Oregano Plant
Oregano plant is a kind of a perennial herb and is from the species Origanum of the mint family. All of us know it as a delicious topping for Italian dishes, especially pizza and pasta. Scroll down to know more about this popular plant.
Oregano Plant Identification
This plant is a native of Europe, the Mediterranean region and Central Asia. This plant is basically a perennial herb. It grows up to 20 to 80 cm tall and has leaves which can range in length from 1 cm to 4 cm. These however, might not be distinguishing. Although its purple flowers, in erect spikes are what helps people identify it. There are many varieties of the oregano plant, which have different flavors.
Uses of Oregano Plant
Oregano has uses which can be mainly categorized into 2 - culinary and health.
Culinary Uses
It is a well-known fact that oregano herb is a significant constituent of Turkish, Italian, Greek, Spanish and Dominican cuisine. Mostly it's the leaves which are used for cooking. But the dried form of oregano is much more aromatic and flavorful than fresh leaves. Pizza is what most of us associate this herb with. When it comes to flavor, oregano works in tandem with hot and spicy food.
Health Uses
Oregano has a high level of antioxidant activity, as it has lots of phenolic acids and flavonoids. In addition to this, oregano seemingly has anti-microbial activity acting as a counter attack to food born micobes. Leaves and flowering stems of oregano are highly antispasmodic, antiseptic and can act as expectorants and as tonic. For this reason if oregano oil extracts are taken orally, they are effective in treating influenza, cold, mild fever, stomach upsets, fungal infections and even menstrual pain. It is also a great remedy against Methyl Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA) emanated infections.
Pointer #1
The place or the positioning of oregano is important so decide where to plant oregano. The trick is to keep it in an area where there is good sunlight. It is one of those typical Mediterranean herbs. Make sure the soil is well drained and you are done.
Pointer #2
The next thing you need to do is to decide whether you want to grow it through seeds, cuttings or divisions. There could be a chance that you may not get the exact type of oregano you want, because different species of oregano cross pollinate. In case you opt for the seeds, make sure that you cover the seeds just a bit with soil. This will expose them to light and they will germinate.
Pointer #3
Once you decide what to use to grow oregano, plant it. Harvest the crop during mid spring. For proper care of oregano plant in winters, mulch the plant using grass or straw to protect it from freezing temperatures. Come early spring and you can remove the mulch.
Pointer #4
While harvesting, cut off 6 inches at the top of the stem followed by removal of the leaves. Wash them thoroughly and roll the leaves into a small ball. Then chop the leaves using a small cleaver and voila - you are ready to add fresh oregano to your meal. A very important thing to remember here is the timing for picking the leaves. Pick the leaves just after the dew has dried in the morning. What happens is that as the sun gets warmer, the leaves dry out and lose their oil, resulting in loss of aroma and flavor.
Apart from all this, the best part about the oregano plant is that it is normally pest resistant. However, diseases cannot be completely ruled out, as pests like spider mites and aphids bother the plant.
Overall, it is great to have an oregano plant in your backyard or vegetable garden or even if you just have a nice airy and well-lit balcony. Moreover, you would not need to ask for more toppings or seasonings from the pizza delivery boy if you have oregano handy in your kitchen. Are you all set then, to spice up your kitchen?
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