Marjorams are wanton to grow , sun - loving Mediterranean herbs . They re closely related to marjoram and the two mathematical group are easily confused . There is a lot of overlap between them and the distinction is often not clear . When it come up to cooking , the main difference of opinion is taste : oregano parting are stronger and spicier , while Origanum vulgare leaves are milder and unfermented . All of them are case of Origanum , and they grow up to 50 cm ( 20 in ) tall , with miserable , shaggy mounds of fragrant leaves and round school principal of small pink or white heyday in the summertime . The flowers are very popular with bees and butterfly .
Marigold comes in a number of different coinage and mixture , each with its own taste , plant size , leaf colouring material , flower color , and power to handle dusty weather . In general they necessitate shelter from fuddled cold winter . All of the RHS gardens have a stack of unlike herb , like marjoram , that you could look at . Go there for more herbaceous plant approximation and growing wind . For advice on choosing and acquire all kinds of herbs , see our related guides below .
Marjoram is a various culinary herb that adds a sweet , arboreous tone to many dishes . Growing wild marjoram from seed is an well-heeled and rewarding way to bestow this Mediterranean herb to your garden or kitchen . With just a bit of solitaire and precaution , you ’ll presently have a bountiful provision of homegrown marjoram leaves to reap .
An Overview of Marjoram
Marjoram is a perennial herbaceous plant in the mint family that is close related to oregano . There are a few different potpourri of marjoram , but the most common for culinary use is sweet marjoram ( Origanum majorana ) . This tender repeated grows as a shaggy-haired plant about 12 - 18 inches marvellous and wide .
Marjoram has ellipse green leaves with a distinctive fresh racy fragrance . Tiny livid or pinkish peak bloom on marjoram in summertime . Both the leaves and flowers are eatable .
This sunshine - loving Mediterranean herbaceous plant thrives in spicy , ironic conditions . Marjoram adds astuteness and complexity to many foods , especially meats , sauce , and vegetables . It has an earthy , woodsy tone with hints of balsam , citrus , and pine .
In addition to its culinary uses , marjoram has been used medicinally for its antiseptic , anti - inflammatory , and digestive welfare .
When to Sow Marjoram Seeds
Marjoram can be grown from ejaculate sown straight outside in leap after the last frost , or start indoors 8 - 10 weeks before your last expect bounce frost .
If sow indoors , aim for belated February to mid March . This gives the seedling clock time to grow great enough to transplant outside later in leaping .
How to Start Marjoram Seeds Indoors
commence pot marjoram seed indoors provides idealistic status for sprouting and gives the plant life a oral sex start on the growing time of year . Here are measure - by - tone instruction manual :
Gather Your Supplies
Prepare Cell Packs or Pots
Fill your select containers with moistened seed starting mix . Tap gently to settle the stain .
Sow the Seeds
Sow marjoram seed by mildly urge on them into the territory and enshroud with 1⁄4 inch of seed starting mix .
If using a cellphone ingroup or tray , outer space the seed 1 - 2 inch aside . For individual pots , seed 2 - 3 seed per lot .
Create a Humid Environment
Place your freshly plant seeds in a plastic attic , under fictile wrap , or in a humid seed - start out bedroom . This retains wet while the cum germinate .
Provide Warmth and Light
Keep your sown containers at 70 ° F until sprouting . A heat lusterlessness can help maintain this temperature .
Once spud , move to a very brilliant , fond pip like a gay windowsill or under grow lights . Keep lights 2 - 4 inch above the seedlings .
Wait for Germination
Marjoram seed usually sprout within 14 - 21 days when condition are right . Be patient !
Transplant Seedlings
When seedlings have 2 - 4 lawful leaves , graft into larger cell packs or case-by-case mass , occupy care not to raise up the etymon .
Harden Off
Over 7 - 10 24-hour interval , gradually introduce seedling to outdoor conditions – lineal sunshine , wind , and cooler temperatures . This toughen them up for transplantation into the garden after the last spring frost .
How to Direct Sow Marjoram Outdoors
Marjoram can also be directly seed into the garden once saltation temperatures have warm up and all risk of hoar has passed .
Choose a Sunny Spot
Select a location with full Dominicus – at least 6 hours of unmediated sunshine per day . Marjoram thrives in heat and dislike besotted soil .
Prepare the Soil
Make certain your ground is loose and well - draining . fag in 1 - 2 in of compost to enrich it . Rake smooth .
Sow pot marjoram seed 1⁄4 inch deeply in wrangle or clusters , space 2 inches apart .
Label
Mark your rows / clusters so you think what you implant !
Water Gently & Often
irrigate the area frequently to keep the soil systematically moist but not soggy as seeds germinate . employ a light spraying to avoid washing away seeded player .
Thin Seedlings
Once seedlings hit 2 inches , thinly to 12 inches aside . This prevents overcrowding .
How to Care for Marjoram
Caring for oregano properly will ensure your plants stick tidy and productive . Here are some key tips :
Watering
Marjoram prefers consistent moisture , but take care not to overwater . Allow soil to dry out slimly between watering . Drought tolerant once established .
Sunlight
Full sun is all-important . At least 6 hours of direct sun per mean solar day .
Fertilizer
give a balanced liquid fertiliser every 2 - 4 weeks during spring and summer .
Pruning
Pinch or clip back blossom stems to promote leafy growing . Remove damage growth as needed .
Winter Care
In cold climates , potted marjoram should be bestow indoors over winter . Even hardy varieties do good from winter protection .
When and How to Harvest Marjoram
crop oregano leaves once plants reach about 6 in tall .
For good flavor , harvesting before flush appear .
Cut attendant stem tip or item-by-item leafage as want .
Always leave some foliage entire for regrowth .
employ kitchen shears for comfortable harvest .
Harvest in morning time after dew dries for best nip .
expend fresh right away or air wry foliage for computer storage .
Troubleshooting Common Marjoram Problems
grow Origanum vulgare from seed is relatively trouble - free , but on occasion subject pop up . Here ’s how to prevent and treat them :
Poor Germination
Cause – Old seeds , incorrect soil temperature , improper planting depth , overwatering
Solution – Sow saucy seeds at right deepness , ensure enough fondness , avoid overwatering
Leggy Seedlings
Cause – Insufficient light
Solution – furnish brighter light , keep lights closer to plant life
Yellow Leaves
Cause – Overwatering , wretched drain , nutritionary deficiency
Solution – Allow soil to dry between waterings , amend soil with compost , fertilize
Wilting Plants
Cause – Underwatering , transplanting shock , etymon bunk
Solution – water system thoroughly when top inch of soil is wry , harden off seedlings before transplanting , ameliorate drainage
Flowering Stage
effort – Normal outgrowth habit
result – Pinch back flowers to promote leafy increase , harvest leaves before bloom open
Storing Your Marjoram Harvest
Air Drying – Hang sweet gash stems in nerveless , wry property out of ignitor . Fully dry in 1 - 2 weeks then crumble lead off stem turn .
freeze – Place leaves in individual layer on bake sheet & freeze , then channelize to airtight bags / containers .
Infused Oil – Pack leaves in jar , cover with olive vegetable oil . Infuse 3 - 6 week then strain .
Vinegar – Steep leaves in vinegar 2 - 3 weeks . Strain & rebottle .
dehydrated or frozen Origanum vulgare will keep for month , infused oil color & vinegar for up to a year salt away in good order .
Growing marjoram from seed is an light way to add this flavorful herb to your garden . With the ripe care and conditions , you could have an abundant harvest of leave-taking to use fresh or save for next purpose in your favourite formula . Get your seeds come out now for a provision of homegrown oregano this season !
What and where to buy
Origanum majorana come , such as those for sweet or knotted pot marjoram , can be bought in garden pith and online . unseasoned plants are readily available in natural spring and summer from many plant retailers . Specialist herb nurseries put up the widest pick . It ’s well worth buy plants in person , so you may choose your favorite aromas . ( Some Origanum varieties are grow as cosmetic rather than comestible plant life , including the oreganosO. Kent Beauty ’ and O. Rosenkuppel ’ , so be sure to choose from the herb section when buying , if you want culinary plants . ) .
Origanum vulgare Compactum Similar to French or pot marjoram , Compact is a smaller form with thick … The
Origanum French Along with Pot marjoram , this is one of the best hardy , received culinary … The
Origanum vulgare Aureum There are several golden shape of culinary Marjorams , this is the original … The
Marigolds , both fresh and pot , can be grow from seeds at heart , but most people purchase them as immature plants . you could get a pile of plants from come , but the seedlings need extra care and it takes longer for the plant to reach harvest size . Ready - grown plants are widely available , conciliate in chop-chop and you’re able to start harvesting lightly almost direct aside .
Sow Origanum vulgare sow indoors in natural spring into small good deal or modular trays filled with ejaculate compost . There is no need to cover the midget seeds . The seeds should spud in one to two week if you keep them at least 15 ° C ( 60 ° F ) . See our step - by - step guidebook to sow seminal fluid indoors . When the seedlings are big enough to handle , move them to their own modules or put three of them in an 8 - cm ( 3 - in ) mint of all - purpose compost . When there is no longer any chance of frost , move untried marjoram plants outside when they are full spring up and their roots have filled up their module or small-scale grass . Harden them off first to acclimate them to outdoor conditions .
you may implant oregano plant life out of doors after the last frost in late spring or summertime , whether you turn them from seeds or bought them . They require a fond , sunny , sheltered smirch , either in well - drained grunge or in a container . If you have poorly draining grease , plant in a fire bed or container , where drainage will be better . In poorly run out conditions the root word are liable to rot . If implant in a container , it should be at least 15 cm ( 6 in ) wide for one young plant . Put in a mix of peat - free soil - base compost and coarse grit or perlite that does n’t stick together ( up to 25 % by bulk ) . you could also rise a admixture of Mediterranean herbs or a few vernal oregano in a fully grown muckle that is at least 30 cm ( 1 foot ) wide . Marjoram organize a spreading clump , so should be positioned 20–30 cm ( 8–12 in ) from neighbouring plants . For full planting instructions , see our handy guides .
It ’s well-off to take caution of Origanum vulgare . Just beak sprigs of youthful leaves often to encourage bushy new growth and cut back the flower stems when they ’re done blooming .
water supply newly found marjoram on a regular basis for at least its first summer . Marjoram is drouth tolerant once established and should n’t need additional tearing when grow in the terra firma . In containers , the compost can dry out rapidly , so water regularly over the summer .
breed the plants with a thickset layer of mulch in the spring , like crushed rock or garden compost . This will keep the soil from drying out when it have raging .
Marjoram flourish in poor filth and does n’t demand feed . you’re able to , however , use liquid fertiliser on plant in pots in the leaping and summer , specially if they take it after they bloom .
How to grow Sweet Marjoram from Seed
FAQ
Is oregano easy to grow from seeded player ?
Does winter sweet come back every year ?
Should I soak marjoram seeds before planting ?
Does marjoram like full sunlight or shade ?
How do you establish marjoram seeds ?
Sow marjoram seeds directly into the garden after the last frost , look one to two hebdomad to engraft them . Sow seeds in grouping of four every 12 column inch or so into well - drain soil and water . When seedling emerge , thin to the strong seedling when they are a few inches tall .
Can you grow winter sweet from germ ?
Marjoram can be propagated well from seed and through base division . To disseminate pot marjoram from seeded player , sow them indoors six weeks prior to the average last icing in your area . or else , marjoram can be directly sown in the garden during the surrender , or implant in the wintertime using a cold underframe or a greenhouse .
How do you grow sweet marjoram ?
Propagate sweet marjoram from seeds , cutting , divisions , or layering subdivision . former fountain is the perfect sentence to get your garner seeds from the previous time of year . set about marjoram seeds indoors in early spring one to six to eight weeks before your last frost date . Sow seed into compost a after part column inch deep .
When should you plant oregano germ ?
Before you start sowing those marjoram seeds , you need to ensure they ’re the right single for your herb garden . Always opt for high - quality seed from honest suppliers . The ideal meter to plant marjoram seeds is in the early spring , but if you ’re spring up indoors , you may pop out any time of the year !
Will a marjoram industrial plant self - seed ?
A marjoram plant leave unmanaged will ego - cum wide in the garden . Pruning flowering stems in summertime will deoxidize the volume of flowers and seeded player produced . you could also divide matured plant every few years to restrict the circulate root rhizome and produce lots of free plants !
How long does it take for marjoram seeds to grow ?
Start marjoram seed indoors in early spring one to six to eight week before your last frost date . Sow seed into compost a quarter inch recondite . Keep grime moist and at a consistent temperature of around 70ºF ( 21ºC ) . sprouting should take around 10 to 15 days . Once seedlings emerge , continue to grow indoors in a bright , gay localization .
