Sweet marjoram has pretty green leaves that accent other herbs in a kitchen garden.
In the Garden
Sweet marjoram, a low-growing plant native to the Mediterranean, makes a pretty summer groundcover or edging. A subtly colored plant, marjoram has thin, gray-green leaves and, in early summer, small knot-like flowers along the stem ranging in color from lilac to white. It grows well in the garden or in containers, and you can plant a nice kitchen window box using marjoram with parsley, basil, and summer annuals.
In most areas, marjoram will not survive the winter. You can plant it in a pot in the ground and then bring the plant inside during the coldest months.
Plant sweet marjoram in the spring once there is no longer threat of frost. Sweet marjoram is slow-growing, so you will want to start with transplants. Plant them in full sun to partial shade in rich, well-drained soil with a pH between 6.7 and 7.0, adding a slow-release fertilizer to the soil at or before planting.
Sweet marjoram will grow to about 12 inches tall. Trim plants before they begin to flower and fertilize them again with a balanced liquid fertilizer.
If you live north of Zone 7, take cuttings from late spring to the middle of summer to keep in indoor pots for the winter. Otherwise, lift plants in the fall. Marjoram may also be divided in the spring or fall to begin new plants.
Sweet marjoram produces blooms that start out looking like little knots. This surprises many new gardeners, but rest assured that these buds are perfectly normal.
Note that sweet marjoram grows in several zones, and different care is required depending on your location. In Zones 8 and 9, sweet marjoram is perennial, but you might need to use protection mulch in winter. Marjoram in Zone 7 must be mulched in winter, and even then there is no guarantee marjoram will survive the cold weather. Marjoram should be grown only as a summer annual in Zone 6 and colder zones. However, in South Florida, marjoram is a winter annual, which means that it will not endure summer heat and humidity.
Water the plants during extended dry spells, but be sure not to over-water, as sweet marjoram likes a slightly dry climate.
Snip back the old, woody stems of sweet marjoram to allow the newer stems to produce flavorful growth.
Pick fresh marjoram leaves as needed, beginning 4 to 6 weeks after planting.
Marjoram is a very useful herb, as it keeps its full flavor even when dried. In order to dry marjoram, pick the leaves just after flower buds appear but before they open, removing no more than a third of the plant’s leaves in a single harvest. Once the leaves have dried, strip them from the stem. You may harvest again when flower buds reappear later in the season.
