Oregano

Nature 3 Minutes

A must-have herb in a culinary garden, oregano is easy to grow and perfect for beginners. Started in spring, oregano grows well in containers or even as ground cover along a path. Here’s how to plant, grow, and harvest oregano—plus how to use oregano!

Belonging to the mint family, or Lamiaceae, oregano is a woody perennial plant. It’s a robust herb with a peppery bite and a minty aroma. In the Greek language, the word oregano means “joy of the mountain” and it’s certainly a popular herb for any Mediterranean cuisine.

Oregano adds savory flavor to pizza, tomato sauce, and really anything tomato as well as cooked summer vegetables such as zucchini and eggplant, a Greek salad, kabobs, roasted potatoes, white beans, a vinaigrette, and any egg dish.

The perennial herb produces long trailing stems which looks pretty spilling over a container or as a bright green leafy ground cover, especially along a path. White flowers bloom in late summer.

Oregano also makes a good companion plant in the vegetable garden.

Planting

Oregano loves the sun, so ensure that your placement has full sun for strong flavor. Offer partial shade if growing in hot climates.

Plant anytime in the spring, once you’re well past chance of frost. Some folks plant later in the season for assured warm weather. The soil should be around 70ºF.

For a head start, plant the seeds/cuttings 6 to 10 weeks before the last spring frost. (See local frost dates.)

Oregano can easily be started from seeds, though you can also use cuttings from an established plant.

Before planting, mix in several inches of organic matter such as compost. If you’re growing in containers, use a quality potting mix. 

Plant 8 to 10 inches apart. The plants will grow 1 to 2 feet tall and spread about 18 inches.

Growing

Allow oregano plants to grow to about 4 inches tall and then pinch or trim lightly to encourage a denser and bushier plant. Regular trimming will not only cause the plant to branch again, but also avoid legginess.

Oregano doesn’t need quite as much water as most herbs. As the amount of watering depends on many variables, just water when the soil feels dry to the touch. Remember that it’s better to water thoroughly and less often.

If you have a container, water until the water comes out of the drainage holes in the bottom of the container.

At the end of the season, you can move pots indoors for the winter; cut dead stems in the spring before new growth. In warmer climates, protect plants with mulch.

To ensure the best-quality plants, thin out plants that are 3 or 4 years old in the early spring. Oregano is self-seeding, so the plants will easily grow back.

You can divide the plants in late spring if you want to put one indoors.

Recommended Varieties

Greek oregano (Origanum vulgare var. hirtum) for cooking.

Common oregano for decoration (its white-lavender flowers look pretty in the garden and are also used in wreaths).

Harvesting

Harvest the leaves with sharp shears as you need them, once the plant is several inches tall. This will encourage new growth. Just don’t harvest more than one-third of the plant at a time.

The most flavor-filled leaves are found in mid-summer, right before the flowers bloom.

You can freeze the leaves to use during the winter. Oregano leaves store well and are easily dried. Keep them in an airtight container once dried.

Gardening Products

Wit and Wisdom

Oregano tea relaxes nerves and settles an upset stomach.

Fresh oregano is a great antibacterial agent and loaded with antioxidants as well as an excellent source of fiber, vitamin K, iron, vitamin E, and calcium. It was once used in many old-fashioned herbal remedies.

Oregano plants are said to symbolize “substance.”

Cooking Notes

Crush or chop oregano leaves by hand before adding them to a dish in order to release the flavorful essential oils contained within. For cooked dishes, it’s best to add oregano leaves at the end of cooking process or they won’t hold up well.

Source: Almanac

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Published by pat frederick

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118 thoughts on “Oregano”

  1. Morning All!
    when i came down this morning I saw something I never have before…there were hummers all over the deck railing waiting for the feeders to come out! lol
    i took the 2 feeders for the front out the door and was swarmed!
    then i came back in and got the others and went out. as i turned the corner to where i hang them, 2 hummers came streaming up the ramp just like jet fighters and i thought they were going to slam into me…lol they pulled off a splitting maneuver and went on either side of me.
    LOL

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Morning, Pat! Aren’t they amazing??? Oregano plants have pretty flowers….as you know, I’m not a big spice person so I’ll take your word on the taste. LOL – since I love spaghetti, lasagna, etc., I’m sure I’ve eaten plenty of it! It rained off-and-on most of the day yesterday but we did get up to 91. Should be cooler the next few days, at least. No sign of GT yet.

      Liked by 1 person

        1. He’s here now….eating….but I was hoping to see where he was coming from – missed it again. Next time, I’ll sit out there and wait.

          Liked by 1 person

  5. TheseTruths(@thesetruths)Offline
    Wolf
    July 15, 2023 02:18

    Utah Sen. Mike Lee says ‘We might have to invoke the War Powers Act’ after Biden authorizes deployment of reservists to Europe

    https://www.theblaze.com/news/utah-sen-mike-lee-says-we-might-have-to-invoke-the-war-powers-act-after-biden-authorizes-deployment-of-reservists-to-europe

    The War Powers Act states that, unless Congress has declared war, the U.S. military and members thereof cannot be “introduced in hostilities or in situations where imminent involvement in hostilities is clearly indicated by the circumstances” unless:

    ● they are repelling an armed attack on the U.S., its territories and possessions;

    ● they are taking “necessary and appropriate retaliatory actions in the event of such an attack”;

    ● they are forestalling the direct imminent threat of such an attack;

    ● they are providing protection for evacuation of American citizens; or

    ● they have “specific statutory authorization,” such as the 2001 “Authorization for Use of Military Force.”

    Lee acknowledged that a resolution passed under the War Powers Act could be vetoed by the president. To override such a veto would require a two-thirds vote from both houses of Congress, meaning it would have to be a bipartisan effort.

    The Utah senator was part of a bipartisan legislative effort in 2021 to reclaim for Congress “its rightful role as co-equal branch on matters of war and national security.”

    Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) said at the time that Congress had “acquiesced to the growing, often unchecked power of the executive to determine the outline of America’s footpring in the world.”

    Should a War Powers resolution such as that proposed by Lee fail, the senator indicated Congress would still have the “option of defunding, but that’s tricky too because spending legislation is also subject to presidential veto.”

    Liked by 1 person

  11. Feisty Hayseed
    July 15, 2023 12:52 am

    Foreign influence peddling, public corruption scheme
    

    These emails are explosive & back up the evidence that we have already uncovered.

    FBI’s source says Joe took $5M, Hunter took $5M, & they did so to pressure Ukraine into firing the prosecutor looking into Burisma.

    This is a foreign influence peddling, public corruption scheme. pic.twitter.com/NryRqb4TP7

    — Congressman Byron Donalds (@RepDonaldsPress) July 14, 2023

    Liked by 2 people

  12. interesting opinion

    Citizen 817
    July 15, 2023 12:54 am

    Just my observation:

    Is Tucker really on our side? I think not. Look at who he is engaging with.

    On Twitter, with Musk.

    Look at the amount of views his episodes on Twitter get.
    40 million + which is way more than any broadcast network gets.

    The monetary lifeline to Musk is the Murdochs.

    As of today,
    He can tear down a candidate, or build them up.

    Today’s q and a with “all others” running against Trump, was merely clearing the field for the preferred RNC/GOP pick.

    For the present,

    The Tucker $$ brand (gravy train) is more important than any one President, no matter who gets in.

    Now he’s starting his own media company…

    Don’t be so sure that his departure from Fox was everything we have heard. May even be a backroom deal that we don’t know about, like so many things that go on in the DC sewer.

    Me thinks Tucker Carlson fancies himself as the most powerful voice in the media, much like Walter Cronkite of that era

    Taken as a whole, I believe Tucker believes…
    that the mantle of “kingmaker” belongs to him alone, for the time being.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Citizen 817
      July 15, 2023 3:05 am
      Reply to DanDan

      I saw that too when he said his huge mistake was getting involved in American politics. But that was a LIE. He has been involved in the politics of America for at least 13 years. He and Neil Patel launched the Daily Caller on January 11, 2010.

      Before co-founding The Daily Caller, Patel worked in politics. He was a longtime deputy to Lewis “Scooter” Libby, the former chief of staff to Dick Cheney, the vice president under George W. Bush from 2001 to 2009. After working for Libby, Patel became the chief policy advisor to Cheney. He represented the vice president at economic and domestic policy meetings, managed policy staff and oversaw the movement of classified documents to Cheney. The Bush White House nominated Patel to run the National Telecommunications and Information Administration, the government agency that advises the president on the telecommunications industry. He was not confirmed.

      Now he is hooking up with Patel again to launch a new media company.

      Liked by 1 person

      1. Good Morning ☀️
        Some good observations there regarding Tucker. Just as Musk warrants continued scrutiny.
        There are some agendas that need sunlight.

        Liked by 1 person

    2. This is silly, IMO. No one person is 100% “on our side!” And I have always said Tucker is more of a Libertarian than a true conservative.

      Liked by 2 people

      1. I don’t watch him except for video clips–those you posted were great by the way–so I don’t have an opinion either way.
        I just thought it was interesting. everyone is being scrutinized these days…a sign of awakening imo

        Liked by 1 person

        1. Well, you know I have the beef with him about “democracy,” so clearly he doesn’t truly understand our Constitution. We cannot discount everyone just because of what they’ve done in the past. You have to look at the WHOLE picture, not just bits and pieces. As I said – no one person is perfect. And Tucker has gone thru a lot of changes like we all have….

          Liked by 3 people

              2. Always wise to be on the look-out! But Greg Reese is trying to employ a purity test with Angel Studios, too! He is being VERY disingenuous!

                Liked by 2 people

              3. Sounds like it…making Angel Studios a target sounds like grift on the face of it. (Or worse) What are his bono fides or is he a cog in the trafficking machine?

                Liked by 2 people

              4. TBH, I don’t know any specifics about him – one of those ### degrees of separation, recommended by others with whom I am more familiar. I agree with most of what he writes and, at one level, he IS right to bring this up, if only for the wider exposure. It just ticks me off that he just throws it out there, this attack, without even TALKING to them to ask for their reasoning. Stealth bombing, IMO and that is NOT right!

                Liked by 1 person

  14. she must get a kickback when she praises him…

    Feisty Hayseed
    Feisty Hayseed
    July 15, 2023 1:05 am

    Defending George Soros as an American Patriot (who wants to destroy America?)
    

    Rep. Shelia Jackson Lee comes to George Soros’ defense after a Republican criticized the pro-criminal DAs he has supported: “A contributing American and jeopardize his life for always throwing his name out..Soros does not deserve that. He is an American and a patriot.” pic.twitter.com/No5sDNivzB

    — Julio Rosas (@Julio_Rosas11) July 13, 2023

    Liked by 1 person

  15. interesting story–but the reply has a point too

    Joe Joe in San Diego
    Joe Joe in San Diego
    July 15, 2023 2:03 am

    Trans Woman Cyclist Wins Women’s Race to Prove Biological Men are ‘Physically Superior’
    Legal Insurrection

    Odd little story. South Korean trans races against actual women in a bike race. Wins. Then, advocates for a third gender event–male, female, trans–saying:

    “I am not honored. I am not proud of myself at all. I believe other transgender athletes would feel the same way. They may not want to admit it, but they’re being selfish. There is no honor as an athlete in that”

    South Korean trans will not compete anymore–apparently just wanted to make a point.
    Last edited 4 hours ago by Joe Joe in San Diego
    7
    Reply
    Boogywstew
    Boogywstew
    July 15, 2023 3:16 am
    Reply to Joe Joe in San Diego

    Sort of like the proverbial “whore with a heart of gold”?
    I think the following bears repeating. I’ve been told by a few gay acquaintances that their take, and the opinion of other gays they know, is that the “trans” movement is primarily, or entirely, gay men and women that cannot bring themselves to admit they are gay.
    The thinking is thus: “As a man I am attracted to other men. I’m not a dirty pervert so the reason can only be that I am really a woman. Yeah … that’s the ticket! God messed up! I’m a woman!”
    It’s full blown mental illness and all the enablers are culpable.
    The wholesale medical butchering and disfiguring of children will make Japan’s thalidomide disaster pale in comparison.

    Liked by 1 person

      1. i dunno about this. he may be right. musk did give in to those foreign gov’ts about censorship–France & Australia?? (I don’t remember tbh) so who’s to say he’s not doing it now?

        Liked by 2 people

        1. I don’t trust Musk any further than I can throw him but we have to use what we’ve got. Like I say all the time….keep these things in the back of your mind at all times. Yes, he did give in but I look at it as each country has the right to make their own determination. It is up to the people of that country to take their government to task for censorship – not our business. I think he is at least trying.

          Liked by 1 person

  21. We grew oregano back in TN. Had it in a raised box with some rosemary and it ended up overrunning the box. We still have some in the cabinet from dehydrating it every year.

    Liked by 2 people

              1. Oh, yeah – they always put the higher priced ones up first – I go over to the top right (usually) and select the range as lowest-to-highest price.

                Liked by 1 person

  23. Some interesting history of the Amish….

    EXCERPT: “The Neo-Amish Movement: How To Preserve Tradition in a Technological World
    JULY 13, 2023
    Our third child was born about five weeks ago and we felt it was time to get out of the house and do something fun with the kids before summer passed us by. So we got in the car and headed to Lancaster, PA or as many call it “Amish Country.” Growing up Lancaster was a spot we visited often as kids. I have great memories myself from those visits and wanted to give my kids those same memories this summer. It was also a refreshing and inspiring look at what is possible with a homogenous traditional Christian culture and society.

    It’s certainly intriguing to explore alternative lifestyles that choose to limit or reject the adoption of new technologies. The Amish community, known for their simple and self-sustaining way of life, has long fascinated those like me who are seeking a deeper connection with tradition and nature. Many people wrongly believe that the Amish swore off “all technology,” but this couldn’t be further from the truth. The Amish certainly use technology. A wagon is technology. A plow is technology. We may consider these to be “outdated” tech, but they are still technology nonetheless.

    These technologies are viewed as practical tools that enhance their self-sufficiency, yet they consciously draw the line at adopting more complex and potentially disruptive advancements. At some point in time a few hundred years ago the Amish decided that they weren’t going to adopt technology beyond its existing state. It’s admirable and honorable that they have been able to hold to this decision, cultural tradition and way of life. I think there’s a lot we can learn from them as we reach a point with technological “progress” now that is going to start eroding our very humanity.”

    https://news.gab.com/2023/07/the-neo-amish-movement-how-to-preserve-tradition-in-a-technological-world/

    Liked by 2 people

  30. Kari is always worth watching, IMO.

    Liked by 1 person

  34. “Give this a little bit of thought for a second. Some guy (or gal, okay) working for the State lottery sitting around in his/her office with nothing better to do comes up with this hair-brained thing about how big an area that much currency would cover and actually does the calculations. He/she then computes it relative to the area mass of a roadway, and, when finished, calls a newspaper to share his/her findings. How the the fuck can I get a job like that? I mean – this motherfucker actually got paid to think up that stupid shit. Go figure…”

    Liked by 1 person

    1. we picked up the mail while we were out. there is a sign on the PO window. help wanted in the PO 2 towns over. part time $19.33 AN HOUR PLUS BENEFITS

      Liked by 1 person

          1. Oh, I know. I tried to imagine a life like that – just coasting along on the government dole until you reach retirement, then sit back, fat and happy. Wouldn’t have worked – I’d have never made it without killing someone!!!

            Liked by 1 person

  35. sliding down.
    we got back almost 2 hours ago…hubby wanted to stake the grapevines.
    it’s frickin’ 90* outside.
    i am drenched.
    gonna shower and then be back

    Liked by 1 person

  36. GREAT STORY!!! caring people!
    FTA

    Pictures of a horse decorate the room of Karina Courtmanche whose health has declined in recent months. For the 79-year-old Connecticut woman, those pictures bring back happy memories of the horse she once rode.

    Staying at Mary Wade Home in New Haven for over a year now, on July 9, Ms. Courtmanche was granted her dying wish to see her beloved horse, Bella, one last time.

    Ms. Courtmanche had owned Bella since the horse was born, according to Connecticut Hospice nurse Michelle Walker.

    Once a registered nurse herself, who trotted the globe making a difference wherever she went, Ms. Courtmanche had always had a happy, chatty personality.
    Advertisement

    “She was talking a lot,” Ms. Walker told The Epoch Times. “She always liked to be dressed up all the time, always liked to make sure she had the right earrings on to match the right outfit with her hair done up in a ponytail or in a bun.”

    Then in early 2023, Ms. Courtmanche had started feeling tired, sleeping more, and eating a lot less, Ms. Walker, 47, said. “Her body was kind of starting to fail her.” In February, Mary Wade Home contacted Ms. Walker at Connecticut Hospice.

    Stepping into her room, Ms. Walker saw the horse pictures and thought, “She’s 79 and got these pictures of a horse—maybe the horse isn’t around anymore.”

    But when she learned that an estate had put money aside to care for the horse, she realized that Bella was still alive.

    Speaking with some of Ms. Courtmanche’s friends, Ms. Walker learned that Bella was being kept in a barn at Bittersweet Farms in Bethany.

    Then another thought dawned. Ms. Walker asked Ms. Courtmanche, “Do you want to see your horse, Bella, again?”

    The elderly lady said, “Yes.”

    So, teaming up with Mary Wade Home and American Medical Response ambulances, Ms. Walker helped set the wheels in motion to try to make the reunion happen.

    As Bella was now 30 years old and no longer fit to ride in a trailer, they would not be able to bring her to her owner. They decided to bring Ms. Courtmanche in an ambulance to see Bella instead.

    On Sunday, July 9, Ms. Courtmanche along with her entourage of carers and friends set out to Bittersweet Farms. Ms. Courtmanche had eaten a full breakfast that day, Ms. Walker said, adding that “she hasn’t had a great appetite in a long time.”

    They arrived and entered the barn with Ms. Courtmanche confined to a stretcher. Though weakened and tired, she managed to feed Bella a few carrots and appeared to smile happily upon recognizing her horse.

    “She was happy to see Bella,” Ms. Walker said. At the scene, Bella was observed giving “kisses” to her former owner, surrounded by friends and staff.

    “I was crying,” Ms. Walker said. “There was not a dry eye in there at all. Everybody was crying, it was very emotional.”

    Ms. Walker says that, whenever possible, Connecticut Hospice tries to make its patients’ last wishes come true. “I think it helps the patient,” she said. “I think it helps everyone.”

    Connecticut Hospice is the first hospice to open in the United States. It was established by the late Florence Wald, formerly a professor and dean of the psychiatric nursing program at Yale University, alongside a group of nurses, doctors, and clergy in 1974.

    https://www.theepochtimes.com/79-year-old-womans-dying-wish-fulfilled-as-carers-bring-her-to-see-her-beloved-horse-one-last-time_5398241.html?utm_source=partner&utm_campaign=TheLibertyDaily

    Liked by 2 people

      1. isn’t it though?
        and how wonderful someone cared enough to give her her last wish!
        seriously sometimes i think those caregivers are just in it for the $$…the stories you hear

        Liked by 1 person

        1. Oh, no doubt there are bad caregivers everywhere. Some people just don’t have the right temperament for it (like me) and just do it for the $$$ and it makes them feel powerful – those are the bad ones!

          Liked by 1 person

    1. it is!
      they threaten to take something from us…to scare us, or to distract us.
      then when they don’t we think we’ve won. what have we won?

      Liked by 1 person

  39. whoa…TEN kids?
    Former NFL star quarterback, current St. Michael coach Philip Rivers, wife Tiffany expecting 10th child. Rivers said the family is excited and thankful. @RapSheet #alprepshttps://t.co/W5GBc9itHY
    — Ben Thomas (@BenThomasPreps) July 13, 2023

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Filly you know that chili I didn’t get last night? I made it tonight. it’s delicious…AND you made me spit it on the table with the ugly in public one!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
      LOL

      Liked by 1 person

  48. I am adding a short daily prayer to the board. I would invite each of you, if you wish, to also add one or maybe two of your own liking. I do not want to stifle anyone but please limit yourself to one or two religious postings. here’s one I found that I liked.

    Like

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