The Sweeter and Milder version of Oregano.
Widely used in Mediterranean cooking, Marjoram is easy to grow in the home garden. It grows well in the kitchen garden, pots and containers and even in hanging baskets. The secret is a good soil, well drained and the right amount of sun.
How to grow Marjoram – Basic Care and Growing Conditions
This is a fairly easy to grow herb, its in the same family as mint. It will thrive in any well drained humus rich soil and it will grow from 40 – 90 cm, so cut it back regularly. It also grows well in containers and is very attractive to bees when in flower.
- Soil – A humus rich soil and well drained position is essential.
- Position – Best grown in full sun to a little afternoon shade
- Drought tolerant – Yes.
- Frost tolerant – Mild frosts only.
- Container growing – Yes, this is an easy herb to grow in containers if you use a good quality potting mix.
- Fertiliser – A single application of an organic type fertiliser once a year will usually be sufficient in good soil.
How to grow Marjoram from cuttings.
It is easier to grow Marjoram from cuttings than from seed.
You will find that if you take cuttings in early or late summer they will root very easily.
- Look to stems that are around 6 – 8 centimetres long with no flower heads on them.
- Strip the leaves from the lower 2/3 rds of the cutting.
- Place the cuttings in a normal potting mix, or a seed raising mix with the lower 2/3 rds of the stem in the soil.
- Water well with a liquid seaweed fertiliser.
- Cover with a plastic cloche to maintain humidity.
- Place the cuttings in shaded but well lit position.
- Water if the soil begins to dry.
New growth should commence in around 3 – 4 weeks. At this point remove the cloche and continue to water as the soil begins to dry.
- Fertilise with a liquid seaweed fertiliser.
- As the plant grows, pinch out the top to create a bushy growth habit.
Overwintering Majoram
- Marjoram is a perennial plant in warmer climate zones. So it will come back every year.
- In slightly cooler zones in can survive over winter if you cover it with mulch as it dies back.
- In colder zones, heavy frosts and freezes you will need to grow Majoram as an annual, or grow it in containers and over winter it in a protected position, indoors or in a greenhouse.
Marjoram and Oregano – Whats the difference.?
The big question is, whats the difference between Marjoram and Oregano and is it worth growing them both. The answer is somewhat complicated.
The botanical name for Majoram is Origanum majorana, and this is where the confusion between what we call Oregano and what we call Majoram begins. So they are closely related however slightly different.
To put is simply Majoram is a milder version, a little sweeter, and also slightly more tender than its close relative. If you like ‘All Majorams are Oregano’ however ‘Not all Oregeno are Majoram’.
Marjoram Plants are a herb used widely for cooking, easy to grow in a well drained soil. Varieties include common as well as Greek, Golden, Golden Curly and Dwarf forms.