Culinary Herbs - Oregano

Oregano is widely known as an Italian Herb. You just can't make a good pizza without it. It is most often used in tomato sauce, in grilled meat and fried veggies.

It is a perennial herb. It has a bush structure and produces tiny, oval-shaped leaves. It grows about 1-2 feet tall, and can spread.

To harvest, wait until the branches have grown 4-5 inches before cutting. It is best to harvest before the plant flowers for maximum flavor. It is a good idea to prune it back in early summer to control the spread and to encourage new stems to grow.

In colder climates, oregano can develop a more bitter taste. In these cases, it's best to either grow it indoors, or resign yourself to buying it in the supermarket.

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