Growing oregano gives you access to an herb with countless uses. This herb is easy to grow and offers a bounty of health benefits that every gardener can take advantage of. Here’s everything you need to know about how to grow and use oregano!
Oregano is a well-known culinary herb used in Italian, Turkish, Greek, and Mexican cooking. It has a rich, warming flavour but can also be bitter, especially when used fresh.
Oregano is easy and attractive to grow in the garden and has wonderful medicinal properties. This guide will cover growing oregano, its history and health benefits, how to harvest it, and how to use it in recipes.
Let’s dive in!
LoriAnn’s Green Blessings
This article was reviewed by herbalist LoriAnn Bird. This is not to be used as personal medical advice; always consult your health care professional for individual concerns.
Here is what LoriAnn had to say:
We know that this strong-smelling Mediterranean herb has many healing properties. Did you know that it’s loaded with antioxidants? An excellent source of fibre, vitamin K (good for the blood), manganese, iron, vitamin E, and calcium! Food is our medicine.
History of Oregano
Oregano (Origanum vulgare) is native to the Mediterranean and Eurasia regions and tends to grow wild in mountainous areas with rocky soil. The ancient Greeks used oregano and some records of its herbal use date back as far as 1600-1200 BC.
The word oregano is said to have originated from the Greek word oreos, meaning “mountains,” and ganeos, meaning “brightness,” “joy,” or “beauty.”
Oregano in Ancient Times
Oregano used to be a single species but has now been cultivated around the world into several different varieties. This pungent herb has been cultivated over the last 3,000 years in Egypt. The use of oregano as a disinfectant and preservative was common in Egypt. It was often combined with rosemary and lavender in linen sachets and bath products. It was commonly used for fragrance, cleansing, and hygiene.
In ancient times, oregano was often referred to by the physician Galen and well-known herbalists Culpeper, Parkinson, and Gerard. The Origanum species, including marjoram, were recorded for use of a variety of ailments including colds, toothaches, stomachaches, bruises, swellings, earaches, and coughing.
Oregano in the Bible
Lebanese oregano is considered by authorities on the Bible to be one of the plants referenced as ‘hyssop’. Legend has it that it was the plant used to sprinkle lamb’s blood on doorposts during Passover. It has been used in purification and sacrificial offerings as well.
Oregano in Folklore
According to some magical folklore, oregano was associated with spirits and was thought to help the dead sleep peacefully. Oregano was also used in sachets to help attract wealth.
In the 7th century B.C., oregano was used to flavour meat, vegetables, and wine. It is still used extensively today in kitchens around the globe.
Health Benefits of Oregano
According to studies, oregano can be used to kill bacteria, yeast, fungi, parasites, and viruses. Additionally, oregano is effective for intestinal gas, sore throats, coughs, rheumatism, earache, sinusitis, and diarrhea.
It is also used to treat nervous tension, breathing difficulties, dandruff, diaper rash, toothache, bee stings, and venomous bites, as well as relieve cramps, reduce fever, and reduce the effects of mumps and measles.
Oregano’s Antimicrobial and Antibacterial Properties
While oregano is most commonly known as a culinary herb in modern times, it contains powerful antimicrobial and antibacterial properties. Studies on oregano essential oil show antibacterial activity, even against E.coli.
The main active constituents in oregano are carvacrol and thymol, which have broad-spectrum antibacterial action also against Salmonella typhinium and E. coli, as well as different kinds of MRSA, an antibiotic-resistant bacteria.
Oregano for Arthritis
It’s warming properties make it a great analgesic for achy muscles, bones, and joints. The same study shows that oregano also contains rosmarinic acid, which was suggested in immunity studies to inhibit T-cell mediated progression of rheumatoid arthritis.
Oregano Lowers Stress
In one study, dietary use of oregano leaf reduced oxidative stress in rats, demonstrating its powerful antioxidant properties as well. Both carvacrol and rosmarinic acid have been reported to protect DNA from damaging agents.
How to Grow Oregano
Now that you know all the incredible benefits of this herb, let’s talk about growing oregano.
Botanical name: Origanum vulgare
Family name: Lamiaceae
USDA Zone: 5-10
Height: 12 to 18 inches
Spacing: 12 to 15 inches
Light: Full sun
Water: Drought-tolerant
Warnings: None
Oregano, sometimes called wild marjoram, belongs to the mint family so it’s both easy to grow and prolific. It’s a woody-stemmed perennial that lasts well overwinter in zones 5-10. In Zones 4 and below it can be grown as tender perennial or annual and protected over winter.
Let the plants grow to about 4 inches, and then encourage a denser, bushier plant by harvesting the leaves for use! You can harvest them by pinching off the tops or pruning them lightly. Regular pruning will cause the plant to branch again into tall, spindly plants.
Like all Mediterranean herbs like lavender and rosemary, oregano loves sun and heat. The plants are drought-tolerant and require excellent draining soil. Once established, they require little water.
Growing Oregano in Containers
It not only is suitable for growing in containers, but it can also be preferred to keep the spread contained. On the other hand, oregano does make a fragrant, attractive, low-growing groundcover plant in garden beds, which is how I grow it.
How to Propagate Oregano
Oregano can easily be started from seeds and cuttings from an existing plant, but it’s easiest to divide a clump from an established plant as a new start.
You can dig a clump out with a soil knife, and it will easily transplant into its new home. Or dig up the entire oregano plant and divide it into many more plants.
If growing from seeds or cuttings, do so indoors 6 to 10 weeks before the last day of frost in your area to get a head start on the season.
How to Harvest Oregano
Harvest oregano liberally before flowering for drying and use throughout the year. The leaves have the most flavour right before the flowers bloom. I recommend you harvest in the morning after the dew has dried as the leaves will contain the most volatile oils. The natural essential oils are highest in the morning in most herbs.
Note: Oregano flowers are not only beautiful; they are highly beneficial for pollinators as well. Leave some flowers for the bees and allow them to dry on the plant. You can then cut the flowers stems back in fall and use them for indoor dried flower arrangements.
Use clean scissors or snips to remove stems from the plant. Cut back just above the set of leaves. This will allow the plant to branch from the cut area and produce more stems. If there is any dust or mulch, rinse them lightly and use a salad spinner to remove the excess moisture.
How to Dry & Store Oregano
Hang a bundle of stems and leaves upside down on a cool, dry, location, out of direct sunlight. When dry, you can remove the leaves by running your fingers from the top to the bottom of the stems dislodging the leaves into a bowl below. The leaves will come off easily. Sift through the leaves to remove any bits of stem or chaff.
If you prefer to dry the leaves individually, remove the leaves from the stem and dry them separately on parchment paper on a tray. Spread the clean leaves across the tray and allow them to dry thoroughly.
Store in an airtight, clean, dry container for up to 6 months or until the new fresh oregano is ready to be picked in your garden.
Oregano FAQ
When growing from a division or a nursery starter, oregano is fairly easy to grow. It is a woody-stemmed perennial in zones 5-10. For zones 4 and below, it can grow as a tender perennial or annual.
You can also grow oregano from seeds or cuttings, which is trickier. If growing oregano this way, start indoors 6-10 weeks before the last frost date in your area.
Oregano is a heat lover, being native to the Mediterranean. Place it somewhere that receives full sun, at least six hours of direct sunlight daily.
Oregano is a good companion plant. It is particularly known for repelling cabbage moths, so it is often used alongside brassicas.
Oregano can grow alongside other herbs with similar growing conditions, like basil, sage, rosemary, and thyme.
Avoid planting oregano next to plants that might shade it, as it likes lots of sun, and plants that like moist soil, as it is drought tolerant.
Oregano is a staple herb for the kitchen and remedy cabinet and a great addition to your garden. Grow your own oregano at home and find all kinds of great ways to reap the benefits of this amazing herb!
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