Oregano

Growing Tips: Oregano

Quick Reference:

Cover seed with 1/16 to 1/8 inch fine soil spaced 1 to 2 inches apart. Germination: 10 to 20 days. In cool weather Oregano does best when grown as a container plant. Make sure the soil surface does not dry out during germination period.

When and where to plant:

Oregano is a warm weather, frost sensitive plant grown as an annual herb in Alaska. It is recommended that the seed be started indoors 5 to 6 weeks before the last frost. Fill a container that has drainage holes with sterilized potting soil, sprinkle seed on soil surface. Lightly cover seed with 1/8 inch fine soil, water well for good seed-soil contact and keep moist until seedlings emerge. After the last frost, when the seedlings are at least 1 to 1 ½ inches tall repot or transplant outdoors in full sun, in a sandy, well drained, average garden soil. Grows well both indoors and outside.

Care:

Water as needed and apply plant food once during the summer. Pinch tops to encourage branching.

Harvest:

Pick leaves as needed for use fresh or dry. When drying, for best flavor harvest just before the plant blooms.