Ranging from $500 to $5,000 per kilogram, saffron, or the Red Gold as it is commonly referred to, takes a total of about 150,000 flowers to produce just one kilogram! Now you know why it would be a great idea to have its plant at home!
24.02.2024 - 16:32 / gardenerspath.com / Heather Buckner
How to Grow Flavorful Greek Oregano Origanum vulgare var. hirtum
Greek oregano is perhaps one of the most familiar of the culinary herbs among cooks in North America.
I use this spicy and flavorful seasoning in just about everything I cook, and therefore it was one of the very first perennials I planted when I started my garden – I wanted a supply on hand at all times!
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Feel the same way? Read on to learn all about growing your own Greek oregano.
What Is Greek Oregano?There are a number of species and cultivars that are referred to commonly as oregano, coming from different regions and with different flavor profiles.
A subspecies of Origanum vulgare, Greek oregano is a slightly spicy herb with an earthy flavor. Native to dry rocky mountainous regions in the Mediterranean, it is commonly used as a seasoning for pizza, sauces, meats, and salads.
This perennial herb is hardy from USDA Zones 5 to 10. It grows about two feet tall and wide, with soft hairy leaves. White fragrant flowers bloom from midsummer to fall, attracting bees and butterflies.
A vigorous grower, this plant spreads naturally via underground runners – so well, in fact, that it can even be used as a ground cover! You can learn more about growing culinary herbs as a ground cover in our article.
Cultivation and HistoryGreek oregano grows wild on mountainous slopes of Greece and Turkey.
It is also commonly referred to in the Mediterranean as “wild marjoram,” though it should not be confused with Origanum majorana, which is a different species in the same genus, that has a milder and sweeter flavor.
Technically, the flavorful culinary herb we call
Ranging from $500 to $5,000 per kilogram, saffron, or the Red Gold as it is commonly referred to, takes a total of about 150,000 flowers to produce just one kilogram! Now you know why it would be a great idea to have its plant at home!
Sowing a seed directly into the ground, nurturing it, and reaping the rewards is one of the easiest gardening activities you can do—yet many gardeners don’t. There are many reasons to direct sow. Often, you’ll have earlier harvests because the seeds will germinate when it’s the perfect time to grow, and stronger seedlings because transplant shock isn’t an issue. Planting seeds in general (instead of buying transplants) gives you more varietal options, and you can also save a lot of money (1 packet of 30 to 150 seeds often costs less than a 6-pack of plants). And then there is the personal satisfaction factor. Ask any child who has planted a sunflower seed how they feel when that flower towers over their head, and you’ll understand what I mean.
For gardeners who love to raise their plants from seed, the beginning of March is not unlike the build-up to Christmas. There’s lots of hustle and bustle, with flurries of intriguing parcels from favourite suppliers arriving in the post, accompanied by the making of wish lists and enthusiastic sorting of essential tools and equipment.
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The beautiful balcony plants on the terrace at the London house of Henrietta Courtauld of the Land Gardeners
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The Iris family contains over 200 species and all Iris flowers have 3 outer and 3 inner petals with 3 stamens. The outer petals protect the inner petals as sepals do on other flowers. An inner petal is called the ‘Standard’ and the outer is called the ‘Fall’ which bends backward and hangs down. The fall is normally patterned with distinctive markings and a bearded iris has central line of pollen bearing hairs. The Standard is often a different colour to the Fall, in the example a mauve with a deep purple fall. Buds are protected by insignificant papery bracts.