Oregano originates from the Mediterranean area. It's an essential herb in the Italian cuisine. It's also known as wild Marjoram. It's a perennial from the Labiatae family or the Mint family. Oregano is grown in the Netherlands as an annual. It needs a very sunny plot. It flowers with little pink flowers. The leaves of Oregano are bright green. Oregano has many medicinal purposes. Oregano is used against coughing, nausea and toothache. Oregano also manage the digestion.
Oregano is used in the kitchen in combination with: pork, pasta, eggs, tomatoes, courgette, potatoes, sweet pepper, chicken, lamb, fish and cheese. You can also use Oregano in pasta-sauces, soups, casseroles and on Pizzas. Oregano is a herb that can be heated. Oregano is a herb that is much used in the Italian, French, Spanish, Morrocan and Greek kitchen. You can use Oregano fresh or dried. Oregano is used in different ways. Semi-hardy perennial.
Indoor sowing: April - May
Germination: 8 - 15 days
Germination temp.: 18 - 20°C
Sowing depth: shallow - ½ cm
Plant distance: 35 - 45 cm
Plant position: full sun
Harvest period: July - August
Sow the seeds indoors in a warm room or propagator from April. The seeds need a lot of warmth and light to germinate. Sow the seeds on the moist soil and press them gently in or cover them with a very thin layer of soil. Keep moist. Keep the temperatures as even as possible and don't let the temperature drop during the night. Transplant the seedlings to individual pots when they're approx. 3 - 5 cm in size. Harden them of after approx. 6- 8 weeks and put the plants approx. 10 days outdoors during the day on a sunny spot from the beginning of May.
Plant them on a very sunny plot with shelter or in a greenhouse outdoors. Keep the plants approx. 35 - 45 cm apart. Harvest the leaves contiously to keep productivity up. Protect against cold weather and frosts in winter by putting the plants indoors.
