick off leaves and store in an airtight jar
Growing tips:Origanum vulgare subspecies hirtum (Origanum heracleoticum) has better flavor than the species