How to grow oregano

Oregano is usually bought as young plants, which are readily available in garden centres and from online plant retailers. For specific varieties, try specialist herb nurseries. It’s well worth buying oregano plants in person, so you can choose your favourite aromas. Also be aware that some varieties have been bred for their ornamental appeal rather than for flavour, including ‘Kent Beauty’ and ‘Rosenkuppel’, so choose from the herb section when buying if you want the best quality culinary plants.

You can also buy oregano seed from garden centres and online seed companies, although the selection may be limited.
 

Sow oregano seeds indoors in spring into small pots or modular trays filled with moist peat-free seed compost. Scatter the seeds thinly on the surface, there is no need to cover the tiny seeds with compost. Then place in a propagator or cover with a clear plastic bag. Seeds germinate well at around 20°C (68°F). Seedlings should appear in one to three weeks. 

Keep the seedlings in a warm, bright location. Water regularly but avoid overwatering, as seedlings are prone to fungal diseases such as damping off. When the seedlings have several leaves, move each one into an individual pot about 7.5cm (3in) in size. Use a soil-based compost such as peat-free John Innes No 2.

Oregano grows well in fairly poor, free-draining soil, so plants in the ground don't need any additional feeding. However, plants that have been growing in the same container for more than one year will benefit from a sprinkling of general purpose granular feed in late spring or early summer.

In late spring, trim established plants to keep them compact and remove any dead or straggly stems. This will encourage a flush of new growth. Also cut back the flower stems once the blooms fade, to keep plants looking neat.

Origanum vulgare and varieties of it are reliaby hardy, but some less commonly grown species may not survive in colder parts of the UK, so do check the plant label, seed packet and hardiness rating, and move plants indoors or into a greenhouse if necessary. 

It’s important to protect oregano from waterlogging over winter, which will cause the roots to rot. Move potted plants to a sheltered spot, like near a building in a rain shadow, to protect them from heavy rainfall. In locations with cold, wet winters, protect oregano plants in the ground with cloches, but ensure they have good ventilation.

Oregano can be grown from seed (see Sowing above) but if you already have a plant, there are a few easy ways to propagate it. The methods listed below are forms of vegetative propagation, meaning the new plants will be the same as the parent plant. This is especially useful when varieties don't come true from seed.

• Layer plants in spring or autumn by pegging low stems into the soil to root. This often happens naturally, so check for rooted stems around the edge of the clump and pot them up
• Divide clumps in spring or soon after they have finished flowering in late summer/early autumn
• Softwood cuttings taken in summer from new growth