Gardening
Related: About this forumCuban Thyme/Cuban Oregano. The will to live is strong.
Last year, I bought one of these, and at the end of the season, I just didn't want to try to winter it over, not enough space in the house and they're cheap.
So, I cut it off at the soil line, and hung the entire thing to dry for cooking.
Which was a mistake. Being so succulent, it didn't dry. It sat there and slowly grew new growth from the terminal ends, and slowly shriveled a bit as it used stored water from its tissue.
Finally, I felt sorry enough for it that I took a couple of cuttings and threw them in water. One grew roots, the rest rotted. I'm going to plant the new one out this weekend.
The rest, to dry it, I had to finally strip the leaves and put on a cookie sheet in a 170 degree oven for about 6 hours. I've been using that all winter to cook with, wonderful flavor.
If you haven't tried this herb, give it a whirl. It's fun and easy to grow, and a good ornamental in combo planters for the summer.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plectranthus_amboinicus
northoftheborder
(7,606 posts)Ruby Reason
(242 posts)wow, it just grows and grows and grows. I have regular oregano and "spicy" oregano. I keep giving it away. I clip it, hang it, dry it, use it fresh. It still stands many inches above its "this is a ground creeping vine" description. Buried amongst other herbs it reaches taller.
I hack it, throw it into the compost, hack it some more, trade it for eggs, hack it and toss it into the crock pot, hack it....you get the idea.
Love the flavor, but it is hardy and keeps you on your toes.
beac
(9,992 posts)outside without fuss and comes back hearty every Spring. Amazing little plant.
beac
(9,992 posts)"tender perennial" so it will come inside for the winter. It's a little spicier than regular basil with much smaller leaves. So far, it's a winner.
Denninmi
(6,581 posts)One of the "creeping charlies" and related pretty closely to Coleus.