Herb

Oregano is a delightful perennial herb with dark green leaves in opposite pairs, and pretty flowers in pink, purple or white in color. Its flavor is very similar to that of Marjoram, but slightly stronger and more pungent.

The Oregano herb is believed to have come from Greece. Its name means “Joy of the Mountain” in Greek, and the herb is indeed found growing wild on the mountainside of Greece and the Mediterranean. Legend has it that the Greeks fed cows with Oregano to improve the taste of the meat, and Aristotle has recommended the herb as an antidote for poison after he noticed that tortoises would eat the herb after swallowing a poisonous snake.

Growing Oregano

Oregano grows best in warm climate; for the US, it would mean climate zone 5-9. It might be helpful to know that the herb prefers partial shade as its leaves can be scorched by the full sun. This makes Oregano the perfect choice in shady areas under the big tree, or corners in your garden. If you live in an area with lower climate zone, you can still include Oregano in your herb gardening, with extra care: either transplant them to pots and bring indoors before winter, or cover the plants for protection against frost and harsh winds.

Harvesting Oregano

The Oregano herb is ready for harvest once it reaches 4-5 inches in height. This plant can generally tolerate aggressive harvesting; in fact, frequent pruning can encourage stronger and healthier growth. As a good practice in herb gardening, you can inspect your Oregano for signs of pests during pruning.

Having said that, this herb attracts few pests, except maybe spider mites and aphids if the plant is grown indoors during the winter. If aphids hit, simply spray the plant with insecticidal soap.

Propagating Oregano

It is easy to propagate your Oregano and this can be done by seeding, cuttings and root division. For seeds, it will be helpful to sow them in containers and cover the seeds with only a light layer of soil. This can be done in spring or when the temperature is above 45F.

Similar to Mint, Oregano sends out runners when mature. Roots grow out from these shoots as soon as they touch the soil… While this means that the herb is very easy to propagate, there is a risk of Oregano overrunning your garden. A solution would be to contain the herb’s growth in a pot (either with or without the bottom removed) and place it deep in the soil, or simply grow Oregano as a container plant.

Oregano Uses

While the Oregano herb is mostly used in perfume making in the commercial world, it has an important place in Mediterranean cooking. After all, it is affectionately known as the “pizza” herb!

If you decide to use Oregano as a culinary herb, I would recommend Greek Oregano, which has the classic Oregano flavor. Other varieties include the Mexican Oregano (mostly used as an ingredient for chili powders because of its more pungent flavor), and Golden Oregano, a variety with milder flavor and primarily used as ornamental herbs.

Lastly, a couple of tips for your culinary delight: throw in the herbs only towards the end of the cooking, as the Oregano leaves tend to turn bitter under strong heat. Also, please note that unlike most herbs, dried Oregano tastes stronger than its fresh form. Enjoy!

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