Important notes
concentrated oil / pregnancy: Safe as a spice. Concentrated oregano oil is very potent and should be avoided in pregnancy.
Light
Full sun, 14–16 h of light — the sunnier, the stronger the aroma.
Watering
Water sparingly and let it dry between waterings; avoid waterlogging.
Temperature
18–28 °C; warmth-loving, hardy to about −15 °C in the ground.
Humidity
40–55 %, dry and airy spot.
Target values by method & stage
| Stage | pH | EC (mS/cm) | Water °C | Air °C | Humidity % | Light h | Duration (days) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Germination | 6–6.5 | 0.4–0.8 | 20–24 | 18–24 | 55–65 | 15 | 12 |
| Seedling | 6–6.5 | 0.8–1.2 | 18–22 | 18–24 | 50–60 | 15 | 20 |
| Vegetative | 6–7 | 1–1.6 | 18–22 | 18–28 | 40–55 | 15 | 35 |
| Harvest | 6–7 | 1–1.4 | 18–22 | 18–28 | 40–55 | 14 | 35 |
| Stage | pH | EC (mS/cm) | Water °C | Air °C | Humidity % | Light h | Duration (days) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Germination | 6.3–6.8 | 0.4–0.8 | — | 18–24 | 55–65 | 15 | 12 |
| Seedling | 6.3–6.8 | 0.8–1.2 | — | 18–24 | 50–60 | 15 | 20 |
| Vegetative | 6.3–7.3 | 1–1.6 | — | 18–28 | 40–55 | 15 | 35 |
| Harvest | 6.3–7.3 | 1–1.4 | — | 18–28 | 40–55 | 14 | 35 |
| Stage | pH | EC (mS/cm) | Water °C | Air °C | Humidity % | Light h | Duration (days) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Germination | 6–6.5 | 0.4–0.8 | 20–24 | 18–24 | 55–65 | 15 | 12 |
| Seedling | 6–6.5 | 0.8–1.2 | 18–22 | 18–24 | 50–60 | 15 | 20 |
| Vegetative | 6–7 | 1–1.6 | 18–22 | 18–28 | 40–55 | 15 | 35 |
| Harvest | 6–7 | 1–1.4 | 18–22 | 18–28 | 40–55 | 14 | 35 |
Common problems
Root rot in wet soil, mildew in still air, aphids.
Space & Size
- Final height
- 50 cm
- Final width
- 40 cm
- Spacing
- 30 cm
- Root depth
- 25 cm
- Min. container (Hydro)
- ≥ 3 L
- Min. container (Soil)
- ≥ 5 L
- Min. container (Coco)
- ≥ 4 L
Pests & diseases
| Pest / Disease | Symptom | Organic treatment |
|---|---|---|
| Aphids | sticky shoots | rinse off, beneficials |
| Root rot | wilting from waterlogging | free-draining mix, water sparingly |
Edible parts
- Leaves · edible from Vegetative
- Flowers · edible from Flowering
Yield techniques
Harvest just before flowering (peak aroma); regular trimming keeps it compact and productive.
Propagation & pollination
- Method
- seed
- Germination time
- 10 days
- Germination temp
- 18-21 °C
- Sowing depth
- 0.3 cm
- Pollination
- insect
- Hand pollination needed
- no
light germinator; also division
Companion planting
🟢 Good neighbours: Bay Laurel
🔴 Bad neighbours: Coriander (Cilantro)
Flavor
bold, peppery, warm and spicy
Storage
Dried, the flavour gets even stronger.
History
Oregano ("joy of the mountains") grows wild around the Mediterranean and is world-famous as the pizza herb.
Nutrition
Very high in antioxidants, plus vitamin K.
Techniques
Sources
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