How to grow oregano in a pot or in the garden

Excellent for adding flavor and aroma to our dishes, oregano is also a plant rich in antioxidants, mineral salts, and vitamins important for health: a true natural medicine.

How to grow oregano in a pot or in the garden

A very ancient, herbaceous perennial plant of the family Lamiaceae Origan It grows on stems that can reach up to 80 centimeters. It's a perennial plant, so it doesn't need to be planted every year, but simply needs to be well cared for, keeping in mind that it loves sunny areas: in fact, the best quality oregano is that produced in areas near the sea. Oregano is one of the most widely used aromatic herbs in cooking. Perfect for enhancing the flavor and aroma of many dishes, oregano it is also one plant rich in properties important for health and the well-being of the body. It's very important to avoid waterlogging, which causes the rhizome to rot and kill the oregano plant. Therefore, it's recommended to prepare the soil well before planting to ensure good drainage.

How to grow oregano in a pot

To grow and develop optimally, the oregano plant requires sun and mild temperatures. It's also a plant that doesn't require much effort to grow and adapts easily to any type of soil. the important thing is that it is well drained and that there is no stagnant water.

Necessary

  • A sachet of seeds
  • A bag of universal soil
  • A terracotta pot at least 50 centimetres high;

Let's see how to proceed:

  • If you choose to proceed with sowing oregano in a pot or in a seedbed, you will need to sow the seeds in early spring.
  • As soon as the seedlings start to sprout, keep the strongest and most robust ones and eliminate the less vigorous ones.
  • If you sow in a seedbed, once the seedlings have reached a height of 5-6 centimetres you can transplant them into a pot or directly into the ground.
  • Do the transplant in the months of April and May and remember to place the pot in a warm, sunny area.
  • During the winter it is preferable move the vase into the house in order to protect the plant from the cold.

How to grow oregano in the garden

  • If you choose to grow oregano in your garden instead, the right period is from April onwards.
  • Don't over-soil the seeds, and to promote water drainage and increase soil fertility, add gravel, sand, peat, and compost.
  • The oregano plant prefers dry soils and does not like water stagnation: therefore avoid to water water the plants excessively and wait until the soil is completely dry before proceeding with another watering.
  • Oregano flowers from July to September-October: harvesting is done throughout the year by delicately detaching the leaves from the branches or removing the sprig with all the flowers.
  • To dry the twigs, place them in the shade and upside down.

How much should you water oregano?

Among the things that make growing oregano easy is water: it doesn't need too much. Quite the opposite. This aromatic plant is very sensitive to waterlogging and prefers dry soil. Water occasionally, taking care not to do so if the soil is still moist. This is especially true in winter, when watering oregano plants with very low temperatures and still-damp soil can be fatal.

Where to place the plants

In summer, as we have seen, oregano needs sun, and therefore it is essential to ensure good exposure of the plant. The best time for sowing seedlings is at the end of February, with transplanting in spring. In winter, however, the plant must be protected from the cold and frost with small fabric covers and with good mulch.

Where it is kept

Once dried, oregano can be stored in a very simple way: just put it in glass jars and then fix it in dispensationRefrigeration is not recommended, but if you've purchased oregano sprigs, you can store them whole. Then, as you use this fantastic aromatic herb, shake the sprigs and your oregano will be ready to use.

Property

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It contains antioxidants, calcium, potassium, magnesium, iron, vitamins A, B, and E, making it a truly effective natural remedy for preventing many diseases. Oregano is also a good disinfectant and a natural antibiotic that helps prevent respiratory diseases: oregano essential oil is used to prepare infusions or fumigations with which to calm the dry cough or relieve cold and stuffy noseIt also has digestive and analgesic properties and it can be easily grown both in pots and in the garden.

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