Oregano or Oregano - perennial herbaceous plant up to 60 cm high, branchy, thin shoots, hairs grow at the base. Oval finely toothed leaves grow in pairs, against each other on small cuttings. Small flowers of lilac or white color form shield-like fluffy panicles. The chemical composition of oregano includes essential oils, vitamins C and B6, antioxidants and tannins, due to which the plant has a bright aroma and healing properties.
Is it possible to grow oregano on the windowsill
Oregano - quite unpretentious plant and grows well both in the open field of the garden plot, and in the container on the windowsill in the conditions of the apartment. The leaves and stems of oregano are often used in cooking and for medicinal purposes. By planting a few oregano bushes in a pot at home, you will provide your family with fresh seasoning for the first and second courses and medicinal tea, and your accommodation will be filled with a rich, pleasant aroma and cleaned naturally from bacteria.
How to create conditions for growing oregano
Being interested in the savory taste of oregano in cooked dishes and its healing effect, many are thinking how to grow oregano at home. The growing process is not complicated, the main thing is to prepare a container for planting oregano and a place on the windowsill, and growing and caring for a plant is not difficult if you follow all the recommendations.
Important! When preserving vegetables for the winter, add a little oregano to the marinade, this will add a savory flavor and increase the storage time.
What should be the temperature for growing
Oregano - cold-resistant plant, tolerates cool ambient temperature. The most favorable temperature for germinating seeds of oregano + 18 + 20 ° C, it is this temperature that must be maintained until germination. After the seedlings grow up to 3-4 cm, the planting container can be rearranged to a permanent place, the grown oregano does not need to maintain a certain level of temperature.
Choosing lighting for spicy grass
Oregano is very light-requiring, a pot with plants of this spicy grass is placed on the sunniest window, preferably on the south side. In the autumn-winter season, it is recommended to turn on the light more often in the room where oregano grows, for favorable development of the plant.
How to plant oregano seeds at home
Planting oregano for growing from seeds at home is best done in March and April. Oregano seeds are sold in many specialized outlets, it is easy to get them. When sowing oregano seedlings consumption of about 0.1 g per 10 square meters. m. All appeared inflorescences to be removed, otherwise the oregano stems stiffen, and they can no longer be eaten.
Seed preparation
In order to easily grow oregano from the seeds, it is recommended that the seeds be planted in warm water for two days before planting. When soaking the seeds, it is necessary to renew the water at least four times in one day, this will help to remove the essential oils from the seed, which will speed up their further germination.
It is difficult to sow small oregano seeds, so it is possible to mix them with sand and sow the prepared beds with this mixture. This method will give a relatively uniform sowing of the soil. When sowing seeds in individual pots, 2-3 seeds should be planted in each of the containers to a depth of 5 mm.
Soil preparation
Deciding to breed oregano indoors, you need to properly organize the landing at home. The bottom of the tank is covered with a drainage layer of 3 cm - it can be vermiculite or perlite, then a universal soil mixture or a peat substrate of neutral acidity is poured, sandy soil types can be used.
Did you know? Oregano tea increases appetite.
The choice of capacity for landing
Oregano has a long root system, Therefore, the capacity for planting this spice should be much deeper than for other plants. Be sure to use the container for planting oregano with drainage holes and a layer of drainage of 1-2 cm of claydite or crushed stone in order to avoid stagnant moisture in the soil and rotting roots.
Sowing rules
The prepared soil for growing oregano (filled into a tank with drainage) is moistened with a spray bottle, then seeds are sown in the grooves 10-15 mm deep, which should be sprinkled with a layer of earth no more than 10 mm. After planting, the soil is again moistened with an atomizer, and the container is covered with a film to create a greenhouse similarity.
Several times a week you need to air the plantations of fragrant grass, removing the film for several hours in the morning or in the evening. 14-20 days after sowing the seedlings appear, after which the film is finally removed from the container with oregano.
Caring for oregano
It is not difficult to care for oregano, it needs no more attention than ordinary seedlings of vegetables or a room flower. Watering, weeding, feeding - a guarantee of good growth of fragrant herbs. Watering should be moderate, from the excess moisture oregano roots begin to rot, which leads to the death of the whole plant. Loosening the soil will favorably affect the general condition of the plant; it will grow better.
Important! The smell of oregano will help get rid of moths, cockroaches and mice.
Seedling care rules
Periodically, the seedlings need to be aired and watered gently, it is better to irrigate with a spray. After the appearance of the first leaves, the film is finally removed, and the oregano beds are thinned out, leaving strong healthy plants. Watering should be sufficient and regular. After the oregano grows to 60-70 mm, the bushes are planted in spacious deep flower pots with a volume of about 3 liters a place of permanent growth.
How to care for an adult plant
As you can see, planting oregano at home is not so difficult. Further, it is important to pay attention to the care of an adult plant. Dushitsa is plentifully watered 1-2 times a week, loosened the soil and cut the crown of the bush to an acceptable shape. When watering the main thing - do not allow excessive moisture in order to avoid root rot. For the favorable development of the plant in the apartment, it is advisable to feed the oregano with organic fertilizers for indoor plants twice a month.
Other ways of breeding oregano
You can multiply oregano in autumn or spring by dividing the bush. To do this, the plant is removed from the ground and divided so that each planting rhizome had shoots. Root slices can be processed with crushed activated carbon. Separated parts of oregano are planted in plentifully watered soil and they are first watered, preventing the soil from drying out. Growing young leaves is an indicator of successful reproduction of fragrant grass.
Did you know? Dried herb oregano is more aromatic and fresh.
When and how to collect oregano
As we have already found out, the oregano plant can be grown at home, providing high-quality planting and favorable care. Stems oregano can grow up to a meter long. From July to September, the plant is most fragrant. Stepping back from the surface of the earth 5-7 cm, the shoots of oregano are cut, and then dried in a ventilated room. Ground oregano is stored in sealed jars or boxes in dark places for no more than two years.
