Originally native to the Mediterranean region, oregano is extremely popular as a herb north of the Alps. The plant is very easy to care for and can be easily cultivated both in the garden and on the balcony.

The oregano loves a sunny location

In its homeland, oregano grows in full sun as a dense carpet. Therefore, give the sun-loving herb a sunny and warm place in your home garden. It looks very good in a herb spiral and adorns every herb bed with its beautiful lipped flowers, which are swarmed by bees.

The right substrate

Oregano is an undemanding garden herb. It thrives well in slightly lean garden soil and prefers air-permeable, dry and slightly calcareous subsoil. However, the plant reacts sensitively to waterlogging and then tends to rot.

Grow oregano

Like many other herbs, oregano is available in specialist shops as a ready-grown and already hardened plant. However, you can also propagate the herb yourself from seeds or cuttings and grow the preferred plants in the garden.

Propagation by seeds

Oregano belongs to the light germs, so never cover the small seeds with substrate. Commercial growing or vegetable soil without the addition of artificial fertilizers is suitable as a seed substrate. To keep the small seeds from drying out, cover the seed pot with a clear plastic bag and mist it with a fine mist once a day. Separate the seedlings when they are five to ten centimeters high.

Propagation by cuttings

Before planting the approximately 15 centimeter long, freshly cut cuttings, remove the lower leaves. Cultivation soil, normal potting soil or herbal soil are suitable as cultivation substrate. The pot does not need to be covered. Place the seedlings in a bright place and keep them evenly moist. As a rule, the cuttings root after four to six weeks and can then slowly be accustomed to the open ground.

The planting distance

The oregano grows bushy and spreads out flat. If you plant the spice herb, you should therefore give it enough space. A planting distance of at least 25 centimeters is ideal.

toss oregano

You can implement oregano at any time during spring and summer. You can share large perennials on this occasion and multiply the oregano in this way.

The flowering period is the best harvest time

The aroma of oregano is most intense in the hot summer months during the flowering period. You can then pluck individual leaves directly from the stems or cut off whole branches with the pretty flowers and dry them in bundles in an airy and dark place. Drying enhances the aroma of the oregano and makes it even more intense.

Good or bad neighbors

Planted as a mixed culture, oregano promotes the health of some vegetable plants. Good neighbors are in particular:

  • onions
  • carrots
  • tomatoes
  • leek
  • all pumpkin plants

tips and tricks

If you want to cultivate oregano as a potted plant on the balcony, place the herb in special vegetable soil. This promotes growth and gives the oregano a particularly aromatic taste.

Category:

Vegetable garden