Some of our member herbgardeners asked me how I seed start my herbs. So I have been planning for a while now to create a video about the simple and easy method I use for starting my new batches of herbs.
How Many Oregano Seeds Per Pot for the Best Harvest
Oregano is an easy-to-grow and versatile herb that adds amazing flavor to Italian, Greek, Mexican and many other cuisines The attractive, bushy plants also make great additions to an indoor herb garden or ornamental containers outdoors. To get the most out of your oregano, it’s important to sow the right amount of seeds per pot Follow these tips on planting oregano seeds successfully.
Choose the Right Pot Size
Oregano grows 1-2 feet tall and wide. Pick pots at least 12 inches wide to provide enough room for the plants to reach maturity. Shallow containers like window boxes also work well, giving creeping oregano varieties space to spread horizontally. Make sure pots have drainage holes to prevent soggy soil. For indoor growing, choose pots that fit comfortably on your windowsill with room for other herb companions like basil, thyme or marjoram.
Fill With High Quality Potting Mix
Good drainage is key when growing oregano. Use a commercial organic potting soil or make your own mix with equal parts garden soil, compost and perlite or builder’s sand. Adding 1/3 part compost provides nutrients without overfeeding your oregano. For indoor growing, use sterile seed starting mix to prevent fungus issues. Wet the soil before planting and make sure it’s moist but not sopping wet.
Plant Oregano SeedsOregano seeds are very tiny. Gently press them onto the surface of prepared, moist potting mix. You don’t need to cover them with soil – light exposure helps them germinate. Space seeds about 2 inches apart to allow room for mature plants later on. Plant seeds in successive 2 inch intervals for an ongoing harvest. For indoors use peat pots or cells so you can transplant without disturbing the roots.
How Many Seeds Per Pot?
For a 4 inch pot, plant 3-5 seeds.
For 6 inch pots, plant 5-7 seeds.
For 8-12 inch pots, plant 7-10 seeds.
For larger beds, plant seeds 2 inches apart in rows 6 inches apart.
These recommendations provide the ideal density for healthy growth as the plants mature. Thin overcrowded seedlings later on. Plant extra seeds to allow for some that don’t germinate.
Caring for Oregano Seedlings
Keep planted seeds moist continuously for 7-14 days until sprouts emerge. Water gently with a spray bottle to avoid dislodging seeds. Place in a sunny window or under grow lights indoors. Outdoor seeds appreciate partial shade protection. Gradually expose to more sun over 2-3 weeks.
Thin overcrowded seedlings when plants have 3-4 sets of leaves. Use scissors to snip extra plants at soil level. Transplant seedlings from peat pots when roots show through sides. Harden off outdoor plants for 7-10 days before transplanting.
Caring for Mature Oregano Plants
Once established, oregano needs little care. Let the soil dry between waterings, then soak thoroughly. Fertilize lightly with compost tea or fish emulsion if plants seem stunted. Prune lightly and harvest often to encourage bushy growth. In warm climates, provide afternoon shade. Indoors, rotate pots occasionally to prevent one-sided growth toward the light. Enjoy flavorful oregano for months!
Key Takeaways:
- Choose pots at least 12 inches wide for full growth.
- Fill with well-draining organic potting mix.
- Plant seeds 2 inches apart in successive intervals.
- For a 4 inch pot, plant 3-5 seeds. Scale up for larger pots.
- Keep seedlings continuously moist for 2 weeks until sprouted.
- Thin overcrowded plants, transplant peat pots later on.
- Mature oregano is drought tolerant and needs little care.
- Harvest often, prune lightly and provide some shade in heat.
Growing oregano from seed is simple with a bit of planning. Follow these tips for how many oregano seeds to plant per pot. With ideal spacing and care, you’ll enjoy an abundant oregano harvest!
You want to learn more about seed starting herbs?
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In short what I explain in the video:
With the potting mix ready for use, we are set to start sowing Rosemary and Oregano, two lovely herbs deserving a place in every herb garden.
I like to use a relative large size of pots to start my seeds. It allows me to keep them longer in the same pot and I don’t have to replant them too quickly. But that is of course a personal choice. Most people may use smaller pots or seeding trays. That is just fine, as well.
The process is really simple.
When everything is ready, I start by filling the plastic pots with soil. I usually fill the pot loosely with soil till the top, and then I compress gently with my thumb some soil to the sides of the pot. I do this to avoid big air pockets in the soil. Next I fill up the pot a second time, until it is completely filled with soil.
When filled the pots are ready for receiving the seeds. People are always asking how many seeds to I put together in one pot. There is no law of nature telling me this of course, but I don’t mind putting several seeds in one cup. With rosemary, I go for 3 to 6 in a pot cell, I can always divide them up later. So I put them on the soil or scrape them in just below the surface with a toothpick or some small stick, about a quarter of an inch, just make sure the seeds are covered up.
After that I press the top layer of the soil gently, to make sure the seeds are covered up and make contact with the surrounding soil.
Same procedure for the oregano: Filling the pots with soil, I thumb pack the soil into the cells to get a nice solid starting base without any airpockets, filling the pots up to the top. Again here, for Oregano, I don’t mind overseeding a bit, because Oregano seeds are really, really tiny and because we want bushy herbs to grow and to harvest, so I willl sow 20-30 seeds per cell. I will pinch the seeds and just scatter them around across the top of the soil mix. Next I tuck them in again, and I gently compress the soil.
To finish up, I mark the pots with name and date sticks, I apply a first bottom watering for 20 minutes, and after removing the remaining water, they are ready to go in my seed starting station with grow lights.
So that is how I do it, I hope this was helpful to you and it may help you being successful with herb seeds as well,
If you have a question, let me know in the comments. Good luck with your herbs!
How to Grow Oregano from Seed in Pots | Italian Oregano
FAQ
How many oregano seeds are in a pot?
Again here, for Oregano, I don’t mind overseeding a bit, because Oregano seeds are really, really tiny and because we want bushy herbs to grow and to harvest, so I willl sow 20-30 seeds per cell. I will pinch the seeds and just scatter them around across the top of the soil mix.
How to plant oregano seeds in a pot?
Sow oregano seeds indoors in spring, into small pots or modular trays filled with seed compost. Don’t cover the tiny seeds. Keep above 15°C (60°F) and seedlings should appear in a couple of weeks.
How many seeds should I put in one pot?
Does oregano like to be crowded?
Space oregano plants 8 to 10 inches apart in a sunny spot with fertile, well-drained soil with a pH of 6.5 to 7.0.
How many oregano seeds to plant in a pot?
When determining how many oregano seeds to plant in each pot. there are a few key factors to consider Variety of oregano – Some oregano varieties produce smaller plants, while others grow much larger. Smaller varietals like compact oregano may only need 5-10 seeds per pot. Larger Greek or Italian oregano may need 15-20 seeds.
How big should a pot of oregano be?
Pot size depends on the type of oregano you’ve decided to grow. In containers, regular oregano seldom grows more than 12-16 inches tall. You can grow it in a medium 8 to 12 inches deep pot with a similar spread. Some low-growing varieties like creeping oregano and golden oregano can be grown in shallow but wide 6-8 inches-deep pots.
How do you grow oregano in a pot?
To grow oregano select a pot that’s around 12 inches (30 cm) deep. Use the potting mix with pH 5.5 to 7.0. Oregano only requires watering when the top inch of the soil feels dry and should be cut regularly to keep the plant bushy. Here are nine tips for growing oregano in pots.
Can you grow Oregano from seed?
Oregano can be grown easily from seed or purchased as a plant from a nursery for faster harvest. Oregano grows easily from seed (this is my go-to since I’m cheap). You can direct-sow it into the garden after your last frost date. Once temps reach about 70℉, it will germinate. You should see sprouts in 1-2 weeks.
How long does it take to grow oregano seeds?
This helps water the oregano plant without spilling the water and potting mix out of the pot. The oregano seeds will germinate in 2-3 weeks and you don’t need to provide fertilizer to them. The seeds contain enough energy to grow on their own and sprout.
How deep should an oregano pot be?
It’s best to choose a pot for oregano that is 8-12 inches deep. This gives the oregano roots enough space to grow well looking for nutrients and moisture. If you want to grow many oregano plants in a single pot, it’s good to choose a wide one. An 18-inch wide pot would do well for this purpose.