How to grow Greek Oregano

Origanum vulgare subsp. hirtum

  • Greek Oregano is notoriously difficult to grow in high humidity conditions – you can minimise the effects of humidity by ensuring your plants have plenty of spacing.
  • Ensure the area in which you plant this is free draining, as Oregano doesn’t like boggy conditions.
  • Aim for at least 6 hours of sunlight a day, having some afternoon shade in hot areas can cut down on the amount of watering required.
  • If you are looking to increase the size of your oregano patch, ensure there is soft soil around your plant as this will encourage runners to spread.

Growing Greek oregano from seed

Sow thinly into pots or directly outside and cover with a thin layer of compost. Thin out if necessary when the first two sets of leaves appear.

Try to aim for a seed spacing of at least 11.7 inches (30.0 cm) and sow at a depth of around 0.08 inches (0.2 cm). Soil temperature should be kept higher than 21°C / 70°F to ensure good germination.

Harvesting Greek oregano

As with any fresh herb, try and harvest just before using in a dish as the flavours will be the strongest – a quick wash and dry is all that is required before adding to your dish. If you need to harvest a couple of hours earlier before using, wrap in slightly damp paper towel and place in the fridge.

Oregano is a good dried herb, so consider drying out bunches and using them over the winter. Hang them in bunches in a warm room and when the leaves are “crispy” place in a airtight container.

How long does Greek oregano take to grow?

These estimates for how long Greek oregano takes to sprout, grow and harvest are from real observations from real gardeners, right around the world.

Days to Germination How long does it take Greek oregano to germinate?
8 days

Average 8 days | Min 5 days | Max 14 days (13)

Days to Transplant How long until I can plant out Greek oregano?
+ 31 days

Average 31 days | Min 23 days | Max 48 days (2)

Days to Maturity How long until Greek oregano is ready for harvest / bloom?
+ 90 days

Average 90 days | Min 41 days | Max 757 days (23)

Total Growing Days How long does it take to grow Greek oregano?
= 129 days

Greek oregano Etymology

Oregano in Greek means “joy of the mountain”.

Greek oregano Folklore & Trivia

This spicy oregano is preferred for recipes that call for fresh oregano. Use sparingly. Works well with robust dishes using beans, meats, tomatoes, eggplants, and peppers.
Has lots of health benefits including antioxidants and vitamin C and A among other benefits.2

Other names for Greek oregano

Winter marjoram

Origanum heracleoticum, Origanum vulgare ssp. hirtum, Origanum vulgare hirtum

Misspellings: Winter Marjorum

Footnotes

1 Oregano

2 Richters: Growing Oregano


< Previous Plant Guide

Couch Grass

Next Plant Guide >

Weeping Fig