get Cuban oregano in your kitchen is super satisfying .
Every time you walk into your cookery palace , you see that your oregano has grow a wee piece tall .
you could tear off a leaf or two for your poultry , stew , soups , or whatever else needs a bit of zest .
get ’s dive in and acquire all about wish for these gentle heavyweight .
Yes , they ’re giants . They grow up to 36 in tall ! Yikes .
Guide Contents
What’s Cuban oregano?
Cuban oregano(Plectranthus amboinicus ) is a favorite in culinary dishes cooked in Southeast Asia because of its firm aromatic scent and sharp flavor .
It ’s also sleep with as Indian Borago officinalis , Puerto Rican oregano , Mexican sight , or Spanish thyme .
A small slicing of this herb has enough flavor to garnish soup , sweat , and any other food you ’d had your common bunch of herbaceous plant like basil , sage , or regular oregano .
That ’s why it ’s make love as Spanish thyme or Mexican thyme / sight .
It ’s not the same as regular oregano , so it ’s sometimes name to as “ false oregano ” to discern the remainder between the two .
Note that Cuban marjoram is NOT a true oregano industrial plant . It ’s perennial succulent with aromatic parting and a zesty flavor . It ’s an herb- not thyme , mint , or Borago officinalis .
What does it look like?
It has fragrant , smelly leave that are delineate with a fine clean edging . The leave are velvety like small flowers that are pink , white , or purple .
The plant is tall and panoptic and has trumpet - shaped blooms . It blooms in the summer and is mainly used as a formula component .
Can you grow it indoors?
you’re able to produce oregano indoors just like most other kitchen plant ( finocchio , kangkong , orbok choy ) .
It ’s a double-dyed full complement to your kitchen when you need some fresh - gash herb raised without nasty pesticides .
How nice would it be to have instantaneous access to spate , thyme , oregano , Basil the Great , and dill powerful there when you need it ?
It does n’t get any fresher from the “ farm . ”
Cuban oregano can be grown indoors justly in your kitchen provide that the stipulation are correct . And this industrial plant is n’t picky , so you should have no exit .
Does oregano grow well indoors?
it rise if provide the right amount of visible light and weewee , as with any other plant .
you’re able to transplant it to the outside garden later on if you wish , but it ’ll be trying on the herbaceous plant and possibly appall it .
So you should adjudicate upfront if you want to implant it outside or indoors .
or else , you could use a well - drain good deal so you could tack between the two environments as you wish- provided that you harden the plant off before switching .
How to propagate
The first thing you need to do is propagate the herb . You got ta start with something , right ?
Most people will start with a parcel of seed from their hardware depot .
There ’s nothing unseasonable with this , but verify you get CUBAN oregano . Even though it ’s not a actual oregano , it ’s easy to get confused . There are multiple type and this usher is for CUBAN oregano only .
Other type may take unlike care .
If you ’re start from cuttings or using a plant from the greenhouse , we ’ll cover that later . experience innocent to skip it if you require .
From seed
The first thing to do is to get a container for sowing the seeds .
If you ’re abandon an intact packet , you ’ll want to use a seed starter for cost - potency .
you could get a XII or so compartments for just a few bucks . If you REALLY want to make it well-off , get a biodegradable one with edit out - away compartments so there ’s no want to channelise the plant .
Note that this depends on how many you desire to grow . For most people , a exclusive plant is enough .
Cuban Origanum vulgare bring forth a honorable yield and develop up to 3 feet tall . That ’s plenty of herb for all your dish .
If this is the case , you do n’t need a seed crank . you could use a canonical plantation owner if you ’re just growing one .
Get a kit that has the correct number of compartments you need .
Do n’t worry about buying a huge one . you may always reuse it or curve the firearm off that you use and save the balance for the next project .
Place 1 - 2 germ in each compartment , then put a thin layer of filth on top . Put the humidness dome over it and then water it gently with a mister .
Watch for the sprouts as it germinates and then transplant each individual works to their container .
From plant cuttings
Similar to other plant that can be develop from cutting ( raddichio , mitsuba , etc . ) it provide a great convenience during initial extension .
If you have a friend or neighbor that gave you a cut from their marjoram , you’re able to circularize it on your own using it . It ’s that simpleton .
Once you have your own departure , you could pay it forward by giving it to another friend .
Take the cutting and root it first . Use root internal secretion to assist . This is an easy process and will take a few days .
Check out this video for a demo :
After it ’s rooted , snaffle a container that ’s at least 12 inch in diam . The wider it is , the less you have to move it around later on .
you could use any material , with charge plate being the punk .
palpate detached to use ceramics to couple your kitchen ! ensure there are multiple drainage holes .
Add sand , crushed rock , or rock at the bottom to aid keep it from clumping .
Put all the ancestor and the root ball as deeply as the original container .
underwrite the roots with 2 inch of soil so that it ’s totally protected . The stem plus solution should be completely covered .
From a transplant
Use well - drain grease that ’s pH neutral and comprehend a hole into it as wide as the root word ball of ; the cutting off you ’re using .
Then backfill it with soil and you ’re done . Only the root musket ball need to be cover .
Do n’t concern about covering the stem . Use a container with multiple drainpipe holes for fair to middling drainage .
Consider add some rocks or sand at the bottom to discourage obstruction or clop .
How to grow Cuban oregano indoors
Here are the basic whole step to accomplish this . You ’ll find that it ’s really easy , which makes this a good choice for beginners .
If you desire some easy - to - grow indoor herb to compliment your meals , this is it .
Cuban oregano offers a strong and delicious flavor to give your dish some zest without taking up all your time .
Once you get it going , it hire care of itself . Just rationalize and eat . It ’s that comfortable .
Excited yet ?
Soil
Cuban oregano have it off well - drain soil . No amendments are necessary . Just a canonical potting intermixture will do . Nothing fancy .
It tolerates a form of dirt types and is n’t particular .
Soil pH
This herbaceous plant wish its pH from slightly acidic to slimly alkaline .
direct for a pH range of 6.0 - 7.6 . If you do n’t know your pH scale , you’re able to get a soil tester to find out .
If your pH is too acidic , add together some birdlime to raise it . If it ’s too basic , add some compost or sulphur .
Spacing
If you contrive to grow multiple plant together , it ’s extremely advise that you separate them into their containers .
Each oregano can grow as wide as 36 inch , so using a modest batch wo n’t do it .
If you separate them individually , then they each can be lay as wide as possible .
Watering
Water it from the soil surface at the tooth root thoroughly and completely . Let the plant life go near before you water it .
Use your finger to mark off the top 1 - 2 inches of soil for wet . If it ’s dry , water out .
avert over - lacrimation as they detest wet base . It also may lead to fungous problems . Water once a calendar week or double in dry climates .
If you ’re rise Cuban wild marjoram in water supply , it should have no job since it ’s habitual to having its roots floating in pure liquid .
Sunlight
Cuban oregano jazz warm and sunny weather , as with most herbal plant .
Place the launch plants near a sunny spot in your home , like the kitchen windowsill .
There ’s no need to overdo it . It can flourish in partial to low lights as well , but sun generally produces more yield . The natural lighter amount in from your kitchen counter is enough .
draw a bead on for at least 6 hour of sunlight per solar day . If you want to grow it in the chiliad , you’re able to use a greenhouse to keep them ardent overnight . It does well in full Sunday or partial sunlight conditions .
Do n’t let it burn in the summer heat though . Even though it love the sun , too much will toss off it .
Give it some shade or partial sun during those peak summer days to keep it squeamish and cozy .
Temperature
Cuban oregano hates cold temperatures . This is why it ’s in force to grow it indoors to keep it warm at night .
Keep nighttime temperatures above 40F to keep it awake .
Cubano Origanum vulgare does not do well in cold climate and will severely become damaged if exposed to it for a short period . endeavor to keep it between 60 - 90F in the daytime and above 40F at night .
observe a place in your house that fits these range . It does n’t like the frigidness and wo n’t tolerate it .
Humidity
Keep humidity in the ambient elbow room range . Since it ’s your kitchen , you ca n’t do much to contain the humidity . Just leave it as is .
If you think your humidity is too low , you may spray the leaves with a script atomiser daily to keep the levels wet . No pauperization to go crazy over it .
Plant food
contribute plant fertilizer during the fighting growing season to give it a provision of intellectual nourishment .
After all , it ’s farm delicious leaves for you to eat , so why not return the favor ? A bit of plant food is all that ’s needed in the spring and summer .
Use irksome - release granule as directed by the product recording label .
deflect overfertilizing as this will force the herb to become less flavorful and lack aroma from the excess industrial plant food . Do n’t overdo it .
reckon using half Elvis alternatively of the full amount .
employ a balanced industrial plant food ( NPK 5 - 5 - 5 ) that ’s organic or natural since you ’ll be eat the leave . Slow - release fertiliser works best .
Pruning
Pruning is critical to keep the foliage tasty .
Get a clean span of scissors hold or pruners and prune when it begin to helical outwards .
you’re able to turn whenever you need a piece to cook or trim with . you’re able to also snub off some cuttings to grow more of them if you want .
The root ball may also postulate trimming . To do so , just remove the entire plant from its pot . Then rest it down and remove any detritus or grime stuck on it .
Use a sterile distich of trimmer and cut off the bottom of the root ball- about ⅓ of the theme .
Whenever the rootage get overcrowded and full , you should trim them down OR when you notice piddle flow slack down . spare rooting will stop water flow .
Harvesting
The right way to reap is the same as pruning .
Take press clipping for use from the independent , central stem when you need something to contribute to your favorite culinary dish . You should never make out the entire stem off .
At most , cut ⅓ of it and use those leaves in your formula . alternatively of removing the entire thing , a minuscule portion will work and encourage bushier , heavy leafage rather than tall and long-legged plants .
When the lateral base grow outwards , cut off ½ of each stem each prison term you involve to use it .
Be careful not to disregard off more than you need because this can lessen the plant ’s ability to produce for you . Leave at least one-half of the plant alone and let it carry on to produce .
If you ’re just lead a few leaves here and there , that ’s OK .
But for big fixings , let it produce and give it some time before shorten it again in your next harvest .
How to dry, preserve, and store Cuban oregano
Drying Cuban oregano is round-eyed .
After harvest home , lay the leaf on a baking sheet and put them in the oven for 1 hour . They should be dried afterward .
There are many unlike ways to do it calculate on how ironical you desire the oregano to be . Set it to 200F or so . No need to exaggerate it .
you’re able to also gather them into a nosegay and then hang them up to air dry .
Wash them well then bind the stem turn together in a well - ventilated area . This will serve dry out them off naturally .
you could use a paper bagful and put them in spite of appearance to help keep dust and pest off .
skip some little slit into the bag to assist remove the water and help it dry off quickly .
Transplanting to the outdoors
you may always graft it to your garden if you find Cuban marjoram to be unwieldy in the kitchen .
It ’s a big and tall plant , so some people do n’t like it in the kitchen being an obstacle .
transfer outside is easy- just dig a hole in the dirt that ’s the same depth and width as the original one in the container . Then backfill it with soil after planting it .
you’re able to also acclimiate it to the out-of-doors by contribute it out for a few hours each mean solar day ( in the raft ) over a week or so .
Then you could set it for well .
Can you bring Cuban oregano from the outdoors inside?
Yes , but you ’ll need to acclimate it .
This can be done by first root out the plant from your garden and then putting it into a Mary Jane .
Then slowly acclimate it to the indoors by bringing it inside your home for short time period each day until it ’s season off . This usually have a hebdomad or so .
When to move to a bigger pot
When you notice that the solution have discover their elbow room out of the mass , then you love it ’s time to promote .
Get a larger mickle and transplant it into just like you would as if you were remove for the first time . Use a container that ’s a few inches larger so it can grow .
Remember that Cuban pot marjoram can grow up to 3 feet marvelous and all-embracing , so provide it great deal of space to produce those delicious greens for you .
Repotting also refill necessary nutrient in the grime and prevent soil clip-clop , so it ’s secure to do regardless .
Is Cuban oregano a perennial?
It calculate . In the tropics , it grows natively as a perennial .
It can be plant as a perennial succulent if you provide it ample sunshine and protect it from the common cold . This way , you may enjoy the harvest time of year after season .
Can Cuban oregano grow in water?
Cuban oregano can be grow in just water like many other herbs that are grown indoors .
Using a mason jounce , you could attach the plant to the edges so it ’s well anchored . Then permit the root grow in H2O . The thing about this is that if you do n’t watch the water calibre , it can rot the roots .
So you need to acknowledge what you ’re doing .
Plus , water supply - based plant arise faster compared to territory , so you may end up with a surplus yield upon harvest .
Best uses
You ’re growing Origanum vulgare to corrode it correct ? It makes an excellent herb for flavour in soups , stew , stuffings , and twin with meats .
you may garnish venison , lamb , pheasant , or even just rust as a vegetable . It ’s pop in southeast dishes as a steamed vegetable and eat on just like even oreganos .
They can be dried and crushed to summate flavor or a second-stringer seasoning .
Note that it ’s very solid , so you only need a flair of it to work with your dish .
fix it in Caribbean or Asian recipes .
The leave can be used dried or fresh . Put it in a blender with other fresh fixings to blend a salsa . Sauté it with garlic and grim beans .
Sprinkle some in the marinade . apply it just like any other oregano .
Can you eat Cuban oregano raw?
It should n’t be eaten raw because it ’s very solid in flavor . Use it to flavor dish instead .
Some Indian countries will use it for curry or eat up raw . Some even use it in beer , fish , pork , edible bean , beef , crybaby , lamb , or rice .
Cuban oregano tea
you may use this herb to season your tea . Use it ironic so it can hook up all the water and give off some zest to it .
There are many unlike recipes for oregano tea . you’re able to steep fresh or dry leaves and see what you prefer .
Further reading
Cuban oregano looks good in your kitchen
Whether you want to farm it for gorgeous leaves , savoury gustatory sensation , or redolent scent , Cuban oregano makes a perfect compliment for your kitchen countertop or windowsill .
It ’s relief of care , lowly maintenance , and unlimited production make it a perfect herb to have model around when you postulate it . It can both add some green to your kitchen countertop PLUS your culinary dish aerial at the same time .
It ’s a ignominy this oregano is n’t more popular than its first cousin .
savour your oregano over and over again .
I ’ve always been interested in horticulture , but I never took it seriously until I was forcefully gifted an orchid . This was what develop me into the hobby and I ’ve never depend back . I enjoy writing about it , but not nearly as much as getting into the dirt and sculpt the perfect decorative ornamental to love for the times .
