{"product_id":"origan-italien-ancestral","title":"Italian Oregano Heirloom","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eOriganum vulgare.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe aromatic soul of Mediterranean cuisine. The word \u003cem\u003eoriganum\u003c\/em\u003e itself is a gift from ancient Greek: \u003cem\u003eoros\u003c\/em\u003e (mountain) and \u003cem\u003eganos\u003c\/em\u003e (joy) — the \"joy of the mountains\" — because the plant grew spontaneously on the dry, stony hills of Greece, perfuming the air with every step. Aphrodite, the myth says, would have created it to offer humans a herb symbolizing happiness; the Greeks crowned young wedded couples with it and also laid it on tombs to ensure the dead a peaceful rest. Romans and Egyptians attributed medicinal virtues to it — digestive, antiseptic, against sore throats — uses that modern science partly validates thanks to the powerful phenolic compounds (carvacrol, thymol) the plant contains.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Italian selection offers a rounder, milder, less peppery aromatic profile than true Greek oregano, more in tune with southern Italian cooking, where it traditionally accompanies pizza margherita, marinara sauce, eggplant \u003cem\u003eparmigiana\u003c\/em\u003e, caprese salad, grilled zucchini and marinades for grilling meats. A small perennial 30 to 60 cm tall, with a bushy habit, small oval downy grey-green leaves, covered in July-August with a cloud of pale pink to mauve flowers that literally make the garden hum — flowering oregano is one of the best pollinator magnets in the vegetable garden. Hardy to zone 4, sometimes zone 3 with protection, it comes back year after year from a single sowing.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eGrower's tip:\u003c\/strong\u003e Oregano seeds are among the smallest in the garden — practically fine dust — to be sown on the surface without covering, keeping the soil moist by misting rather than watering. Germination in 7 to 14 days, indoor start 8 to 10 weeks before planting out. The flavour peaks just before flowering — it's the ideal moment to harvest and dry (hang the stems in bundles in a dark, airy spot, then strip into jars). An established plant produces for 4 to 5 years, after which it's worth dividing the clump in spring to rejuvenate it.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNote: dried oregano's flavour is often more intense than fresh — one of the rare herbs where drying enhances rather than dulls.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eOpen-pollinated. Hardy perennial (zone 4, sometimes 3 with winter mulch). Insect-pollinated; little risk of crossing with other oreganos in a home garden.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHeight: 30 to 60 cm.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMaturity: harvest possible from 2 months after transplanting; peak production in the second and third year.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eExposure: full sun.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eOrdinary to poor soil, well-drained, neutral to slightly alkaline. Tolerates drought and hates standing moisture. Space plants 30 to 40 cm apart.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eIndoor start 8 to 10 weeks before last frost, on the surface without covering. Transplant once all risk of frost is past. Self-seeds readily.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\u003c\/ul\u003e","brand":"Joual Vert","offers":[{"title":"200","offer_id":42677861646508,"sku":"GC-H-OREITA-200","price":0.99,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true},{"title":"1000","offer_id":42677861679276,"sku":"GC-H-OREITA-1K","price":3.99,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true},{"title":"5000","offer_id":42677861712044,"sku":"GC-H-OREITA-5K","price":12.99,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true},{"title":"25000","offer_id":42677861744812,"sku":"GC-H-OREITA-25K","price":54.99,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0532\/1388\/8684\/products\/oregano_2f94428e-62a0-4091-9909-d75fb5865ded.jpg?v=1699044963","url":"https:\/\/joualvert.ca\/en\/products\/italian-oregano-heirloom-seeds","provider":"Joual Vert","version":"1.0","type":"link"}