Summer is here, and most of us have already started setting up our outdoor spaces and balconies. So we wholeheartedly recommend that anyone who hasn’t done so yet put at least one pot of oregano somewhere, as it adds to the home in terms of looks, fragrance and “practicality”.
Its vivid green colour brightens up a space, its scent brings to mind many lovely images and memories of trips to the countryside, and its flavour is truly a “key ingredient” in a refreshing Greek salad.
Oregano (Origanum vulgare) is an aromatic, herbaceous, perennial shrubby plant with thin branches that form flowers at their tips. It grows wild all over Greece, but on our balcony it needs to be placed in a sunny spot in order to develop properly.
It grows to a height of 50 cm and needs no special care, since too much water and fertiliser “downgrade” its aromatic qualities.
This makes it an ideal plant for lazy gardeners!
It isn’t delicate; on the contrary, it repels pests – insects and diseases – and so helps neighbouring plants stay healthy too.
In winter, oregano needs protection from frost, because its roots freeze easily.
To dry it, simply hang the cut stems upside down in a cool, shaded place. It can just as well be used fresh to add its distinctive flavour to your cooking, provided you add it shortly before the end of cooking so that it keeps its strong aroma.
