Oregano common
Oregano ( Origanum vulgare) is a perennial medicinal and spicy aromatic plant up to 60 cm high. It originates from Southern Europe, from the Mediterranean region. The oregano grows almost everywhere, from the subtropical zone to the Far North. It is one of the most ancient and favorite medicinal and aromatic plants. Wide distribution and use of oregano were expressed in numerous local names of this plant: oregano, daryshank, dushinka, dushanka, incense, mother, wind color, winch, telodub, bladder, flea, mint, forest mint, winter marjoram. For more information about the beneficial properties of oregano, see here.
Preferred sunny places. The plant is frost-resistant. In one place, oregano grows for many years, but it quickly disintegrates, so its planting should be limited.
Propagated by seeds, by division of rhizomes, by layers and cuttings. Blooms all summer with purple or purple small flowers, collected in panicles. Hibernating without shelter.
Sometimes aphids attack on oregano, which should be combated with non-chemical means.
Like all plants of the family, the oregano is a good honey. Its leaves contain ascorbic acid, tannins, essential oils, bactericide thymol.
Description: from the rhizome grow reddish pubescent stems. The leaves are opposite, entire and ovate. Blooms from June to August. The flowers are small, red or white, grow out of the sinuses of the bracts. One or three flowers form a half-mutton, several half-mullets are collected at the ends of branches in the thyroid-paniculate inflorescence.
Origanum vulgaie L, This persistent plant is used for flavoring food in Italian, Spanish, French and Mexican cuisine. It is called "Origano" or "Oregano".This honey plant grows on glades, sunny slopes. It looks like a large Bogorodskaya grass. Oregano was considered a magical plant that had strength in the night of Ivan Kupala. It blooms since July. In August, only the deciduous, not coarse part of the stems of about 20-30 cm in length from the flowers are collected. Dry oregano or freely decomposed, or not large bundles suspended in the shade. This is a medicinal and spicy plant. It can be grown in a rock garden. Oregano has essential oils, tannins and thymol, promotes expectoration, has choleretic, anticonvulsant effect, has a calming effect, excites appetite. It is brewed as tea for colds. As a spice it is suitable for more fatty dishes, wherever marjoram is used - for minced meat, pizza, goulash, mutton, to stewed and baked vegetables, fish.
Composition: contains up to 0.5% essential oil, cymene, carvacrol, tannins and bitterness. Essential oil ( Oleum origani tulgaris) contains up to 16% thymol.
Cultivation: grows on the fringes of deciduous forests, near forest roads, on wooded, shrub-covered slopes. Grown in gardens by pre-growing seedlings from seeds in greenhouses. Propagation of oregano by seeds and vegetative - division of rhizome. There are no grades of oregano, local populations are grown. The oregano is not demanding for soils. Drought-resistant, only in the period of germination and emergence shows increased requirements for moisture. Oregano is photophilic. Cold resistance allows it to winter well. When choosing the place of cultivation, it must be taken into account that oregano bush are highly decorative. They are great for framing flower beds and decorating front gardens.
Soil under the landings of oregano is dug, carefully selecting weeds, and moderately under composting, organic or complex organomineral fertilizers, manure is undesirable. For planting, use parts of bushes or pre-grown seedlings, which are planted according to the scheme of 45 x 30-40 cm. Direct seeding into the soil is undesirable, since the shoots are very small, do not appear long( 2-3 weeks), develop slowly in the first period andstrongly suppressed weed vegetation.
Seedling of oregano for seedlings is carried out in the first ten days of March, in order to get a sufficiently developed plant to the onset of warm weather. They sow in moist soil to a depth of 0.5 cm. Shoots appear after 10-14 days. Alloy seedlings are grown in the same way as seedlings of basil. In vegetative propagation by dividing rhizomes, planting can be carried out in spring and autumn. Oregano can grow in one place up to 10 years.
Gathering: harvests oregano grass. The grass is cut twice a season at the beginning of flowering at a height of 5 cm above the ground, binds in bundles and is dried.
Medicinal properties: exerts an expectorant effect and improves digestion. In folk medicine, oregano is used for headache, catarrh of the respiratory tract, bronchitis, pertussis, colds, sexual disorders, rheumatism, lack of appetite and for firming baths.
Application: oregano is very close to marjoram, they complement each other well. The aroma of oregano resembles the smell of marjoram and thyme. The taste is more gentle than that of marjoram, tart, spicy. Used for the preparation of galenic preparations and the production of essential oil.
Oregano infusion is used for insufficient secretion of gastric juice, with bronchitis.
To relax the nervous tension, sedative baths with oregano and melissa are useful.
Oregano has long been used for odor( removing stale or other smell) barrels, intended for salting and souring. Since the oregano removes odors, it should not be put in jars with salty greens when canning.
Green oregano is used separately when cooking dishes from potatoes, beans and peas, add to fried or stewed meat, when preparing sausages, when making kvass.
Dried and fresh herb of oregano is used as a spice, known throughout the world as "Origano".
It is a part of many spicy mixtures. Irreplaceable role is played by oregano in Italian, Mexican and Spanish cuisines, especially when making pizza. It is irreplaceable when preparing some dishes from spaghetti. Oregano is added to salads, tomato sauces, to dishes of vegetables and eggs, soups, dishes from sea crabs, to sausages, soups, mashed potatoes, goulash and cheese dishes. It is also used when roasting meat in the oven and grill, is added to the lamb and veal, as well as to stew. A combination with basil and black pepper is recommended.
Porridge with oregano
2 tbsp.l.rice, 1/2 cup of milk, 40 g of softened butter, 1 tsp.chopped leaves of oregano, salt, 1 apple
Boil rice mush. Apple grate on a large grater. All mix and beat.
Tea with oregano
Kettle rinse with boiling water, put 2-3 stems of oregano, pour boiling water, cover, let it brew for 5-7 minutes.
Kvass aromatic with oregano
1 l of kvass( from kvass concentrate or other preparation), 10 g. Oregano. . Remove the oregano leaves, put them in a gauze pouch, and put them into the kvass prepared for fermentation for 10-12 h.