How to Harvest Oregano. Alternatively spread out a single layer of stems on a screen to dry. Pruning and harvesting go hand in hand. When you harvest, remove sprigs or small branches. Cut-and-come-again harvesting will renew plants. Take a paper bag that can hold all of your leaves and punch 10-15 small holes in each side of the bag with a fork, knife, or pen. It's all-natural . The fresh leaves can be used directly in your cooking or you can … Learn how to pick and dry oregano to round o… View on Amazon. 3. Our Garden Plannercan produce a personalised calendar of when to sow, plant and harvest for your area. A full-time writer since 2007, Axl J. Amistaadt is a DMS 2013 Outstanding Contributor Award recipient. 4. Oregano provides fresh leaves for the kitchen throughout the growing season, and dried or frozen leaves provide a supply year round. hirtum) is the familiar culinary oregano variety. True oregano (Origanum vulgare) produces foliage for use as a culinary herb. I’ve had a single Greek oregano plant for over a year now, and it just keeps on giving If you are looking for a hardy year-round herb to grow in your Phoenix garden, look no further than oregano! Some strains are propagated only from cuttings. With its hearty flavor and attractive yellow-green leaves, Greek oregano (Origanum vulgare hirtum) makes a terrific addition to any herb garden. How to harvest: Snip stems leaves with a garden clipper or scissors. Its pungent, spicy, slightly bitter flavor pairs well with almost any vegetable preparation. The larger leaf size means that it retains its sweet, earthy flavour well when it is dried. Pinch or snip the stems two to three pairs of leaves above their bases, cutting just above a leaf pair. This aromatic relative of mint is a tough little perennial that thrives outdoors in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 4 through 9. I think the Greeks got it right when they described oregano as “joy of the mountain.” This aromatic, ancient culinary herb, also referred to as “wild marjoram,” originates from the hilly, Greek countryside, and is now grown all over the world. hirtum) is the variety that has the best-flavored leaves. This acts like pruning and encourages new growth. Digging up and dividing clumps of Greek oregano helps prevent the plants from becoming woody and unproductive, and losing flavor. Greek oregano (Origanum vulgare subsp. You can also freeze the leaves. A graduate of Leeds University, Jenny Green completed Master of Arts in English literature in 1998 and has been writing about travel, gardening, science and pets since 2007. Oregano leaves retain a strong flavor dried and frozen. Harvest the leaves as and when you need to, cutting the plant back completely every so often to encourage a fresh flush of foliage. Do not harvest more than one-third of the plant. Flavor and aroma: Oregano has a hot peppery flavor. How to grow oregano. Green's work appears in Diva, Whole Life Times, Listverse, Earthtimes, Lamplight, Stupefying Stories and other websites and magazines. Left alone, Greek oregano will grow about 2 feet tall. Prune Greek oregano stems back to the first or second set of leaves in August. tall, but if you’re seeking the most intense flavor, you will want to harvest your oregano right before the blooms appear in mid-summer. Wrap leaves in a damp paper towel and store in the refrigerator for a week. Oregano has been growing in our garden with abandon. Oregano is a must-have in a culinary garden. Take your oregano stalks and bundle them together by hand so that the stalks are together. Gather your oregano into groups of 2-4 stalks and put them in a paper bag. 2. It’s both easy and attractive to grow in the garden, and it has wonderful medicinal properties as well. Italian . Aggressive pruning throughout the growing season is beneficial to this plant as it encourages branching and new shoots. Alternatively, replace mature plants with young plants from your local garden store or plant nursery. The Greek oregano is considered as the true oregano due to its strong flavor making it highly used in Greek, Italian, and Spanish cuisine. Pinch or snip the stems two to three pairs of leaves above their bases, cutting just above a leaf pair. Common oregano grows in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 4 through 8 and Greek oregano is hardy in USDA zones 4 through 8. Amistaadt has written book reviews for Work At Home Truth. Jul 5, 2016 - How to Harvest Greek Oregano. He publishes online articles with major focus on pets, wildlife, gardening and fitness. Syrian Oregano (Oregano maru) - Strong, spicy flavor. University of Rhode Island: Growing, Harvesting & Using Culinary Herbs, Delaware State University Extension Program: Culinary Herbs, University of California Sonoma County Master Gardeners: Kitchen Herbs, University of Illinois Extension: Grow Your Own Oregano, Super Herbs: Greek Oregano: Origanum Vulgare Subsp. Harvest Greek oregano stems when the plants are 6 inches tall. Greek Oregano is a compact, woody, plant that grows to less than 10 inches tall. Once Greek oregano is at least 6 inches tall, harvesting the tasty leaves is easy and a little extra pinching will do the plant good. 2 Place your scissors 1/3rd of the way down a … Oregano is a herb used in many Mediterranean recipes. Use it throughout the growing season by snipping off leaves or stems once the plants are about 6 inches tall. Hirtum, University of Florida Nassau County Extension: Oregano, Colorado State University Extension: Herb Gardening, Virginia Cooperative Extension: Herb Culture and Use. © Copyright 2020 Hearst Communications, Inc. Choose a harvest day before the plant reaches the maximum size or begins to develop flower buds. This aromatic relative of mint is a tough little perennial that thrives outdoors in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 4 through 9. 1. It is an easy to grow herb, which is used fresh or dried. A Prolific Grower. hirtum) is the familiar culinary oregano variety. It has a rich, warming flavor, but can have a bitter taste, especially when used fresh. For the best oregano flavor, pick the leaves after flower buds form but before they open during the summer. Taste a tiny piece of leaf before buying to check that the flavor is sharp and intense. You will find this oregano on the grocery shelves and used often in pizza, pasta, and Italian sauces. The stems should be soft enough to pinch, but you can also use pruning shears. Italian Oregano has slightly larger leaves than Greek Oregano and is the classic herb used for sauces and soups. Place them in a plastic bag and press out all the air and put in your freezer where they won’t get smashed. Jun 17, 2012 - Oregano (Origanum vulgare) is a low-growing herb with small leaves that pack a punch of strong flavor. The plant needs full sun to grow well where it can grow up to 24 inches tall. Start with a purchased plant, or start seeds indoors and set out at about the time of your last frost. He also covers parenting, juvenile science experiments, cooking and alternative/home remedies. We look at how to grow Oregano, Prune it and Rejuvenate an overgrown plant. Put frozen stems in a freezer bag and squeeze out the air before sealing it. Greek oregano is one of the most common types used in cooking. If you find yourself with an abundance of fresh oregano, consider air-drying leftover oregano sprigs or drying leaves in a low oven or dehydrator. Or dig up the entire oregano plant and divide it into many more plants. April 2, 2019. Put the dry stems and leaves in in glass or plastic, sealed jars in a dark, cool place. Once your plant has reached four to six inches in height, you can start harvesting individual oregano leaves or snipping off sprigs. hirtum.There are lots of other oreganos within the same genus Origanum, as well as some that are in different genera and not true oreganos, such as Cuban oregano (Pectranthus amboinicus).Within the Origanum genus, there are several that are used just for ornamental value, and … Greek oregano (Origanum vulgare subsp. When harvesting, trim each stem back leaving 4-6 pairs of leaves. Like the other plants in the mint family, many cultures use the leaves for medicinal and culinary purposes. Dried herbs store beautifully and allow the home cook access to many flavors and aromas. However, harvesting Oregano stems are ready for storing when the leaves crumble easily between your fingers. The best time to harvest oregano is in the morning after the dew dries. It is a hearty plant that provides lovely ground cover in addition to its uses in the kitchen. Other useful types but not as winter hardy. Greek oregano grows best in full-sun sites and average, well-drained soil. It has grown well through the summer heat, and even the freezing winter cold snaps. Snip the stems off just above a leaf axil to stimulate branching and promote fullness. May have to be treated as a tender perennial or brought indoors for the winter. You can strip the leaves from the stems and let them dry out in trays from one week to 10 days. 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. Oregano is a well-known culinary herb used in Italian, Turkish, Greek, and Mexican cooking. Remove the leaves from the stems and wash and dry them. Authentic Greek oregano can be grown from seeds or plants. Regular harvesting also promotes bushy growth. Harvesting oregano and drying it provides easy access and long-term storage of the herb. Cut back the foliage, leaving only the bottom set of leaves on the plant to regrow. Pick or prune the stems to two to three pairs of leaves above their bases, and store the leaves you don't use immediately. Pull the plants into three or four sections, and replant them at their original growing depths, 12 to 18 inches apart. Select growth from many various stems to avoid over-picking any of the branches, which weakens the plant. Its botanical name is: Origanum vulgare var. To dry leaves, tie small handfuls of stems together with twine, and hang the bunches in a warm, dry, airy spot. The plant will produce seeds, but the easiest way to propagate oregano is through plant division or cuttings. When to harvest: Cut fresh leaves as needed once plants are 4 to 6 inches tall. By creating an account you agree to the Hunker, University of Illinois Extension: Grow Your Own Oregano, Missouri Botanical Garden: Origanum Vulgare Subsp. I read t... Ice machine: frosting suction line back to the compressor. After months of waiting, it was finally time to harvest our all-natural Greek Oregano. If you live in a cool climate, grow Greek oregano as an annual or winter it indoors on a sunny kitchen windowsill. The plant will produce seeds, but the easiest way to propagate oregano is through plant division or cuttings. Greek oregano flowers in midsummer and Mexican oregano flowers mid-spring through early summer. Greek Oregano – True oregano, excellent flavor, hardy. Lay the bag on its side. Wipe the blades with a cloth dipped in rubbing alcohol before and after harvesting oregano to help prevent the spread of pests and diseases. Hang them in a cool dry place with good air circulation. You can also harvest fresh oregano leaves as needed while the plants are in leaf, though the flavor may not be as strong. The leaves of both plants have the strongest flavor just before the flower buds open. Harvest Greek oregano stems when the plants are 6 inches tall. Young Greek oregano plants grow sturdy and compact when they're harvested while young. The flavor of your oregano will be strongest during warm weather. This aromatic relative of mint is a tough little perennial that thrives outdoors in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 4 through 9. Greek oregano begins to flower in July after reaching its maximum height of 6 to 8 inches. Oregano is an herb commonly used in Italian dishes. Oregano is a Mediterranean herb with a pungent scent and flavor punch. View on Amazon. It flowers annually in the summer, with tiny white blooms. Greek oregano can really be harvested anytime once the plant reaches 6 inches (15 cm.) Pluck fresh Greek oregano leaves as you need them throughout the growing season. Using bottom heat will improve your success rate. Trim the Greek oregano plant back with clean, sharp shears when it is about 6 inches tall. Turkestan Oregano (Oregano tyttanthum) - Strong flavor, robust plant, good for indoor culture. Once Greek oregano is at least 6 inches tall, harvesting the tasty leaves is easy and a little extra pinching will do the plant good. How to Grow Oregano. Harvest before the flowers bloom for the best flavor. New plantings reach this size in about five to six weeks. hirtum) is the familiar culinary oregano variety. The process of drying enhances the aroma of the herb. Common oregano (Origanum vulgare) grows in a wide range of forms and can be invasive. Greek Oregano. Hirtum, North Carolina State University: Winterizing the Herb Garden, Fine Gardening: The Herb Garden Redefined. Mexican oregano (Lippia graveolens), which grows in USDA zones 9 through 11, is also grown as a culinary herb. Like the other plants in the mint family, many cultures use the leaves for medicinal and culinary purposes. To freeze oregano, lay the stems flat on a baking sheet and place the sheet in a freezer for one to two hours. Make small bundles of the harvested sprigs of oregano and tie them with a string. The flavor of leaves is best before the plant flowers. A dehydrator or an oven could be used to dry out the oregano leaves, if you want to get this done quickly.Store dried oregano in air-tight glass jars. It produces dark, green leaves and white flowers. Cut stems just above a pair of leaves. Leave two or three pairs of leaves on each stem. Greek oregano (Origanum vulgare subsp. Clip stems back to the first or second set of leaves again around June, after bloom buds form and before the flowers open. So use such dried oregano sparingly. Oct 31, 2014 - Oregano (Origanum vulgare) is a low-growing herb with small leaves that pack a punch of strong flavor. My father has been cultivating oregano and other herbs for years now and I tend to help him when I have the time and energy! Every two or three years, dig up Greek oregano plants in early spring. Oregano in the Kitchen. Dry oregano carries an intensified version of its fresh palate pleasing powers. If growing in pots, repot every couple of years in fresh compost. In this video, I show you my 5 top tips on how to grow a big harvest of oregano in a container or garden bed. Grow oregano in free-draining soil or compost in a sunny, sheltered spot. Cuban Oregano. Greek oregano (Origanum vulgare subsp. He and his partner (Rania) own 6 acres and grow everything with love and they never use pesticides! Harvest Greek oregano when the plants are approximately 45 days old and about 6 inches tall. For the best flavor, harvest oregano when the flower buds have formed. Wipe the blades with a cloth dipped in rubbing alcohol before and after harvesting oregano to help prevent the spread of pests and diseases. The stems should be soft enough to pinch, but you can also use pruning shears. How to Harvest Oregano If you are waiting until the end of the summer to harvest oregano, you are missing out on a lot of flavor. Oregano Harvest. Jan 9, 2019 - How to Harvest Greek Oregano. Other than full sun and an occasional watering, this herb requires little care. Hunker may earn compensation through affiliate links in this story. Cut them right above a pair of leaves to encourage new shoot growth. ’ s both easy and attractive to grow in the garden, Fine gardening: the.! Plantings reach this size in about five to six inches in height, you also! 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