Does anybody here grow oregano from seeds? I know there are good varieties out there available as plants and I might get to a nursery this spring, not holding my breath on that one tho. I have seeds but no instructions, do they need light? I seem to remember they do but it's cob-webby in this old brain. Help!
Some varieties of oregano are more difficult to start than others. With warmth most types start in a window. I really am not sure whether they need light or not. Maybe someone more knowledgeable will be able to tell you. I have oregano popping up all over my yard from my mother plant. If you have the good fortune to find someone with a plant, starts are usually close at hand. Good luck with getting those seedlings started.
oregano I expect they may be slow in starting so I might plant them first. Basement apt has no windows, depressing in winter, lol. I do have a shelf in the kitchen where I do all my starts under a light. I always start everything from seed. GF prefers to wait for a spring day and buy her flowers already blooming. Whatever. I need to make a macrame hanger for one pot of a vine she has on my shelf, to move it somewhere else, then I get the shelf back for feb-april. I have to start peppers, tomatoes, ground cherries and anything else I can think of. Plus oregano, duh.
Good greek oregano does not seed well, and tastes really spicey. I would recommend getting some from a cutting or plant. I would also recommend eating a leaf before you buy, to make sure that it is really hot and spicy. I did try some cuttings this fall, and have about 3 greek oreganos growing healthily. I have 2 promised to others, but have one more. Ones that grow from seed will become weeks really easily.
If you can get a rooted start of oregano, do so. However, Italian oregano can be fairly easily started from seed. Prepare a seed flat with sterile starting soil, wet it well, sprinkle the seed on top of the damp starting soil, and press lightly with your finger. Keep the soil at about 70 degrees F. and it should germinate within a week to 10 days. If it doesn't, be patient, some seeds take longer to germinate if they are older, or have been stored at higher temperatures. When the seed germinates and the little first leaves appear, move the flat to either natural light or under lights where it will receive light for 12-14 hours. Keep the medium moist but not soggy wet, and thin the seedlings to give the remaining ones room to grow. When the seedlings have two sets of real leaves, you can transplant them to larger containers. When the outside soil temperature is a steady 70 degrees or warmer, plant the seedlings in a full to mostly full sun spot, and enjoy your oregano harvest!
oregano Thanks MG, that's all I really wanted to know, surface sow or cover. You've explained it very well. :-D
