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Oregano or oregano (origanum vulgare) is a perennial herb with medicinal properties. The fragrant leaves of the plant are widely used in Mediterranean cuisine along with mint, basil and rosemary. The plant is also valued for its high content of ascorbic acid, antioxidants and essential oils. This culture also has high decorative qualities. Therefore, if you plant oregano in a personal plot, then you can have not only a fragrant spice, but also a beautiful flowering bush.
Oregano is a honey plant
How to plant oregano seeds in the open field
A common way to plant oregano is to sow seeds directly into the ground. But for everything to go well, you need to follow some rules.
Terms of planting
Planting oregano seeds in open ground should be carried out when the earth warms up to a depth of 15 cm to a temperature of + 15-18 degrees and the threat of spring return frosts has passed. Therefore, in the southern regions, it is recommended to sow at the beginning of May, and in the central and northern regions – at the end of this month or at the beginning of summer.
Preparation of seeds for sowing
Before sowing, oregano seeds are recommended to be soaked for a day in a solution of “Epin” or “Zircon”. This stimulates growth processes and strengthens the immunity of future seedlings. After that, the seeds of oregano must be slightly dried until the characteristic flowability appears. And then land, as they are no longer suitable for further storage.
Since oregano seeds are small, experienced gardeners recommend mixing them with sand before sowing. This will greatly simplify the procedure and contribute to their uniform distribution on the soil surface.
Soil preparation and site selection
Oregano is one of the undemanding crops. The plant loves the sun and heat, but does not respond well to stagnant moisture in the soil. Therefore, for planting oregano, you should choose an open, well-warmed place with loose soil. In this case, the level of soil acidity should be low or neutral.
Oregano can grow on poor soils, but then it will not be able to build up a lush green mass. Therefore, it is recommended in the fall not only to dig up the site, but also to add it to the soil for each square. m. 5 kg of humus, 40 g of superphosphate and 30 g of potassium sulfide.
Oregano grows well in loamy and sandy soil. However, it is permissible to plant it in heavy clay soil after its preliminary preparation. To do this, it is necessary to add twice as much humus to the soil, as well as add 10 kg of sand per square meter. m. And if necessary, to reduce acidity, also in the fall, add 200 g of dolomite flour to the same area of uXNUMXbuXNUMXbthe site.
Without oregano, you can’t get a real Greek salad and Italian pizza.
Sowing Rules
With the advent of spring, the bed intended for oregano must be loosened, the surface should be leveled on it. If there are lumps, they should be broken up. All these preparatory work will help improve the uniformity of seedlings.
Planting seeds should be carried out in furrows 1-1,5 cm deep. They should be done at a distance of 25 cm. Before sowing oregano, the furrows should be watered abundantly and wait until the moisture is completely absorbed. Then you should plant seeds mixed with sand. After that, sprinkle them with earth, slightly compact, and put a layer of peat on top, which will keep moisture in the soil.
Oregano seeds germinate 10-14 days after planting in open ground
Growing oregano through seedlings
Experienced gardeners practice growing oregano in seedlings. This makes it possible to get well-strengthened seedlings by the beginning of the season and speed up the collection of herbs.
In this case, the cultivation of oregano from seeds should be carried out initially at home. The optimal time for planting seedlings is the end of February or the beginning of March. To sow, wide containers 10-12 cm high should be prepared. They must be filled with nutrient soil, consisting of sod, humus, peat and sand in a ratio of 2: 1: 1: 1.
The soil before planting should be leveled and well moistened. After that, evenly sow the seeds and sprinkle them with a layer of earth 0,5-0,7 cm thick. At the end of planting, you need to moisten the soil from above with a spray bottle, cover the container with glass or film, and then put it in a dark place with a temperature of + 22-24 degrees .
After the emergence of seedlings, which usually occurs at home after a week, the container must be moved to the windowsill and the mode should be lowered to +20 degrees. This will prevent overgrowth of the aerial part and encourage root development.
As soon as the sprouts get a little stronger, they must be adapted to external conditions and the film removed. Further care consists in periodic dosed watering with settled water. As soon as the seedlings have four true leaves, they should be picked into separate cups. And a week after this, it is necessary to carry out the first top dressing. For her, you need to use mineral fertilizers intended for seedlings, which are sold in a specialized store.
It is possible to transplant grown seedlings to a permanent place in open ground in the second half of May, when the soil warms up enough and the threat of spring return frosts passes. Planting seedlings should be carried out at a distance of 20 cm, so that they fully develop and do not compete for moisture and nutrition.
Oregano seedlings at the initial stage of development grow slowly
Care for oregano in the open field
To grow oregano in the country from seeds or seedlings, it is necessary not only to properly plant, but also to ensure further care, taking into account the requirements of this perennial culture.
Watering
Planting oregano should be watered only in the absence of seasonal rains. To do this, use settled water with a temperature of + 20-22 degrees. Irrigation is carried out in the evening with a watering can with a sprayer.
During periods of heat, so that the plants do not suffer from a lack of moisture, it is recommended to lay a 3 cm layer of mulch between rows. For this, humus or peat can be used.
Fertilizer
In the first year after planting oregano, it is not necessary to fertilize the plants if all the nutrients were added at the site preparation stage.
Top dressing should be applied from the second season. To do this, in the spring at the beginning of the growing season, it is recommended to use organic matter or nitroammofoska. In summer, oregano can be fertilized only after flowering to maintain the frost resistance of the bushes. During this period, superphosphate (40 g) and potassium sulfide (25 g) should be used in a bucket of water. The consumption rate is 1 liter of nutrient solution per plant.
Weeding and loosening
For the successful cultivation of oregano in the garden after planting in a permanent place, weeding should be carried out regularly at an early stage in the development of seedlings. Otherwise, tender oregano sprouts will not be able to fully develop due to weeds.
It is also important to loosen the soil between the rows in a timely manner. This will prevent stagnation of moisture and keep air access to the roots.
Oregano bushes fully bloom in the second year after planting.
Wintering
There are about 55 different types of oregano. They differ not only in the height of the bushes, in color, but also in the level of frost resistance from -15 to -30 degrees. Therefore, when choosing, you need to pay attention to this and take into account the climatic conditions of the growing region.
Adult oregano bushes do not need special preparation for wintering. You need to cover only young seedlings in the first season after planting. To do this, at the base of the bushes, you need to lay a mulch of humus with a layer of 5 cm to prevent the root from hypothermia. With the advent of early spring, the insulation must be removed, otherwise the bushes may rot.
Transfer
Oregano belongs to the category of long-lived plants. In one place, the bush can grow up to 15 years. But experienced gardeners recommend replanting the plant every 5-7 years, since the older the perennial, the less useful components in its aerial parts.
Transplantation to a new place is recommended to be done in early autumn or spring. The procedure is carried out according to the standard scheme. When planting, it is not recommended to deepen the root collar of the perennial, as this will negatively affect the development of the bush. In the future, you need to ensure that the soil at the base of the perennial does not dry out, which will speed up the adaptation of the plant in a new place.
Trimming
In the first year after planting oregano, it is recommended to prune only single flowers that form on the plant. This will redirect the forces of the perennial to the development of roots and shoots. You should also periodically clean the bushes from broken and dry branches. This culture does not need shaping pruning.
Methods of reproduction
For the successful cultivation of oregano, you need to know not only the rules for planting and caring for oregano, but also how this plant can be propagated. Indeed, in the future, the perennial will need to be regularly rejuvenated in order to always have healthy spicy greens on hand.
Division of the bush
You can get new seedlings of oregano by dividing overgrown bushes that are at least 4 years old. The procedure is recommended to be carried out in the spring at the beginning of the growing season. This will allow the “delenki” to get stronger during the season and prepare for the upcoming winter.
To do this, you need to dig up the mother plant and carefully divide it into several parts with a pruner or knife. Each of them should have well-developed shoots and root processes. Immediately after dividing, it is necessary to plant seedlings in a permanent place and water abundantly.
Before dividing the bush, garden tools must be disinfected
Layers
You can also get young bushes of oregano with the help of layering. To do this, at the end of May or at the beginning of summer, select well-developed side branches and bend them down, deepening 5 cm into the soil, and then fix them with staples. Only the top of the shoot should be left on the surface of the soil.
Throughout the season, it is necessary to keep the soil slightly moist, which promotes the formation of roots.
It is possible to separate the strengthened layers from the mother bush in a year
Conclusion
Knowing how to properly plant oregano with seeds in open ground and seedlings, any gardener can grow this spicy herb. But in order for young seedlings to get stronger and grow, they need to be provided with full care at the initial stage of development. In the future, when the oregano bushes get stronger, they no longer cause much trouble.
