If you’re planning to grow herbs, oregano is a great choice to include in your indoor or outdoor garden. Originally from the Mediterranean region, oregano was first used as a medicinal herb to stimulate appetite and aid in digestion. Today it is a staple flavor in Italian and Greek cuisine, among others.
Oregano is a perennial herb, which means it will continue to grow again season after season. Since it can last for several years, it’s important to choose a location where it can grow undisturbed for its lifetime. The herb is easy to grow from seed, from cuttings or from transplants.
Oregano will grow in just about any soil type, but it prefers a light, chalky soil with good drainage. It also needs full sunlight, about 6 to 8 hours daily.
Depending on your regional climate, oregano seeds should be sown in spring. Warmer climates can enjoy a second sowing season in late summer. Plant oregano seeds 1/4 inch deep in rows 18 inches apart, spacing seeds several inches apart. Seeds take 8 to 14 days to germinate. Oregano seeds are very tiny, so you may choose to start the seeds indoors so you can see them better and transplant seedlings outdoors later. Thin seedlings to 12 inches apart after they are a few inches tall.
When fully grown, oregano plants will be about 2 feet tall. Harvest leaves for use in your recipes by cutting from the top of the plant.