The Absolute Best Way To Pick Oregano So It Continues To Grow

Instead of relying on Aldi for basic spices at affordable prices, one can also cultivate herbs and spices in a home garden. Oregano is a great choice for such a setup because it pairs well with other herbs, like basil, on both gardening and cooking fronts. To reap the fragrant and flavorful benefits of an oregano plant year-round, though, you must take care to harvest in ways that encourages the greenery to continue growing.

Just as there is a right way to harvest rosemary from your garden, oregano requires special care and attention when pruning and harvesting. Firstly, never settle for tugging the leaves straight off the stem, which can damage the plant. Instead, grab a clean set of scissors or pruners and carefully snip off the leaves, leaving space between your cut and any stems, leaves, or budding flowers so that the branch is encouraged to grow instead of dying off – about a third of the stem's full length should do the trick! Be sure to cut at an angle to reduce the chance of water collecting and facilitating the growth of plant-harming fungi.

For continued healthy growth, leave four to six pairs of leaves on each branch or only harvest a third or less of the plant at a time; harvesting too much oregano in one go could cause the branches to start dying. This death, known as die back, works inward and moves towards the root of the plant. To avoid this strain on your oregano, prune with restraint and regularity.

Trimming your oregano plant is key to making sure it grows to its full potential. In the earliest days of growth, when the plant approaches 4 inches in height, it should be trimmed to discourage tall, spindly growing patterns. With an early trim, the oregano learns to take on a dense, bushy form. As the plant grows, harvest anytime you see the stems grow to 5 inches in length and prune any flowering bits that would turn to seed instead of the leaves you want. Whole you're at it, be sure to prune any dead, yellowing leaves. 

Whether using this herb to elevate store-bought pasta sauce or to bring a classic home cooked meal to life, there is a right time to harvest the leaves of an oregano plant for the best flavor. Keep an eye out for bulbing flowers that emerge during the plant's spring to early summer growing season, as oregano leaves should be harvested before the plant flowers. If you forget to harvest until after the plant has already flowered, don't be surprised when the oregano leaves take on a bitter flavor profile. 

As the seasons change and the weather gets colder, be sure to prune dead portions of the plant so that there is room for new growth in the spring. As for the best time of day to harvest oregano, wait for that perfect mid-morning moment where the full heat of the sun is not yet beating down but the morning dew is gone (or after humidity from watering has disappated).