Italian Organic Oregano Seeds
So Pretty You Hate to Cut It! (but oh, the flavor!)
A fine edible ornamental that lasts for years!
- Genus: Origanum
- Species: vulgare
- Variety: Organic Oregano, Italian
- Item Form: (P) Pkt of 100 seeds
- Zone: 5 - 10
- Habit: Mound-shaped
- Seeds Per Pack: 100
- Plant Height: 12 in - 18 in
- Plant Width: 12 in - 18 in
- Additional Characteristics: Edible, Flower, Fragrance, Herbs, Indoor Growing, Butterfly Lovers, Certified Organic, Cut-and-Come-Again, Easy Care Plants, Hummingbird Lovers, Pest Fighter, Pruning Recommended, Rose Companions
- Bloom Color: Lavender, Pink
- Foliage Color: Dark Green
- Harvest Season: Early Summer, Late Summer, Mid Summer
- Light Requirements: Full Sun
- Moisture Requirements: Moist, well-drained, Dry
- Resistance: Heat Tolerant, Humidity Tolerant, Pest Resistant, Disease Resistant
- Soil Tolerance: Normal, loamy
- Uses: Cuisine, Ornamental, Outdoor, Border, Containers
- show more
This Certified Organic Italian Oregano is a treat for the senses! The fragrance will start your mouth watering, while the red-flushed green leaves and purple-brown stems, even when not topped with clusters of lavender-pink blooms, are attractive enough to take their place in bed or border with other flowering plants. Whether you grow this perennial as a culinary herb or a flowering beauty, you will appreciate its ease of culture, spicy scent, and handsome garden presence.
Pungently aromatic, Italian Oregano is one of the most important herbs of Italian, Greek, and Mexican cooking. Mainly used dry (the flavor is much more intense when the leaves are dried), Oregano pairs perfectly with bold flavors like tomatoes, onion, garlic, and beef. (And interestingly, the oil is often an ingredient in men's colognes! Who knew?) Oregano is at the heart of all the great spaghetti sauces, lasagnes, and other Neapolitan dishes you prepare, so why not have it in the border, herb garden, and patio containers?
Italian Oregano is a bushy perennial with broad 1½-inch leaves. The foliage becomes ready to pick when the plant is just 6 inches high or so -- about three months after sowing, when it has been transplanted into its final container or the sunny garden, and it is growing and branching reliably. Most of us pick the leaves on an as-needed basis all summer, but if you want to grow this plant just to dry the foliage as spice (which is very tempting, since that's how to maximize the flavor), wait until midsummer and then harvest. If any random flower buds appear along the way, pinch 'em off fast! The flavor deteriorates when this plant starts to bloom.
That said, you may also want to keep your Italian Oregano coming in the garden for years, so one method is to let a single plant, or maybe two, bloom and go to seed in the border. Next spring, you will have LOTS of little oregano plants, which you can then thin and transplant as needed. Meanwhile, the rest can be used for culinary purposes or as a flowering ornamental.
Oregano is perennial, thriving in full sun and soil that's on the dry side. Once established in your garden, this plant will want to dry out a bit between waterings. When you do water it, do so thoroughly, letting the water really penetrate deeply into the soil. This will encourage roots to grow down and find their own water sources, meaning even less maintenance for you!
Many of us can't imagine a kitchen garden without a pot of oregano, so here is how to get this plant to fit on the windowsill without blocking the light! In the garden, Italian Oregano reaches about 12 to 18 inches high and wide, and in outdoor containers, it's just right for a 10-inch pot. But that's not practical for your average indoor herb garden. To keep the plant smaller, continuously pinch the central stem. This will encourage side-shoots to grow, and will keep it from getting too tall.
Oregano lives about five years as a useful culinary plant, longer as an ornamental. It gradually becomes woody, a very pretty effect but one that reduces the flavor and texture of the leaves. When your plants reach this stage, let them go to flower and set new seed for spring. It's easy!
Sow seeds in well-drained to dry, neutral to alkaline soil in full sun, or start them indoors in your Bio Dome or seed flats. They germinate in about two weeks. Even if you aren't using the fresh leaves as seasoning, trim the plant back every few weeks throughout the growing season to encourage better branching and the formation of more foliage. Zones 5-10. Pkt is 100 seeds.
How to Sow Oregano: - Best sown indoors at a temperature of 68-70° with NO cover as light aids in germination
- Expect germination in 10-15 days
- Seeds can also be sown outdoors after all danger of frost is past in the spring and when the soil is warm
- Outdoors, sow with barely any cover
How to Grow Oregano:
Transplanting: If sown indoors, transplant outdoors when there are at least two sets of true leaves
Spacing: Plant seedlings 15-18 inches apart
Lighting: Site in full sun
Soil: It is very drought tolerant. Sheer plants back when they get leggy
Appearance and Use:
This vigorous, 6-18 inch tall plant spreads to 18 inches wide. It is as useful for ornamental purposes in the border as it is for culinary purposes in the herb garden. In mid-summer it is covered in pink, purple, or white flowers that are very attractive to bees and butterflies. The dark green leaves are highly aromatic and are used in a variety of flavorful Mediterranean dishes. Harvest them at any time for fresh use; harvest them just before flowering when they are to be dried and stored
About Oregano:
Botanical name: Origanum vulgare
Pronunciation: o-rig’å-num vul’gar’a
Lifecycle: Perennial
Origination: Lamiaceae; native to Greece, Spain, and Southern Europe
Superior Germination Through Superior Science
Park Seed offers some of the highest-quality vegetable and flower seeds available in the industry, and there are a number of reasons for this.First of all, we have humidity- and temperature-controlled storage, and we never treat any of our seeds with chemicals or pesticides. Nor do we ever sell GMO's (genetically modified seeds), so you always know the products you're buying from us are natural as well as safe for you and the environment.
Superior Standards - University Inspected
To make sure we are providing the best seed product possible and that our customers will get the highest number of seedlings from every packet, we conduct our own germination testing and have quality-control measures in every stage of our seed-handling operation. We hold ourselves to standards that are at or above federal and state standards, including testing specific crops more frequently than recommended by federal guidelines. And in order to maintain our organic certification, we welcome Clemson University to inspect us annually to make sure our organic seeds, which are stored and processed separately, are being handled properly.
Hand Packed By Experienced Technicians
Park Seed has been handling and packing vegetable and flower seeds for 145 years, a history that has given us a great understanding of how each variety should be cared for and maintained throughout every step of theprocess, from collection to shipping.
When packing our seeds, the majority are actually done by hand (with extreme care!), and we often over-pack them, so you're receiving more than the stated quantity.
The Park Seed Gold Standard
And many of our seeds are packed in our exclusive Fresh-Pak gold foil packets, which are lined to keep moisture out, so the seeds stay fresher for longer. We carefully pack very tiny or fragile seeds in crush-proof vials to ensure safe delivery to your home. Some of the small seeds are also offered as "pellets" (have a clay coating) to make sowing and growing easier.
When it comes to the kinds of seeds we offer, we are constantly seeking something new and provide many unique and hard-to-find varieties from all around the world. Our on-staff horticulturists are ready and available to share their expertise to help you with the success of these seeds, so you can grow a beautiful and productive garden!
Does Park sell GMO's or treated seeds?
It is important for our customers to know that Park Seed does not sell GMO or treated seed. We do buy a small amount of traditional hybrid seed from Seminis, a division of Monsanto Co., but that is all we purchase from them.
What are the differences between organic, heirloom, and hybrid seed?
Basically, organic seeds are seeds that are produced without the use and exposure to artificial/chemical fertilizers, insecticides, fungicides, herbicides, and other chemicals. They have to be grown, harvested, stored, and handled under very strict organic rules and procedures. All of our organic seeds are USDA 100% certified organic through Clemson University and the certificate has to be renewed yearly.Heirloom Seeds are open-pollinated -- they are not hybrids. You can gather and save heirloom seed from year to year and they will grow true to type every year, so they can be passed down through generations. To be considered an heirloom, a variety would have to be at least from the 1940's and 3 generations old (many varieties are much older -- some 100 years or more!).
Hybrid seed are the product of cross-pollination between 2 different parent plants, resulting in a new plant/seed that is different from the parents. Unlike Heirloom seed, hybrid seed need to be re-purchased new every year (and not saved). They usually will not grow true to type if you save them, but will revert to one of the parents they were crossed with and most likely look/taste different in some way.
What are pelleted seeds? Why do you use them? How do I handle/sow them?
Extremely small seed such as Petunias and Pentas are shipped as pelleted seed to make them easier to handle and sow. Pelleted seed are coated, usually with clay, to make them larger in size. After sowing, the coating will dissolve when wet and the seed will germinate. Pelleted seeds are shipped in vials placed inside seed packets, which protects them from being crushed. When sowing, be certain to use thoroughly moistened soil, to be sure that the clay coating absorbs enough moisture to dissolve. For sowing pelleted Petunia seeds, place the seeds directly on the soil surface and do not cover with soil, as light aids in the germination.
What is ideal temperature to germinate most seeds?
The ideal temperature to germinate most seeds is approximately 70 degrees F; give or take 1-2 degrees either way. This would be a good germination temperature for most flower and vegetable seeds and would be the most practical and feasible temperatures achieved for gardeners starting seeds in the home. You will notice for some seeds that it is recommended to use alternating day (warmer), night (cooler), temperatures, which is fine if one can provide such conditions. But most people are unable to provide those temperatures in a home setting, so just use the overall 70 degree F recommendation and the seeds should germinate well.
How long should grow lights be kept on per day and how close to the plants should the light be kept?
For germination and seedling/plant growth, you want to simulate the natural day-night cycles, and as a general rule, grow lights should be on 8-12 hours per day and off at night. You can vary this timing, as some seeds such as tomato, pepper, petunia, impatiens, and others, benefit from 14-17 hours of light per day (and the remainder of the 24 hour period in darkness). The most common grow lights used are fluorescent; using cool white, warm white, and wide-spectrum fluorescent tubes. These lights work well for germination and for growing plants up to a transplantable size. Fluorescent lights should be kept close though, 3-6 inches above the soil or the growing plants, adjusting the height as the plants grow.
How long will seeds keep in storage?
Park Seed stores seed in a special temperature- and humidity-controlled storage facility, which keeps seeds in excellent condition. Our seeds should be good for at least 1-2 years on average. Seed viability and storage time will vary depending on the seed item; some will keep a shorter time and some will keep longer. Seeds should be stored in a cool, dark, dry place. A basement will do (if not too humid), or a cool, dark room or closet. We recommend the best way to extend seed storage life is to store them in something air tight, such as a plastic zipper storage bag or canning jar, and place it in the refrigerator. This will extend the life of seeds for many years.
What is the best way to store seeds over a longer time period?
We recommend the best way to extend seed storage life is to store seeds in something air tight, such as a plastic zipper storage bag or canning jar, and place it in the refrigerator. This will extend the life of seeds for many years.
What depth should I sow various seeds?
When sowing seed outdoors, we recommend a maximum planting depth of 4X the width of the seed. When sowing seed indoors, the planting depth can be less, depending on the seed being sown, so it is always best to check specific directions. Here are some general guidelines concerning planting depth in relation to seed size: Tiny, dust-like seeds need to be sown on the surface of the growing medium or soil, uncovered, as they need light to germinate. The planting depth for small seed can be anywhere from barely covering, to 1/8-inch deep, to possibly 1/4-inch deep, depending on the recommendation. Medium seed should be planted at 1/4- to 1/2-inch deep, depending on the recommendation. Larger seeds can be planted 1-inch or deeper, depending on the recommendation.
This Certified Organic Italian Oregano is a treat for the senses! The fragrance will start your mouth watering, while the red-flushed green leaves and purple-brown stems, even when not topped with clusters of lavender-pink blooms, are attractive enough to take their place in bed or border with other flowering plants. Whether you grow this perennial as a culinary herb or a flowering beauty, you will appreciate its ease of culture, spicy scent, and handsome garden presence.
Pungently aromatic, Italian Oregano is one of the most important herbs of Italian, Greek, and Mexican cooking. Mainly used dry (the flavor is much more intense when the leaves are dried), Oregano pairs perfectly with bold flavors like tomatoes, onion, garlic, and beef. (And interestingly, the oil is often an ingredient in men's colognes! Who knew?) Oregano is at the heart of all the great spaghetti sauces, lasagnes, and other Neapolitan dishes you prepare, so why not have it in the border, herb garden, and patio containers?
Italian Oregano is a bushy perennial with broad 1½-inch leaves. The foliage becomes ready to pick when the plant is just 6 inches high or so -- about three months after sowing, when it has been transplanted into its final container or the sunny garden, and it is growing and branching reliably. Most of us pick the leaves on an as-needed basis all summer, but if you want to grow this plant just to dry the foliage as spice (which is very tempting, since that's how to maximize the flavor), wait until midsummer and then harvest. If any random flower buds appear along the way, pinch 'em off fast! The flavor deteriorates when this plant starts to bloom.
That said, you may also want to keep your Italian Oregano coming in the garden for years, so one method is to let a single plant, or maybe two, bloom and go to seed in the border. Next spring, you will have LOTS of little oregano plants, which you can then thin and transplant as needed. Meanwhile, the rest can be used for culinary purposes or as a flowering ornamental.
Oregano is perennial, thriving in full sun and soil that's on the dry side. Once established in your garden, this plant will want to dry out a bit between waterings. When you do water it, do so thoroughly, letting the water really penetrate deeply into the soil. This will encourage roots to grow down and find their own water sources, meaning even less maintenance for you!
Many of us can't imagine a kitchen garden without a pot of oregano, so here is how to get this plant to fit on the windowsill without blocking the light! In the garden, Italian Oregano reaches about 12 to 18 inches high and wide, and in outdoor containers, it's just right for a 10-inch pot. But that's not practical for your average indoor herb garden. To keep the plant smaller, continuously pinch the central stem. This will encourage side-shoots to grow, and will keep it from getting too tall.
Oregano lives about five years as a useful culinary plant, longer as an ornamental. It gradually becomes woody, a very pretty effect but one that reduces the flavor and texture of the leaves. When your plants reach this stage, let them go to flower and set new seed for spring. It's easy!
Sow seeds in well-drained to dry, neutral to alkaline soil in full sun, or start them indoors in your Bio Dome or seed flats. They germinate in about two weeks. Even if you aren't using the fresh leaves as seasoning, trim the plant back every few weeks throughout the growing season to encourage better branching and the formation of more foliage. Zones 5-10. Pkt is 100 seeds.
How to Sow Oregano: - Best sown indoors at a temperature of 68-70° with NO cover as light aids in germination
- Expect germination in 10-15 days
- Seeds can also be sown outdoors after all danger of frost is past in the spring and when the soil is warm
- Outdoors, sow with barely any cover
How to Grow Oregano:
Transplanting: If sown indoors, transplant outdoors when there are at least two sets of true leaves
Spacing: Plant seedlings 15-18 inches apart
Lighting: Site in full sun
Soil: It is very drought tolerant. Sheer plants back when they get leggy
Appearance and Use:
This vigorous, 6-18 inch tall plant spreads to 18 inches wide. It is as useful for ornamental purposes in the border as it is for culinary purposes in the herb garden. In mid-summer it is covered in pink, purple, or white flowers that are very attractive to bees and butterflies. The dark green leaves are highly aromatic and are used in a variety of flavorful Mediterranean dishes. Harvest them at any time for fresh use; harvest them just before flowering when they are to be dried and stored
About Oregano:
Botanical name: Origanum vulgare
Pronunciation: o-rig’å-num vul’gar’a
Lifecycle: Perennial
Origination: Lamiaceae; native to Greece, Spain, and Southern Europe
Superior Germination Through Superior Science
Park Seed offers some of the highest-quality vegetable and flower seeds available in the industry, and there are a number of reasons for this.First of all, we have humidity- and temperature-controlled storage, and we never treat any of our seeds with chemicals or pesticides. Nor do we ever sell GMO's (genetically modified seeds), so you always know the products you're buying from us are natural as well as safe for you and the environment.
Superior Standards - University Inspected
To make sure we are providing the best seed product possible and that our customers will get the highest number of seedlings from every packet, we conduct our own germination testing and have quality-control measures in every stage of our seed-handling operation. We hold ourselves to standards that are at or above federal and state standards, including testing specific crops more frequently than recommended by federal guidelines. And in order to maintain our organic certification, we welcome Clemson University to inspect us annually to make sure our organic seeds, which are stored and processed separately, are being handled properly.
Hand Packed By Experienced Technicians
Park Seed has been handling and packing vegetable and flower seeds for 145 years, a history that has given us a great understanding of how each variety should be cared for and maintained throughout every step of theprocess, from collection to shipping.
When packing our seeds, the majority are actually done by hand (with extreme care!), and we often over-pack them, so you're receiving more than the stated quantity.
The Park Seed Gold Standard
And many of our seeds are packed in our exclusive Fresh-Pak gold foil packets, which are lined to keep moisture out, so the seeds stay fresher for longer. We carefully pack very tiny or fragile seeds in crush-proof vials to ensure safe delivery to your home. Some of the small seeds are also offered as "pellets" (have a clay coating) to make sowing and growing easier.
When it comes to the kinds of seeds we offer, we are constantly seeking something new and provide many unique and hard-to-find varieties from all around the world. Our on-staff horticulturists are ready and available to share their expertise to help you with the success of these seeds, so you can grow a beautiful and productive garden!
Does Park sell GMO's or treated seeds?
It is important for our customers to know that Park Seed does not sell GMO or treated seed. We do buy a small amount of traditional hybrid seed from Seminis, a division of Monsanto Co., but that is all we purchase from them.
What are the differences between organic, heirloom, and hybrid seed?
Basically, organic seeds are seeds that are produced without the use and exposure to artificial/chemical fertilizers, insecticides, fungicides, herbicides, and other chemicals. They have to be grown, harvested, stored, and handled under very strict organic rules and procedures. All of our organic seeds are USDA 100% certified organic through Clemson University and the certificate has to be renewed yearly.Heirloom Seeds are open-pollinated -- they are not hybrids. You can gather and save heirloom seed from year to year and they will grow true to type every year, so they can be passed down through generations. To be considered an heirloom, a variety would have to be at least from the 1940's and 3 generations old (many varieties are much older -- some 100 years or more!).
Hybrid seed are the product of cross-pollination between 2 different parent plants, resulting in a new plant/seed that is different from the parents. Unlike Heirloom seed, hybrid seed need to be re-purchased new every year (and not saved). They usually will not grow true to type if you save them, but will revert to one of the parents they were crossed with and most likely look/taste different in some way.
What are pelleted seeds? Why do you use them? How do I handle/sow them?
Extremely small seed such as Petunias and Pentas are shipped as pelleted seed to make them easier to handle and sow. Pelleted seed are coated, usually with clay, to make them larger in size. After sowing, the coating will dissolve when wet and the seed will germinate. Pelleted seeds are shipped in vials placed inside seed packets, which protects them from being crushed. When sowing, be certain to use thoroughly moistened soil, to be sure that the clay coating absorbs enough moisture to dissolve. For sowing pelleted Petunia seeds, place the seeds directly on the soil surface and do not cover with soil, as light aids in the germination.
What is ideal temperature to germinate most seeds?
The ideal temperature to germinate most seeds is approximately 70 degrees F; give or take 1-2 degrees either way. This would be a good germination temperature for most flower and vegetable seeds and would be the most practical and feasible temperatures achieved for gardeners starting seeds in the home. You will notice for some seeds that it is recommended to use alternating day (warmer), night (cooler), temperatures, which is fine if one can provide such conditions. But most people are unable to provide those temperatures in a home setting, so just use the overall 70 degree F recommendation and the seeds should germinate well.
How long should grow lights be kept on per day and how close to the plants should the light be kept?
For germination and seedling/plant growth, you want to simulate the natural day-night cycles, and as a general rule, grow lights should be on 8-12 hours per day and off at night. You can vary this timing, as some seeds such as tomato, pepper, petunia, impatiens, and others, benefit from 14-17 hours of light per day (and the remainder of the 24 hour period in darkness). The most common grow lights used are fluorescent; using cool white, warm white, and wide-spectrum fluorescent tubes. These lights work well for germination and for growing plants up to a transplantable size. Fluorescent lights should be kept close though, 3-6 inches above the soil or the growing plants, adjusting the height as the plants grow.
How long will seeds keep in storage?
Park Seed stores seed in a special temperature- and humidity-controlled storage facility, which keeps seeds in excellent condition. Our seeds should be good for at least 1-2 years on average. Seed viability and storage time will vary depending on the seed item; some will keep a shorter time and some will keep longer. Seeds should be stored in a cool, dark, dry place. A basement will do (if not too humid), or a cool, dark room or closet. We recommend the best way to extend seed storage life is to store them in something air tight, such as a plastic zipper storage bag or canning jar, and place it in the refrigerator. This will extend the life of seeds for many years.
What is the best way to store seeds over a longer time period?
We recommend the best way to extend seed storage life is to store seeds in something air tight, such as a plastic zipper storage bag or canning jar, and place it in the refrigerator. This will extend the life of seeds for many years.
What depth should I sow various seeds?
When sowing seed outdoors, we recommend a maximum planting depth of 4X the width of the seed. When sowing seed indoors, the planting depth can be less, depending on the seed being sown, so it is always best to check specific directions. Here are some general guidelines concerning planting depth in relation to seed size: Tiny, dust-like seeds need to be sown on the surface of the growing medium or soil, uncovered, as they need light to germinate. The planting depth for small seed can be anywhere from barely covering, to 1/8-inch deep, to possibly 1/4-inch deep, depending on the recommendation. Medium seed should be planted at 1/4- to 1/2-inch deep, depending on the recommendation. Larger seeds can be planted 1-inch or deeper, depending on the recommendation.