How to Harvest Greek Oregano

Greek oregano leaves have a brighter yellow color than other oregano varieties.

With its hearty flavor and attractive yellow-green leaves, Greek oregano (Origanum vulgare hirtum) makes a terrific addition to any herb garden. Other than full sun and an occasional watering, this herb requires little care. Left alone, Greek oregano will grow about 2 feet tall. However, harvesting from the plant keeps it more compact.

Things You'll Need

• Garden clippers or scissors
• Rag
• Vinegar
• Basket

Instructions

First Harvest

1. Wait until your Greek oregano plant is at least 6 inches tall. Harvesting when the plant is at this stage will make it produce side shoots. This leads to a fuller plant with more stems to harvest later in the season.

2. Wipe your clippers or scissors with a vinegar-soaked rag to prevent the introduction of disease to your oregano plant.

3. Count three pairs of leaves up from the bottom of the stem. Make your cut just above the third pair of leaves on the stem. This is the leaf axle. Cutting at this point signals the plant to grow more shoots.

Later Harvests

1. Clean your clippers or scissors with a rag soaked in vinegar.

2. Find a stem that is at least 6 inches tall and isn't flowering. Make your cut just above a pair of leaves to encourage the plant to send out more shoots from the leaf axle. Your cutting may be as long or as short as you like, as long as you leave at least three pairs of leaves on the stem to regrow.

3. Pluck leaves from various stems, if you only need a few fresh leaves. Avoid removing all the leaves from one stem, because this can weaken the plant.

Tips & Warnings

• Leave flowering oregano stems for birds and bees. After the plant is finished flowering, or before the first frost, harvest all your stems back to three pairs of leaves per stem. If your winters never have freezing temperatures, you can leave the plant with long stems. In areas with cold winters, protect your oregano plants with mulch.

• Never cut your oregano after you cut a plant with a disease. The disease could be transferred to your oregano.

References

• "Sunset Western Garden Book"; Sunset Editors; 1995
• Kansas State University; Oregano; Rhonda Janke; May 2004