Growing Oregano
I’ve found as long as I give the culinary herb varieties a full sun location with excellent drainage, that I have reliable plants in USDA zone 4.
Common Greek Oregano
Origanum vulgare is the common Greek oregano beloved of those who cook Italian or Greek dishes on a regular basis (my spaghetti sauce is acclaimed throughout the land!) This plant is a low growing, creeper type of plant (it may grow a bit taller after its first year in the garden) with white flowers and a strong fragrance from the leaves. As indicated above, grow it in full hot sun in a well-drained soil. It will not survive the winter in clay soils.
Growing
Sow seeds indoors in early March. The easiest way is to direct sow 4-6 seeds in a small pot and grow directly in the pot. If you sow heavier than this, you’ll need to do some thinning to reduce the numbers to 4-6. Given the seed germination can be erratic, I’d go with a dozen seeds to a pot and thin out the weaklings. The root system is very fine on these plants and they transplant easily (with care) so do try to save the strongest extras if you need extra plants.
I never covered my seeds but pressed them into the soil. If you do cover, do so lightly. While they don’t require light to germinate, it is very easy to cover them too deeply (this is called “burying”, not “covering”) You should see seedlings in two weeks if you keep the soil at 70F. If you allow your soil temperatures to go lower, it may take a few extra weeks to see seedlings. But do note the germination can be erratic so don’t toss out pots until you really know they are dead (after 6 weeks, the germination will be very low and the seeds will likely have rotted).
If you want to put sow directly into the garden, I’d wait until late May or the ground warms up. Sow thinly in the ground and again, press the seed into the soil rather than covering it. Keep dampish until the seeds germinate and then water regularly for the first month – then ignore unless the plants start wilting.
Dig & Divide
This plant will throw underground stems for expansion and every two to three years, it is advisable to dig and divide the plant to keep it growing tender shoots instead of turning to woody (and unusable) stems.
Harvesting Oregano
Harvesting oregano is as simply as cutting some tender stems (regular cutting keeps new growth coming along that is easier to cook with).
If you grow it in a pot, it will overwinter in a sunny windowsill. Many gardeners overwater their overwintering plants and they rot away. Only water when the soil is dry.
Growing your own oregano ensures you get the real thing in your kitchen. There are reports that the “oregano” mostly sold in food stores is mexican oregano Lippia graveolens (an unrelated plant) rather than true oregano.
Some Varieties
Origanum laevigatum 'Herrenhausen' has dark green leaves and purple flowers. Not as hardy for me as the O. vulgare species.
Origanum laevigatum 'Hopley's Purple' very dark purple-green leaves, purple flowers, mild flavour.
Origanum maru: (Syrian Oregano) a very spicy flavor and not overly hardy.
Origanum microphyllum: (Microphylla Oregano) a small leaved species with a sharp flavor.
Origanum onites (Pot Marjoram) a strong flavored variety.
Origanum tyttanthum (Turkestan Oregano) I’m told this dark-leaved, strong grower is perfect for indoor culture.
Greek Oregano is O. vulgare
Origanum vulgare 'Compactum' a compact bush form. Good for rock gardens where it can bloom undisturbed and use as much for ornamentation as culinary.
Origanum vulgare 'Aureum Crispum this is a gold leaved variety with crinkled leaves and it has never survived reliably for me in USDA zone 4. Plan on taking cuttings and growing it indoors. It does make an excellent window box or container herb garden plant with its gold leaves.
Origanium vulgare 'Aureum' another semi-tender gold leaved variety without the crinkled leaves. Grow as above.
Origanum vulgare hirtum (O. heracleoticum) This is reputed to be the original Greek oregano. Nice plant and it has been reliably hardy in a well-drained garden.
Hybrids
'Kaliteri' a silvery-gray foliage plant that is grown commercially in Greece.
'Kent Beauty' rounded leaves on semi-trailing plant habit. Pink or purple flowers, good fragrance but a sharper, almost bitter flavor.
'Variegata' white/green variegated leaves, tender plant, protect over the winter.
'Zorba Red' reddish-purple leaf sprays with small white flowers come in early summer and will continue to bloom all summer. Very well branching, heavily ornamental, good flavor. Would do well in rock garden or herb window garden.
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