The seeds form from the pleasantly fragrant, pink to crimson lipped flowers of oregano after they have faded. They contain numerous tiny, oblong, oval, dark brown nuts. You can grow numerous new oregano plants from these seeds.
The best time to sow oregano
Since oregano needs temperatures of at least twenty degrees to germinate, you should preferably sow it indoors or in a heated greenhouse. If you would like to expose the plants outdoors in spring, you can start growing as early as February. You should wait until May before sowing directly in the herb garden.
How to sow the oregano:
Oregano germinates in the sun and the seeds must therefore never be covered with soil. The following procedure has proven itself:
- Place potting soil in a peat pot or a small pot and press down lightly.
- Using an atomizer, dampen the soil well but do not soak it completely.
- Scatter the seeds over the soil and press gently.
- Spray carefully. Be careful not to wash away the seed.
- To create a greenhouse climate, put a clear plastic bag over the planter.
- Place seedlings on a very light and sunny window sill.
The care of the seedlings
- Aerate the seedlings daily to prevent mold growth.
- Remove moldy seeds and soil immediately.
- Moisten the soil regularly, but avoid over-soaking.
Oregano takes a relatively long time to germinate. The cotyledons of the plants only appear after about 14 to 28 days. Now open the cover more often so that the small plants get a lot of light. Rotate the pots daily to keep the seedlings from orienting themselves too much toward the sun.
Prick the oregano
As soon as the second pair of leaves appears above the cotyledons, you can prick out the oregano. Loosen the soil with the pricking stick and carefully dig up the small plants. The root of the oregano is somewhat damaged by the pricking; however, this is not bad and encourages him to grow stronger. The plants are placed in pots with potting soil, in which you have pressed a sufficiently deep hole for the roots with the pricking stick. Continue tending the oregano seedlings on the windowsill until they are strong enough to move outdoors.