Wonders Of The Oregano Plant
Oregano is a bitter herb from the labiates family like basil. The best quality oregano herb is grown in warm and dry climate. The concentration of essential oregano olive oil is encouraged by the sunlight, to give its natural flavor.
The oregano herbs were introduced by the ancient Greeks and Romans, and the Spaniards brought it to the new world. The name oregano means joy of the mountain because it is usually seen at the mountain regions of the Mediterranean.
In the wild oregano herbs can grow up to 2 ½ feet tall and their flowers bloom in the month of June and grow in clusters. Oregano garden flowers are different in color depending on the variety of it. When the pizza craze caught on, it became more popular especially in America.
In the Orient, like in the Philippines, oregano is commonly used by the local chefs when boiling carabeef (water buffalo’s or carabao’s meat) or normal beef to remove the odor and to add a hint of spice to the flavor.
Oregano is not only used for culinary and kitchen delicacies. Oregano is a good antioxidant and antimicrobial. These characteristics are very useful for food preservation and health as in the Philippines, oregano is considered as a medicinal plant, useful to relive cough and headaches.
Other parts of the oregano like the leaves and flowering stems are extremely antispasmodic, antiseptic, diaphoretic and mildly tonic. It can be use for treating colds, indigestion, painful menstruation and mild fevers. Also another herb that helps with painful menstruation and helps regulate the menstrual flow is catnip herbs. You can find out more about Catnip Herbs here. In addition oregano herbs also aid restful sleep when used as a mild tea.
Usually garden plants start from seeds, cuttings or divisions. Oregano’s seeds need sunlight in order to germinate, so cover slightly the seed with soil in order for the oregano plant to germinate. Start using the seeds indoors when the temperature remains above 4-5 degrees F.
Oregano plants like a well drained soil as a high quality soil dilutes the pungency of the flavor. Fertilizer, water and enough sunlight are the common needs of the plant and these can bring variation to the herb’s flavor.
The flowers of the oregano plant must be maintained and be pinched to keep it bushy and to prevent forming of seeds. When the center of the plant starts to die or become woody, divide the plants. By simply dividing the plants can help you to produce ore plants.
Like most herbs, oregano herbs taste better before these plants flower. Begin harvesting when the plants are between 4-5 inches tall. Stem cutting all the way back to the ground encourages more stem and tends to form a fuller plant. Always keep an eye on oregano’s pests, commonly these are aphids and spider mites that cause the most damage to these herbs.
Although oregano is used as a culinary and medicinal plant, it makes a good edging plant and a nice ground cover.
Oregano herb planting is very easy. This herb really benefits you especially in foods and in medicine. Oregano planting is really a worthwhile task due to its uses. Using this natural herb prevents the use of industrialized food and health products that introduce bad chemicals and side effects to our body.
