Oregano in your Garden
Oregano is a super culinary herb – a must have for many cuisines – notably Italian, Greek and Mexican.
In temperate zones, oregano can be grown year round. In zones with harsher climates, oregano is considered an annual. No worries, as oregano is easily grown from seeds and can be propagated from cuttings.
To grown oregano, choose a sunny spot with well draining soil. No need to ammend too heavily as the plant will develop more of the volatile oils (those responsible for it’s pungent flavor and it’s medicinal properties) in more challenging conditions.
If you are growing from seed just lightly cover the seeds with a dusting of soil as the seeds like a bit of light in order to germinate.
To harvest, pick sprigs when the plant is at least 5 to 6″ tall. For the best flavor pick young leaves in the morning when the oils are at their highest levels. Be aware that as the plant flowers the flavor begins to diminish and with some varieties even becoming bitter. You can delay blooming by pinching off the flowers as they begin to form.
When using the fresh leaves to flavor cooked dishes, add the oregano towards the end of the cook time for maximum flavor as the volatile oils tend to cook off with long cook times.
Oregano can also be easily dried – pluck the leaves from the stems, spread in a single layer on a tray in a cool well ventilated place until totally dried. Store in an airtight jar for up to 6 to 8 months.
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