Oregano roots

I pulled up my very healthy oregano. It was in a raised bed I made a couple of years ago. I'm using that bed for squash this year. I've turned it over and will add some more compost, but what I'm wondering is if it's absolutely necessary for me to get out all those little roots. They are legion! There is just a real mess of those hairy little globs. Will they sprout? Break down? Get in the way of new roots? Enrich the soil (hahahaha, just kidding about this one)?

I'm putting the oregano on the RU trade list. I'd love to pot some up for you. I put one of them up close to the house near the Rosemary and Thyme. This stuff smelled so good while I was pulling it out, I almost changed my mind. Problem was, I never used it.

What kind is it? I have been disappointed with what I have- and it never flowers. Ummm. If you got the majority of the plant those little roots should just be ok. Treat it like an EB and plant into them.

I thinned my oregano out a couple of days ago, but I do use it. To dry it I just put it in a colander and toss several times a day when the woodstove is on. It does bloom, but had gotten to about the 50 sq ft level and I have some bulbs I need to plant. i removed the roots from the area I thinned

Kitt, I don't know what kind it is. I get a lot of my plants from Max's Plants. He's in Mansfield, out in the country. VERY good prices, but no info on the plant. I'm sure it just said Oregano.

50 sq ft!!??? My goodness! I need some recipes, please. hahahaha. When you blend it up to dry, do you use the stems, too, or do you strip those itty bitty leaves off?

Since my one plant that I'm keeping is so bushy, I'm wondering if I should trim it back. Do you trim yours?

I wish I used mine more, but ever since I read that you should only use fresh herbs at the end of your cooking time (like 30 minutes before you're done), while dried herbs can be used at the beginning, it just seems like too much trouble. They said the flavor would all cook out of the fresh.

Oregano what a mess !
I did plant one little plant my first year of veggie garden, right buy the edges of the bed ... and this little plant self seeded itself all over my stone pat, and other beds ... I am still finding it around after 6 years !!!

I know that it can do like drthor says, but mine hasnt. The specific one I am looking for is Greek oregano. I believe diff plant var behave differently when planted.

oohhh you are so lucky !!

Sybram, I often use canned spaghetti sauce from the grocery as a starting point for my sauce. I add basil and oregano from the yard, some onions possibly peppers and usually some mushrooms. Since the sauce is really already cooked, the fresh herbs just add some zip because I dont need to cook very long after adding.

PS. I'll take a pot of ;your oregano at the RU and look at my list and see wht I can bring you!

This message was edited Apr 6, 2013 1:23 PM

drthor- they love your gardens, chuckl...

Sybram, I can't find your trade page for the Arlington RU. but I'd like to have some oregano too. See if I have anything listed that you would like in exchange.

I bought my oregano at Russell Feed back in 2004-2005 and don't remember what kind it is. When it overruns the sidewalk I go out and cut it, like I would spearmint or any other mint, bundle and hang to dry, then crumble over newspaper and make a funnel to pour into jars.

I have made oregano cooking oil with pure olive oil, yum, I let it sit for a couple of weeks before I strained it. Use it for cooking or I suppose for an oil and vinegar salad dressing it would be good too.

I use fresh oregano in soups, I use dried oregano in soups. I use so much I don't notice flavor loss from cooking (I cook from scratch and make a lot of soups.) I also add it to jar spaghetti sauce, scrambled eggs with basil, just anything that sounds like it needs a little zing.

Gypsi
does this variety of oregano bloom and make flowers?
I would like to find out the name of a "not" invasive oregano ...

it blooms but I don't know if it actually goes to seed. It acts like spearmint (which is pretty darned invasive) but I just pick a space and plant it, it is drought hardy and the bees like it.

okay drthor- it may be the gardener that creates the invasive LESS... I just found a very good page on oreganoes in an aromatherapy article... thorough article. I still want greek oregano, but i also want sweet marjoram...I have to go find my notes on how to post a link.

well. http://www.jeannerose.net/articles/Mysterious_Marjoram.html good luck

My oregano has white flowers I wouldn't call it EXTREMELY invasive. Took it 6 years to get to 50 square feet, but that bed has 150 square feet available, and the oregano is only on one end. Doesn't burn the tongue fresh or dried though.

"it is drought hardy and the bees like it."

Sounds wonderful to me!

Please see if there's something I can offer you for a start of this!

back to topic...
I've seen one dedicated person use a sifter or strainer to clean out little roots;
you can get a huge one, big as a serving bowl, (meant for spaghetti maybe) at Dollar Tree.

Sylvia, Are you going to the roundup on the 21st? Checking that thread, you may certainly have a start.

hmmm. I have 2 oreganos, hilltop oregano I like, pretty blooms bees love it. the other is s'posed to be spicy hot and isn't for me, and hasn't bloomed. It will be removed in favor of the other ones bettter behavior. My lemon thyme has starts everywhere, it smells devine. I am resting, got lots to pot up to send to Smockette. Lots of little noid basils too.... the fern leaf dill looks like a carpet, my dau said she's using it for her phones wallpaper. I trimmed the stuff some, but its time to go shopping. hehehe I AM HOME!!!

Yes, I'll be there!

I potted up 4 starts of oregano, making room for bulbs for the daughter's wedding, got my Burgess order in.

Kitt, my oregano doesn't look anything like yours. Hope I don't have it named wrong.

Kitt, is that the shrub they call Fringe flower? It looks a lot like it.

Thats an old lorapetalum-HOME- yes. Not oregano, I go get pics...

#1 is what the tag called spicy hot oregano, appears to be a lower ground hugging variety I have never seen bloom, but is mild and mild scent to me (could be too healthy a living environment)
#2 stands thick, taller var, blooms pink. I have had it several years and it took over the mother of thyme, MUCH better aroma to me.

Well, mine looks like either of those, more ground hugging, but white blooms.


This message was edited Apr 9, 2013 8:38 AM

photos of my oregano in bloom