How and When to Harvest Oregano for Fresh and Dried Use

Full of flavor, oregano adds a powerful flavor to dishes and provides health benefits. Learn when and how to harvest oregano for the best flavor and health of the plant.

What is Oregano?

Oregano is an herb commonly used in cooking and as a healthful antioxidant. Its distinct flavor is often described as herbal, spicy, and minty, with an underlying slight bitterness. As a perennial, oregano will continue to grow year after year without needing to be replanted.

The name Oregano comes from the Greek, meaning “beauty of the mountains.” So Oregano can be grown for its appearance—no need to harvest it. Oregano plants produce small purple flowers that bloom in the summer. If not harvested, Oregano plants can grow up to three feet tall.

Want more gardening tips? Sign up for our free gardening newsletter for the best growing tips, troubleshooting tips, and more!

Different Types of Oregano

There are 45 species of Oregano, but there are a few that are most commonly used:

• Common oregano (vulgar oregano): This popular variety of oregano (impolite meaning “common”) is often used in tomato sauces and on pizza. It pairs well with basil and thyme.
• Yellow Oregano (Oregano Vulgare ‘Yellow’): Yellow oregano has a milder flavor than regular oregano. It is often used as an ornamental plant because of its yellow leaves and pink and purple flowers.
• Mexican Oregano (Lippia Graveolens): Mexican oregano has a more minty-lemon flavor than regular oregano because it is closely related to the mint family. Although its flavor is strong, its bitterness is reduced, making it a staple in Southwestern and Mexican cuisine.

When to Harvest Oregano

Oregano should be harvested during the growing season, just before or when the flowers have bloomed.

“I usually harvest oregano just before the plant starts to flower, because that’s when the leaves have the highest concentration of essential oils, making them taste their best,” says Tom Farmer, a blogger who writes for Our Country Garden.

Oregano growing season varies by region, but in many areas, the planting season is from spring to early summer.

Harvesting Fresh Oregano vs. Dried Oregano

While milder herbs like cilantro, basil, and parsley taste better fresh than dried, the bold flavor of oregano remains the same when dried.

“I keep both [fresh and dried oregano] “It’s stocked for a variety of reasons,” says Lindsay Etemadipour, a holistic herbalist and founder of Symbi.

“Fresh oregano is best for dishes that require a bright herb flavor, while dried oregano is great in recipes that favor a richer, more concentrated flavor,” she says. “Dried oregano is ideal for soups, stews, and sauces, where it has time to hydrate and impart its flavor to the dish.”

Fresh oregano leaves are great for garnishing salads, soups and pizzas, she adds.

Harvesting Oregano for Fresh Use

When harvesting oregano, cut off the top of the stem. The stem, including the leaves, will be removed for use.

Leave at least four to six pairs of leaves on each stem underneath. This allows the oregano plant to produce more leaves for harvesting later.

“When harvesting oregano, you need to focus on three things: time of day, frequency, and ripeness,” says Etemadipour. “First, you want to make sure you wait until the oregano is about to flower, but not after it has flowered. Once the plant flowers, the leaves will start to become bitter.”

Choosing the best time of day to harvest is also important.

“You want to harvest mid-morning, after the night dew has dried and before the heat of the day,” she says. “The flavor of the herb is strongest at this time due to the essential oils.”

The farmer suggests harvesting the oregano so you can get another batch.

“I use sharp scissors to cut the stem just above the leaves, about a third of the way down, so the plant has time to regrow so I can harvest it again in a few months,” he said.

Harvesting Oregano for Dry Use

Harvesting oregano for dried use is similar to harvesting for fresh use, but as Farmer points out, there are some differences.

“For drying, I want to harvest a few more leaves, so I choose stems that are about to flower and cut a pair of leaves about two-thirds of the way down the stem,” he says.

The farmer said the work was not done until you had collected the herbs.

“Then I bundle these stems up and hang them upside down on a rack in the kitchen because it’s warm and dry. They’ll usually be completely dry in about a week, depending on the humidity outside.”

As a final step, the farmer packages the dried oregano leaves in airtight containers until needed.

How to Care for Oregano Plants After Harvest

After harvesting, it is important to care for the oregano plant so that it can regenerate and maintain its health.

“Frequent harvesting keeps the plant healthy and productive,” says Etemadipour. “I typically harvest when the stalks are about five inches tall. This will ensure a few harvests in a season.”

The farmer added that water and fertilizer are very important.

“To keep the plants healthy after harvest, I water them heavily and apply a little liquid fertilizer. If any stems have flowered when I come to harvest, I cut them back in the same way, removing them, as this prevents the plant from focusing all its energy on flowers.”

Oregano Harvesting Tips

• Choose the right time of day, usually mid-morning.
• Trim the leaves instead of pulling them by hand.
• Prune (or harvest) oregano to maintain health, even if you don’t intend to use the herb.
• Tie the cut stems tightly with rubber bands, placing the rubber band at the cut end.
• If pruning only to keep the plant healthy, prune hard: cut only as low as 2 to 3 inches (5 to 7.5 cm).
• For culinary use, harvest oregano plants about twice per year.
• Wash oregano leaves immediately after harvesting to allow the leaves time to dry before using.