Origanum vulgare subsp. hirtum
Greek oregano
Common names: Hairy oregano, Cretan oregano
At a glance
- Light
- Full sun
- Spacing
- 30 cm, rows 30 cm
- Lifespan
- Perennial
- Sowing
- Apr–May
- Harvest
- Jun–Sep
- Hardiness
- Hardy down to −15 °C
- Water need
- Low
Photo: Forest & Kim Starr · CC BY 3.0 · Source
This description was machine-translated.
Description
Greek oregano, botanically Origanum vulgare subsp. hirtum, is the oregano of Greek and southern Italian cuisine. It grows as a bushy, perennial culinary herb, usually 20 to 40 cm tall, with small, oval, grey-green leaves that are slightly hairy and release a strong fragrance when touched. From July to September, small white flowers appear that attract bees and butterflies. Its native habitat is sunny, stony slopes in the eastern Mediterranean, and it likewise needs a warm, lean site in cooler climates. The flavor is more robust and spicy than that of common oregano and becomes even stronger when dried. In the kitchen it seasons tomato sauce, pizza, grilled vegetables, feta, lamb, and salads. In the garden it grows in herb beds, rock gardens, and containers.
Care instructions
Plant Greek oregano in April or May in a full-sun, warm spot with lean, well-drained soil, spacing plants about 30 cm apart. Rub a leaf between your fingers when buying it; it should have a strong, spicy fragrance. Water regularly during the first few weeks, then only during prolonged dry spells, preferably in the morning. No fertilizer is needed, as it weakens the aroma. Harvest shoots from June onward; they are most aromatic shortly before flowering on a sunny morning. For drying, tie the shoots in bundles and hang them upside down in an airy, shaded place. In March or April, cut old shoots back to 5 to 10 cm above the soil. The most common mistakes are waterlogging and too little sun. It spreads slowly and occasionally self-seeds. Remove spent flower stalks if you do not want self-seeding.
The care notes were machine-translated from German.
Garden year
SowingApr–May
HarvestJun–Sep
FloweringJul–Sep
Germination
- Soil temperature
- from 12 °C, ideally 20 °C
- Days to sprout
- 7 to 14 days
- Light
- Needs light to sprout
- Sowing depth
- Press in, don't cover
- How to start
- Start indoors, then plant out
Soil & site
Soil pH
Soil type
well-drained, lean, dry, lime-loving
Greek oregano comes from sunny, stony slopes and feels most at home in poor, dry and free-draining soil. Lime-rich, barren soil brings out more aroma than nutrient-rich garden soil. Waterlogging is its greatest enemy, especially in winter: on heavy clay, mix plenty of sand or grit into the planting hole or plant on a small mound. In a container, use poor, free-draining herb compost and put a drainage layer of expanded clay at the bottom of the pot.
Feeding
Light feeder
Greek oregano needs no fertiliser. The poorer the soil, the spicier the leaves become; too much food makes them larger, but bland. In a container, too, you do not feed: when the soil is exhausted after a few years, swap the top layer for fresh, poor herb compost in spring.
Overwintering
Greek oregano is hardy in Central Europe, but more sensitive than common oregano. More important than warmth is dryness: wet in winter makes the roots rot, which is why it needs free-draining soil. In harsh areas, cover the clump loosely with brushwood in December. In a container, place the pot against a sheltered house wall, raise it on feet and wrap it in fleece in hard frost. Water only on frost-free days and only a little.
Propagation
Methods
- From seed
- Cuttings
- Division
The surest way to propagate Greek oregano is by division or cuttings, because plants raised from seed can vary greatly in aroma. In April or September, lift a clump, divide it and replant the pieces straight away. Take cuttings in early summer: tip shoots of about 8 cm without flowers, which you insert into sandy soil and keep evenly moist. Sowing works too; the seeds need light to germinate. From April, scatter them onto fine soil, press them down only lightly and keep them moist at 18 to 20 °C. They germinate after two to three weeks, and you plant out from May.
Companion planting
Good neighbors
nightshade family (Solanaceae)
particularly well establishedYou will find that basil next to tomato and pepper improves taste and keeps whiteflies and aphids away.
For example PotatoTomatoSweet pepperCocktail tomatoEggplantCape gooseberry and 14 more species in the catalogue
Source: classic companion planting (DACH-Gartenpraxis)
cabbage family (Brassicaceae)
You will notice that the intense scent of basil, thyme, and others confuses the cabbage whitefly and keeps it away from the cabbage family.
For example White cabbageKohlrabiRadishKalebroccolicauliflower and 41 more species in the catalogue
Source: bio-gardening intercropping practice
Companion planting is partly traditional gardening lore. Where the reason is known, it is given.
Some of these explanations were machine-translated.
For your garden
Grow Greek oregano yourself
Gartenkern tells you when frost is coming, when to sow and when to harvest, for your location.
Free, no time limit
Notes from real gardens
What other gardeners have written down about this variety, anonymous and voluntary.
No notes shared yet. Will you be the first to write one down?