Oregano
Origanum vulgare
Oregano is a hardy perennial herb valued for its aromatic foliage and outstanding drought tolerance. It performs particularly well through the subtropical cool season before thriving into warmer weather once established.
Overview
At a Glance
Peak Planting Window
April to September
Seasonal Role
Mediterranean perennial herb
Difficulty
Easy
Planting Method
Seed, cutting or transplant
First Harvest
8–10 weeks
Sun
Full sun
Water
Low to Moderate
Heat Tolerance
High
Humidity Tolerance
Moderate
Family
Lamiaceae
Category
Herb
Planting Calendar
Monthly Planting Guide
Month-by-month suitability for coastal subtropical Australia.
Rationale
Why This Planting Window
Oregano establishes best during the cooler months, producing dense, aromatic foliage before summer heat encourages flowering. Well-established plants tolerate warm conditions extremely well.
Reference
Growing Information
Lifecycle
Perennial
Ideal Soil Temperature
15–25°C
Germination
7–14 days
Transplant Ready
5–7 weeks
Soil
Free-draining fertile soil
Soil pH
6.0–8.0
Plant Spacing
30–40 cm
Row Spacing
40–50 cm
Frost Tolerance
Moderate
In the garden
Plant Care
Feeding
Apply compost before planting and avoid excessive fertiliser, which reduces flavour intensity.
Watering Guidance
Water during establishment then only as required. Oregano prefers slightly drier conditions than most herbs.
Avoid Nearby
- None significant
Watch out for
Problems & Prevention
Common Pests
Aphids, spider mites and whitefly.
Common Diseases
Root rot, powdery mildew and fungal leaf spots.
Common Mistakes
Overwatering, excessive fertiliser, heavy shade and allowing plants to become woody without pruning.
Picking
Harvest
First Harvest
8–10 weeks
Harvest Window
Continuous leaf harvest
Harvest Indicators
Harvest stems before flowering for maximum flavour. Regular cutting promotes compact, productive plants.
Standard
SGGS Details
Subtropical Gardener Growing Standard — profile metadata.
- SGGS Code
- HER008
- Version
- 1
- Confidence
- High
- Seasonal Role
- Mediterranean perennial herb
- Crop Champion Month
- May
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