Oregano is a staple in Spanish and Italian cooking. With its potent green, herbaceous flavor and delectable aroma, oregano is often used to season salads, sauces, stews, and marinades. It could be used fresh or dried.

Curious about oregano and how to grow this popular herb indoors or outdoors? Is it best grown from seeds using an herb growing kit or starter plants? Find out more about oregano and learn the best ways to prepare your garden in this guide!

Oregano: Plant Description and Uses

Oregano is often mistaken for sweet marjoram, but it’s a different herb though closely related! This aromatic herb belongs to the mint family. It has dark, green leaves with blunt points and inconspicuous white, lavender, pink blooms forming clusters at the branches and stems. Oregano is a vigorous grower, and the undergrowth could spread and turn invasive if not trimmed regularly.

It grows mainly in temperate Asia and most parts of Europe. Oregano is a perennial but is treated as an annual. It prefers hot, humid climates and is very drought-resistant. Oregano flowers grow during midsummer to early fall, and the best tasting ones produce white flowers.

Oregano is prized for its peppery, aromatic flavor. Use the fresh leaves to season sauces, stews, and roasts. You can sprinkle dried oregano on cheeses, vegetable stews, marinades, and roasted meats and poultry. This herb also pairs well with other herbs, notably sage, thyme, parsley, and rosemary.

Everything You Need to Know About Growing Oregano

Is oregano hard to grow?

Don’t worry if you're new to gardening and want to experience growing oregano from seed. There is nothing to it, especially if you use an herb kit. Because oregano grows like weeds, it's one of the lowest-maintenance herbs out there. It’s also incredibly drought resistant with some resistance to cold temps.

You can certainly grow oregano indoors and outdoors. Oregano will thrive anywhere, even in a pot, as long as the conditions are right. It does not grow too big, about 2 feet high or so; it will do well in a small garden. That said, it’s one vigorous growing herb, so you need to keep the underground stems in check for spreading.

Where is the best place to plant this herb?

Oregano thrives in a place that gets at least 6 hours of direct sunlight every day. It can tolerate some light shade. This herbaceous perennial usually grows as an annual plant in zones 5 to 10. It's very drought-tolerant so that it won't suffer from a bit of neglect. It’s best grown outdoors, but it should do well indoors as long as it is getting enough light.

How long does it take to grow oregano?

It only takes a few weeks to several months to grow oregano from seed. This herb requires a soil pH of 6.0 to 7.0, so prepare the soil before sowing. You can skip the soil prep if you’re using a herb garden kit. Oregano hates standing water, so use well-drained soil and water only when needed.

If you grow from seeds, sow the seeds ¼ inch deep as four weeks before the average last frost date. It will take about 10 to 15 days for the seeds to germinate. Keep the temperature at 70°F for optimal germination and cover the growing pot with cheesecloth until the seedlings sprout.

If you’re transplanting the seedlings, do it only after the last frost. This herb could be grown from root divisions taken in the autumn season, overwintered indoors, and set out in spring.

Oregano needs more room to grow, so space the plants out 12 inches apart, and the rows should be 18 to 24 inches apart. If you want to harvest more oregano leaves, we suggest planting a couple for cooking and a dozen more for preserving the leaves.

What is a good companion plant for oregano?

Companion planting is a strategy that involves pairing friendly plants together for higher yield or pest control. Oregano grows best when paired with different crops, particularly:

• Tomatoes
• Beans
• Cabbage
• Cauliflower
• Capsicum
• Strawberries

This herb attracts all sorts of pollinators and beneficial insects such as bees and butterflies. Try planting several oregano plants in the parameter of your garden to help other crops thrive.

Growing Oregano with ECOgardener Herb Kit

Love oregano? This herb is so versatile and will elevate everyday dishes. It’s part of the mint family, so it doesn’t need much to thrive. Just be sure to prune this vigorous grower, or it will spread all over your garden!

Oregano is incredibly easy to grow from seeds and if you want to give it a try, click here to shop for the ECOgardener herb growing kit.