Learn when and how to harvest oregano for the best flavor and the plant’s health.
Meet the Expert
What Is Oregano?
Oregano is an herb often used for cooking and as an antioxidant for health benefits.
The Spruce / Kara Riley
Its pronounced flavor is often described as herby, peppery, and minty, with an underlying faint bitterness.
As a perennial, oregano will continue to grow year after year without replanting.
Oregano’s name is derived from the Greek, and it means “beauty of the mountain.”
So, oregano can be grown for its appearanceno need for harvesting.
Oregano develops small purple flowers that bloom during summer.
Left unharvested, oregano can reach up to three feet high.
Want more gardening tips?
The growing season for oregano varies, but in many areas, it is from spring to early summer.
Tip
Though oregano is relatively pest-resistant, watch for aphids, spider mites, and thrips.
Harvesting Fresh vs. She adds that fresh oregano works well as a garnish for salads, soups, and pizzas.
Harvesting Oregano for Fresh Use
When harvesting oregano, snip off the tops of the stems.
The stems include the leaves that will be removed for use.
Below, leave at least four to six pairs of leaves per stem.
This helps the oregano produce more leaves for future harvesting.
Once the plant flowers, the leaves will start to become bitter."
Choosing the best time of day for harvesting is also critical.
“The herb’s flavor is most potent at this time due to the oils.”
Farmer has a suggestion for harvesting oregano so it’s possible for you to get another batch.
he job isn’t finished when you have collected your herbs, Farmer says.
As a final step, Farmer packs the dried oregano in airtight containers until he needs it.
“Regular harvesting helps keep the plant healthy and producing,” Etemadipour says.
“I usually harvest when the plant stems are about five inches tall.
This will guarantee a few harvests a season.”
Farmer adds that water andfertilizer are important.
Tips for Harvesting Oregano
it’s possible for you to harvest oregano after it flowers.
But if you wait too long after the flowering period, the leaves may taste bitter.
Instead, aim to harvest oregano right as it is flowering.
North Carolina State University Cooperative Extension.
Spice Up Your Life: A Beginners Guide to Growing Oregano.
University of Florida IFAS.
Oregano and Marjoram: An Herb Society of America Guide to the Genus Origanum.
The Herb Society of America.
