have fresh , homegrown herbson deal have for a wonderful addition to many dishes , and you do n’t require a large yard — or even any outdoor blank space — to grow yourown herbs . Oregano is a sturdy plant that is great for beginners and those with modest spaces . So whether you are new to horticulture or a seasoned professional , with a few helpful tips , you’re able to initiate growing overbold oregano in pots .

Choose the Right Oregano for You

Oreganois a perennial , meaning it will stay on to grow for many years , although it goes dormant in the cold winter . This herb mature in a clump and can reach out up to 1 foot tall .

There are many type of oregano , even some that are more decorative than tasty . Before planting , determine whether you want to turn wild marjoram for culinary utilization or as a ornamental aromatic . Origanum’Kirigami ' is a variety of oregano have it off as " ornamental oregano . " Its light pinkish and greenish buds flush in the summer , giving off a ticklish aroma .

However , if you ’d like to grow Origanum vulgare that you may eat , ensure you are looking in the herbaceous plant section of your greenhouse . Look forOriganum vulgaresubsp.hirtumor Greek oregano . You may also find theOriganum’Hot and Spicy , ' variety which , as its name suggest , has a more intense tone .

The three sisters growing in a garden

Oregano does n’t just taste and smell delicious ; it also attracts bee and butterflies to your garden ! So if your pots are going alfresco in warmer month , except to see some visitant .

Start With Seeds

Many home gardeners buy oregano sprouts or whole plant from their local plant nursery , but if you would care to start them from come , inseminate them indoors in the bounce . satisfy small pots or tray with dirt and localise the seeds on top . Do not spread over the seed , but keep the filth moist and the tune warm ( above 60 degrees Fahrenheit ) , and they will spud in a few weeks . Once your seedlings are large enough that their roots fill up the minuscule raft , they are quick to move to their lasting homes . Therefore , you ’ll need to experience which pot to take .

Choose the Right Pot

These day , there are several different pots for gardener to choose from , and oregano is n’t fussy . you may apply terracotta , plastic pots , or even recycled fabric from your kitchen or theater . If you go the recycled itinerary , using something like a basketball hoop , a wagon , or an old Milk River crate , be aware of how the material may touch on the growing oregano . Is it made of something poriferous that may pretend how often the herb needs to be water ? Is it hardy enough to last through the sprightliness of the plant ? Before planting , clean any reuse materialswith soap and water supply , and then scrub with diluted chlorine bleach ( one part bleach to nine character water ) .

The container should be at least 6 inch for a single untested plant or 12 column inch if you are planting several seedlings together in the same pot . The most of import thing your oregano toilet should include is drainage holes . If your container does not tolerate water to flow freely through the filth and enfeeble out the bottom , supply a few holes to the base .

Pick the Best Soil

Oregano is n’t too fussy when it come up to dirt . To boost increase , your best bet for growing a healthy herb in a container is tomix adequate partscommercialpotting mixwith peat moss and/or perlite .

Oregano generally does not need fertilizer but may need a hike directly after plant ( either from seed or transplant ) . Applying either a 13 - 2 - 13 or 14 - 4 - 14 liquid fertilizer to your soil can supply your oregano with the nitrogen and K it needs .

When applying liquid fertilizer , do n’t expend too much , as this can make the herb grow too quickly and load its flavor . secure you also avoid getting fertiliser on the leaves , as it can sting them .

Gardener watering tomatoes in the vegetable patch

Give It Some Sun

Oregano is native to the Mediterranean and is used to hot weather and high warmth . Your plant , whether outdoors or in , ask at least four to six hr of full sun day-to-day or partial shade in particularly hot areas . If your pot is on a windowsill , choose one that face south or west to get the most direct sunshine .

If your home plate or flat lacks instinctive light , indoor plant lightscan help . sure LED or fluorescent lights , kept over the pots , can mime born lightness . However , they are not as impregnable , and your marjoram will need between 14 and 16 hours of light from these incandescent lamp .

spread out your oregano container once a mean solar day so that all leaf get enough illumination !

Seedlings growing with moon light

Keep Your Plant Watered

Oregano may be stout and heat - insubordinate , but it still needs pee . If you ’re shy whether your marjoram needs piddle , stick your digit down into the ground , about 1 to 2 inches . If it palpate teetotal , then it needs a drink . irrigate the plant until supererogatory water dribble out of the drain golf hole at the bottom .

In sight especially , you want to ensure your grease is n’t getting overly dried out . If the soil take care dry and starts to pull away from the sides of the container , then simply pouring water wo n’t be enough . At this point , the water will run through without giving the marjoram roots any nourishment . If this happens , commit the container in a tub of urine for 20 to 30 minutes to let it intoxicate up more wet .

Be heedful not to overwater your plant or keep the pot grease too stiff , as this can lead toroot rotting .

oregano in a clay pot on a wooden table

Harvest

Now that your pot marjoram is growing strong and hearty , it ’s clock time to glean ! Clipping a few leaves and tossing them in your favorite Italian dish not only helps you — it helps encourage new growth in the plant . When your oregano is several inch tall , apply shrill shears to reap the leave . Do n’t burn more than one - third of the flora at one clock time , and if you see any faded branch , cut off them off and dispose of them .

Your herbaceous plant will try best in mid - summer , right before it bloom .

Prepare for Winter

Consider move your Origanum vulgare pots as the summer twist down and fall begins . If your oregano experience outside , move it inside for the wintertime . But suddenly moving the plant from your porch to your living room can shock and harm it , so do this slowly , begin in former decline . Give it an hour or two of indoor clock time , and gradually move that up until it resides indoors permanently . Oregano can continue growing throughout the wintertime , though it may not be as fertile , even indoors .

Grab a Pot and Get to Growing!

Pizza and pasta would n’t be the same without a few oregano leave-taking . And now , no matter how much space you have , with a few pot , plenty of water supply , and a bit of patience , you , too , can delight fresh oregano twelvemonth - orotund ! Start your seeds indoors in the bound , pick containers with plenty of drainage holes at the bottom , and make indisputable your wild marjoram gets lots of sunlight .

With these six tips , you will soon be filling every container in sight with overbold , redolent oregano . What do you be after to cook first ? sink a comment below and divvy up these tip with family and friends !

Fresh oregano growing in a box of dirt

A small wooden sign that says “oregano” in front of some plants

Stacks of colorfully designed terracotta pots

Potting soil tools

Two potted plants on a sunny windowsill outside

Watering can pouring water outside

Sprigs of fresh oregano on a wooden table

Herbs in pots on a sunny windowsill