I planted oregano this year for the first time in little pots that came in an herb kit. We are hoping to let our students grow their own herbs next year. My question is... Is oregano naturally slow growing? The little sprouts are still barely half an inch tall and I planted the seeds about a month ago. The pots are very small. If it decides to grow, should it be replanted into a bigger pot? The pots are about three or four inches tall. Thanks!

Not sure if this will help you but, I transplanted my oregano in the garden earlier this year and it was pretty small (and quite pathetic looking) until about a week ago. We got some warmer weather (upper 80s) last week and it took off like a weed. I had also seeded some in 4" pots (before I was sure the garden oregano would come back this year after being moved) and that also didn't really start taking off until this past week. So there is hope for your plants.

I am not sure on the pot size they need as growing, but I am going to try to keep some growing inside in a smaller (probably 4" but maybe 6") pot over the winter this year.

Oregano is slow to start from seeds, so are thyme, lavender and rosemary. It will need a bigger pot. Mine grow outside and the plants can get about 3 feet tall and have spread into bushes. Good Luck with your herb project.

With all of the herbs I grow, oregano never became a favorite, but I did try it, and I remember it being slow at first. The marjoram was the same way, but comes up with vigor and no effort every season now. And my favorite oregano is one I got as a novelty - Thyme Scented Oregano. The aroma and flavor is incredibly close to thyme, and much easier to harvest, with it's larger leaves. And it also did so poorly the first year that I forgot about it! I planted it the same year I planted mint in a large flowerbed surrounded by concrete (perfect for mint!), and it seemed to die off. Next season I saw something growing in there that looked familiar, and that was it! Each year it spread out - sort of a ground cover type thing growing beneath the mint, sticking way up. So maybe other oreganos are slow to start like this, but there is still hope!

Those do sound like small pots, but if they are that small I don't think it is the pot stunting them - that's usually when something has grown quickly, then outgrown it's pot. A bigger pot won't hurt, but it must be something else - maybe light, too much water, etc. Maybe try different things with this oregano, and see if something works better?

Dave

I was recently reading that oregano does not do well in wet soil. Maybe it needs to dry out a bit.

I agree w/ Pea. It seems the hotter and dryer it gets, the better the oregano seems to do. I tried growing it from seed this year (a first) and they were VERY slow to start and gain any kind of size.

I purchased a 4 inch pot this year from a local grower(as I've had zero luck in growing from seed), and this is the most luscious growth I've seen. I've kept it in a big pot on the deck, in partial shade, watering about every other day....and it is magnificent! I'm about to harvest my first batch for drying....I'm zone 5 (I think - Michigan/Grand Rapids).

Wow, thanks for all your help. The little bugger is starting to take off, but it is still small. I am keeping it warm and dry now.

I think we started our oregano from a little plant from a greenhouse; it is perennial here in Cleveland so we still have the same plant outside in the herb section of the garden. It has gotten to be a woody plant at the base, like the thyme. I think it likes the cold because it is at its best in the early spring through June. Strange to harvest one herb when the others are just starting to come to life.