Oregano harvest , few people think about how it happens but many love to put it on pizza, on a salad, in a sauce to give a touch of flavor that is never invasive but does not go “unnoticed”. Oregano has been known for a long time, it was used, as appears from some testimonies, even at the time of the Greeks and Romans , who already knew its therapeutic properties. It was also used to chase away ants : it was believed that it was enough to sprinkle it in the places that were to be reclaimed.
Oregano harvest in pots
Oregano harvesting can also be done when it is grown in a pot, the important thing is to place it in a place where it gets sun. It is a plant that needs heat, much more than water, unless it is in the flowering phase.
When we prepare the soil to grow oregano in a pot , it is not necessary to worry much about the type of soil, this plant adapts even to the driest ones, the important thing is, if we have to sow it, to do it in April. If we are preparing a large pot with several plants hosted, we pay attention to the distance between them , minimum 50 cm.
Fresh oregano harvest
The origin of the name is Greek, in this language oregano means “joy of the mountain”. If we have it on the balcony, it may seem strange, but we must imagine it coloring the slopes with its flowers. Fresh oregano is in fact as beautiful, as dried oregano is good.
The areas where we can witness the harvest of fresh oregano are the Mediterranean ones . Here it grows naturally, in addition to being cultivated on purpose because it is an appreciated and sought-after aromatic plant with well-known therapeutic properties.
Fresh oregano is also used to fight parasites and that is why it is found near cultivated fields.
Oregano Harvest: When
Oregano harvesting must take place during flowering which occurs in midsummer. The life cycle of this precious aromatic plant requires that it is in flower from July to September, while the seeds usually ripen from August to September-October.
In this summer phase, we see the oregano full of green leaves all over the stem and white or pale pink flowers. It is time to harvest oregano: let’s arm ourselves with a knife to cut the stem in half , being very careful not to uproot the roots. Always to avoid ruining the plant and compromising its life, let’s not overdo it with the oregano harvest.
Only once, per cycle, and after flowering we return to fertilize the soil so that the right conditions can be created to give us the possibility of being able to do at least two harvests the following year. Sometimes, if we are good and lucky, oregano can even be harvested three times.
Oregano harvesting and drying
The oregano harvest concerns the flowering sprigs that must be grouped together in order to proceed with drying. There are two ways to carry out this operation. It is possible to proceed by placing the sprigs upside down, hanging, leaving them like this for a couple of days and then doing a first check!
If we are not yet properly dried, we can use a wooden stick or a rolling pin to make the flowers and leaves fall and then a sieve. In this way, the sticks are eliminated, selecting only the part of oregano to crumble and keep.
The alternative technique consists of placing the sprigs on a blanket in the sun, leaving them to dry for three days and then collecting them so that they are ready to be crushed in the mortar.
Oregano harvesting: machines
If the oregano harvest is aimed at selling this precious herb, on a large scale, it is clear that machines are needed. In this case, these are special agricultural machines that are specifically designed for harvesting oregano or other aromatic herbs. The same applies when it is necessary to harvest medicinal plants or vegetables.
Almost every variety requires that the machines have specific dimensions and that they apply cutting and harvesting systems that do not ruin the final product.
Oregano collection and preservation
Once the oregano has been harvested, it is necessary to move on to drying and then to conservation, otherwise our meticulous work is useless, or almost. Once we have the dried oregano, well sifted, we must put it inside glass jars to keep in the pantry. There are also those who keep them in the fridge because they believe that the aroma is better maintained.
