Oregano

Oregano

Origanum vulgare

Plant out around your last spring frost. Space plants 12 in (30 cm) apart.

Photo: Krzysztof Ziarnek, Kenraiz, CC BY-SA 4.0 · source

When to plant

Timed from your frost dates, so it holds wherever you garden. Give yours and every step below becomes a date.

See the dates for your garden

Enter your average last spring frost and first fall frost. Every timing on this site turns into a calendar date. Not sure of yours? Your local extension service or a search for “last frost date” and your town will tell you; the app finds them from your location.

Last spring frost
First fall frost

Saved in this browser only. Nothing is sent anywhere.

Nursery Plant / Division

From a plantRecommended from a plant
  1. Plant outaround your last spring frost
  2. First harvestsummer, fall, once established

Optimal Indoor Start

From seedRecommended from seed
  1. Start indoors8 weeks before your last spring frost
  2. Begin hardening off1 week before your last spring frost
  3. Plant outaround your last spring frost
  4. First harvestsummer, fall, once established

Optimal Transplant

From seed
  1. Plant outaround your last spring frost
  2. First harvestsummer, fall, once established

Growing oregano

Spacing in the row
12 in (30 cm)
Between rows
18 in (46 cm)
Planting depth
1/16 inch
Sun
Full Sun
Soil
Well-drained, sandy loam
Germination
7-14 days at 65-70°F
Harvest season
Summer, Fall
Mature height
12-24 inches
Hardy to
USDA zone 4
Life cycle
Perennial

Sow seeds lightly on the soil surface, requiring light for germination.

Watering. Keep consistently moist during establishment. Mature plants are drought tolerant.

Neighbours

The companion chart →

Grows well beside

Keep apart from

  • Rue

Feeding

Seedlings
Apply half-strength balanced liquid fertilizer after true leaves appear.
Growing
Apply a balanced liquid fertilizer every 4-6 weeks if growth is slow.
Flowering and fruiting
Reduce nitrogen for flowering, though typically harvested pre-bloom for culinary use.
How often
Every 4-6 weeks if needed
Note
Over-fertilization can dilute flavor intensity. Oregano is a light feeder.

Your oregano, planned to the day.

Canopy turns these timings into dates from your own frost data, places every plant at its spacing on your garden map, and tracks it all the way to harvest.

Add oregano to your planting calendar →

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