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Note: Germination instructions are not on seed packets, follow the instructions below for starting seed.
Start the seeds indoors from late winter through early summer, or direct sow in early to late spring. Just cover seeds on the surface of a pre-moistened potting soil and keep warm and moist through germination.
Oregano is a widely used herb in folk remedies and cooking. Oregano helps to settle flatulence and stimulates the flow of bile. As a stimulating diaphoretic it is often used in the treatment of colds and flu, its use here being similar to that of hyssop. The antiseptic properties give it a use in the treatment of mouth conditions, as a mouthwash for inflammations of the mouth and throat.
It is also considered to be a useful promoter of menstruation. It may also be used externally for infected cuts and wounds. The infusion is used in coughs and whooping cough. Headaches, especially when due to tension, may be relieved by a tea of marjoram or by rubbing the forehead and temples with oil. The diluted oil may also be used for rubbing into areas of muscular and rheumatic pain and for toothache. A lotion may be made which will soothe stings and bites.
As with basil, it has been suggested that eating a lot of oregano can help repel mosquitoes. Oregano has many of the medicinal attributes of the other marjorams, but it also contains further essential oils which make it very much more antiseptic in action, both internally and externally.
Leaves are eaten fresh or cooked as a potherb. Oregano is an important flavoring herb in Mediterranean cookery, and is often used dried rather than fresh. The leaves are used as a flavoring for salad dressings, vegetables and legumes, and are frequently included in strongly flavored dishes with chilies, garlic, onions etc. An herb tea is made from the dried leaves and flowering stems.
It has a strong flavor but it doesn't hold up well to prolonged cooking, especially when used fresh. Harvest fresh leaves right before you are going to use them. Wash them and pat them dry. If you are harvesting several hours ahead of time, wash them, pat them dry, and wrap in dry paper towels and refrigerate. They will keep a few hours this way