Sweet Marjoram

Sweet Marjoram — variety description

Sweet Marjoram (Origanum majorana) is an annual herb of the Mint family (Lamiaceae). Sweet Marjoram is used mainly as a culinary herb, adding a sweet and spicy flavour to food.

The plants themselves reach a mature height of about 30 cm. tall. Not only are these herbs used to add flavour to various foods, they also have a beautiful flower.

They produce pink flowers, attracting butterflies and bees to the garden.

Classed as a perennial herbaceous plant, Sweet Marjoram will develop a deep root system, which later dies back with the first killing frost.

The plants will return in the next growing season, once all danger of frost has passed.

Sweet Marjoram has a milder and sweeter aroma than oregano — for sausages, beans and potatoes.

Key features

• Measured germination rate of the batch: 83%
• Seeds per packet: 1020–1380 pcs (0.3 g)
• Seed origin: Poland
• Sowing: March – May; seedlings
• Flowering: June – August
• Harvest: July – September
• Position: sunny spot

When to sow Sweet Marjoram

Sweet Marjoram seeds are sown in March – May. The plants flower in June – August. Harvest in July – September. The months are a guide for a temperate climate — in warmer areas sow 1–2 weeks earlier, in cooler or upland areas, later.

How to sow and grow Sweet Marjoram

• Sowing method: seedlings
• Depth: on the surface
• Spacing: 20–25 cm
• Germination: 10–20 days at 18–22 °C
• Position: sunny spot

When propagating from pre-grown seedlings, both cold and better-warmed greenhouses can be used. In cold ones, it is good to cover them with glass frames or polythene after sowing so that they warm up in the sun and the seedlings are ready by May. In greenhouses, the seeds are sown in March. Young plants are not taken outdoors before the end of May. Once large enough, plant out in a spot with well-drained soil. Sweet Marjoram can be planted in containers, where it will thrive if pruned regularly to encourage new growth and maintain a good shape. Marjoram flowers in the period June–August.

Warmth-loving — plant outdoors after the last frosts.

Harvest and use

Pick at the start of flowering.

Frequently asked questions

When should Sweet Marjoram be sown?

The recommended sowing months are March – May. Sowing method: seedlings.

How many seeds are in the packet?

The packet contains 1020–1380 seeds, pack size 0.3 g.

What is the germination rate of the seeds?

The measured germination rate of this batch is 83%. The test was carried out under controlled laboratory conditions; in the field, emergence depends on soil, temperature and moisture.