Like many other kitchen herbs, oregano can also be cultivated in pots on the balcony, terrace or windowsill. In a favorable location, the popular herb thrives here and promises a rich harvest.

The oregano needs a lot of heat and light

In order for oregano to thrive, it needs the right location. A south-facing balcony or south-facing window is ideal. Give the plant a few weeks to get used to the new environment and protect the oregano from direct midday sun during this time. Since many plants are grown in greenhouses, they are not used to the sun's powerful UV rays. Despite their love of warmth, they react to the strong sunlight at midday with sunburn on their leaves.

Too small planters allow the oregano to grow weakly

Commercial herbs are often found in pots that are far too small. As a result, there is not enough substrate available for the oregano and it cannot develop vigorously. It is therefore advisable to repot newly purchased plants directly and to use this opportunity to move them to a larger bucket. Alternatively, you can carefully divide the oregano and plant it in several pots.

Commercial herb or vegetable soil is suitable as a substrate, to which you can add some sand to loosen it up. Since oregano reacts to waterlogging with root rot, it is advisable to place a drainage layer of expanded clay (€19.73) in the planter.

The best watering time is early morning

Potted oregano needs to be watered more often than herbs grown outdoors. It is watered whenever the surface of the soil feels dry. In the warm summer months, oregano needs daily watering. The optimal watering time is early in the morning, because then the plant can immediately absorb the moisture that has evaporated through the leaves during the day. On very hot days, you may need to water again in the evening. If the weather is cool and damp, water the oregano very sparingly.

Harvest wisely

In order for the oregano to thrive, it is important that you are careful when harvesting:

  • Always use a sharp and clean cutting tool.
  • Harvest the shoot tips regularly; this also serves to rejuvenate the plant.
  • As soon as the oregano begins to bloom, cut off the plant about a hand's breadth above the ground.
  • The leaves and flowers of this pruning can be preserved by drying or freezing.

tips and tricks

Herbs from the supermarket are grown in a very short time and are intended for consumption soon. If you want to cultivate the oregano permanently in a pot, it is therefore better to use plants from the garden trade. These plants are hardy and can be outdoors during the summer months.

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Vegetable garden