Every garden should have a patch for growing fresh herbs. Dried herbs in food are a good substitute, but nothing can compare to going out and picking fresh herbs from the garden and using them immediately. The aroma of them sets your taste-buds going straight away, and you know that whatever you are cooking is going to taste great!

There are several herbs that are a must for the garden. Oregano is top of that list! It is a herb that is native to Europe and used a lot in Mediterranean cookery. The addition of fresh oregano to a pasta sauce will take your taste-buds straight to Italy!

Oregano is easy to grow. You can either get a packet of seeds and grow them in a small pot on the windowsill, or buy a more mature plant from the garden centre. If you don't have a garden, it is still possible to grow your own herbs. I grow mine in pots, which are situated in a sunny area just outside my back door. Whenever I am cooking, I don't need to go far to get my fresh herbs....great if it's raining outside!

The thing about oregano is, being from warmer climates, it does like a sunny aspect and a light soil. If your soil is on the heavy side, you might do better with it in a pot on the patio.

Keep it well watered in dry weather and you will soon get tons of fresh oregano. Cut the herb as you need it and if you have a glut of leaves, you could also dry them for use in the winter.

It's so easy to dry your own herbs. Pick the leaves just before the plant flowers. Wash and pat dry on kitchen paper. Put a double sheet of kitchen paper on the plate in the microwave and put the herbs on that. Microwave on full heat for one minute. Turn the herbs and continue microwaving for a minute at a time till they go dry and crisp. Crumble and store in a airtight jar, remembering to label it so you know which herb you have!

Easy!

Growing your own herbs saves money, you need never run out of herbs when cooking, and they taste so much better fresh!