Learning to grow scented oregano

Oregano, or as it is also called, oregano is a great addition to planting in your garden. In addition to its widespread use in cooking, oregano is also famous for many useful properties. In this article, we will tell you about the correct planting, care, growing oregano. We will also tell you about the beneficial qualities of this wonderful spice.

Oregano characteristic

Oregano is also called oregano in Europe. Interestingly, this culture is a relative of other herbs such as basil, mint, sage and others. Oregano is widely used as a condiment in various cultures. For example, no Italian pizza and no Greek salad can do without it. Aside from its culinary benefits, there are many health benefits of this wonderful spicy herb. Therefore, it is in demand all over the world.

In the wild, it is a herbaceous plant. It grows, as a rule, in the Mediterranean and southwestern Europe. In Russia, oregano prefers to settle in open dry areas, forest edges, meadows, meadows.

Oregano is a perennial. By the way, this culture is often used for the purpose of decorating plots. "Materinka" - so oregano is sometimes called in our homeland. At the moment, there are many varieties that have been bred by diligent breeders. In Russia, there are sixteen varieties listed in the State Register.

The stem of the oregano has 4 edges, the root system is rather actively spreading to the sides, the leaves are oblong, slightly sharpened to the edge. In height, oregano usually reaches 500 - 700 centimeters, but there are also taller ones, about one meter in height. Oregano blooms around mid-July. Oregano gives very beautiful and fragrant flowers of white, pink and lilac tones. Seed ripening usually occurs in August.

By the way, oregano is a great honey plant, and it also makes an amazing essential oil from this plant.

Oregano is a herbaceous perennial crop. If it is grown in different conditions (soil, climate), then the result may be different. As a rule, oregano flowers can be seen in the 2nd year after planting in the garden.

Growing oregano properly

You can plant oregano through seedlings, but sowing seeds directly into open ground is also great. But remember that with a seedling method of planting, the chances of seeing fragrant flowers already in the year of planting becomes greater.

Oregano is a culture that is very fond of open, sunny areas. Moisture should not stagnate in the ground, be it melt water or rain. Remember that oregano is a perennial plant and you need to choose a permanent location. The transplant will not benefit the plant. The soil for planting should be leveled and have a good level of fertility, but not excessive. For these purposes, organic and mineral fertilizers are applied for digging the soil. When planting oregano in spring, this procedure should be done in the fall. When you dig up the soil and apply top dressing, pay attention to weeds, especially wheatgrass. All this must be removed from the site without fail.

In the spring, it is also worth adding top dressing, as well as making sure that the earth is homogeneous in structure, without lumps. The land needs to be well leveled, and this is necessary because the oregano seeds are very small, if there is lumpy soil, there will be difficulties with germination.After all the preparatory procedures, you need to make shallow grooves and spill them thoroughly with warm water. If you take water from the tap, then it is better to defend it before use.

You can mix oregano seeds with sand in a 1: 1 ratio. The seeding depth of the planting material is no more than one centimeter. Using river sand will help to sow the oregano seeds more evenly. Then sprinkle with earth on top and you can additionally lay mulch from humus so that the moisture does not evaporate too quickly.

The distance between grooves with oregano crops should be observed by about 25 - 30 centimeters. The first shoots usually appear after twenty days. After the appearance of two leaves, the seedlings are ready for the new location. Remember to leave about twenty centimeters between the plants. If there are extra plants left, then plant them in an empty spot. Next, you need to carry out regular watering, do not let the weeds interfere with the growth of plants. It is recommended to shade the oregano a little if the heat is intense. After a couple of months, you will see already quite strong bushes.

Seedling method of growing oregano

Growing oregano through seedlings is a more energy-consuming process, but at the same time more effective. You can start preparing for planting seedlings from the second half of April. At this time, soil preparation begins. The substrate may look like this: river sand, garden soil, humus (all in equal parts). Take care of the drainage in advance, it must be laid at the bottom of the container. And also make sure before that that there are holes for excess moisture to drain. Lay the substrate on top of the drainage layer (a couple of centimeters).

The day before sowing the seeds, they need to be wrapped in a damp cloth, and then immersed one centimeter in small grooves of the soil mixture. Next, cover your plantings with a lid, but such that there are holes in it. Leave containers in any bright room out of direct sunlight. In this case, the temperature should be about +20 degrees. The soil should be kept slightly moist. Ventilate the room periodically. After a couple of leaves appear, you need to dive the plants into separate small pots.

Before planting your plants in open ground, you need to harden, slowly lowering the air temperature. The plant needs to get used to the outside temperature both during the day and at night.

When a stable warm temperature is established outside, your plants can be planted in the ground. Try to carefully remove the plants from the containers, place them in the ground without destroying the clod of earth with the root system of the oregano. Then compact the soil well and lay a layer of humus mulch.

How to propagate oregano

When the age of the plant has reached three to five years, it can also be propagated by dividing the bush. This procedure is carried out in the spring. For these purposes, you need to dig up the plant and divide it into parts. Each of them should have 2 pairs of kidneys. These parts are planted in holes, after two weeks the rooting process usually begins. Water and loosen the soil around the bushes periodically.

If you decide to propagate oregano using cuttings, then you need to prepare them. In early July, cut the shoots, then divide them into cuttings (length about 12-14cm). You need to leave two or three leaves on top. In order for the cuttings to root normally, it is better to plant them in fertilized, light soil, covered with a film. About four to five times a day, you need to water from a spray bottle.

You can propagate oregano using layering. From early spring, the shoot must be immersed in beds prepared horizontally. Sprinkle a little earth. One crown should remain above the surface. Next, water and weed. In the spring, you will see shoots growing vertically. Digging up and separating them from the main bush, you get good seedlings.

Proper care of oregano

In general, there are no too complex requirements for care. Oregano should be watered sparingly, the soil should not be overdried, but it is also not necessary to moisten the soil too much. In the very first couple of seasons after planting, it is necessary to carry out regular weeding of the area, as well as loosening. When three seasons have passed, and the plant is strong enough, you can stop weeding the soil, but only periodically mow the grass around the bushes. Oregano can grow in the same place for more than a dozen years, but it is still better to reduce this period to five to six years. If you grow oregano to obtain green mass, then after cutting it is better to feed with organic or mineral fertilizers in the complex. If the plant is only decorative in your area, then feeding is not at all necessary.

How to collect and store oregano correctly

Harvesting is possible when the shoots of the plant reach a meter height. It is easy to determine the right moment of harvest - this is the moment of flowering of the plant, and bright pleasant aromas of oregano soar in the air. As a rule, this time occurs in July - September.

Usually, the stem is cut off by 50 centimeters. Then they must be dried in collected bundles. By the way, it is believed that dried oregano exudes an even brighter aroma. If you want the oregano to last longer, avoid direct rays. Also, remove the leaves from the shoots. Typically, oregano has a shelf life of two to three years. The more dry the twigs, the longer they can be stored.

How to use oregano

Oregano is a very aromatic herb with a rather specific aroma and taste. For this reason, add this seasoning in small quantities. Oregano has a pleasant taste, with a slight bitterness and a little pungency. Oregano is actively used to prepare a wide variety of meat dishes. Moreover, cooking methods can be very different: from grilling to oven.

Oregano will be a great addition to various salads, sauces (especially tomato).

Oregano is widely used for medicinal purposes, it is added to medicinal teas, as a remedy for cough and fever. Oregano helps with sleep problems, migraines and diseases of the oral cavity. Also, regular use of oregano has a good effect on the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract.

In addition to all of the above benefits, oregano is an excellent moth repellent. Place a branch of this plant on the shelf of your closet and you will forget about this problem.