Marjoram is a sweet yet savory herb that pairs well with vinaigrettes, salads, and vegetable dishes. Growing your own marjoram can be quite simple, and it will surely come in handy when you prepare those summer dishes. Take a look below for some helpful tips on how to grow marjoram right in your own garden, so you can have it for all of your cooking needs.
How to Grow Marjoram
How to grow marjoram from seedlings
Marjoram grows quite slowly, so planting from seeds is not advised. In order to achieve a quicker harvest, you should plant from seedlings found at your local greenhouse. When planting your marjoram seedlings, choose a spot with full sun and well drained soil. Your seedlings should be planted 12 inches apart, as they do like plenty of space.
How to grow marjoram in a pot
If you are limited on space, marjoram can in fact be grown in pots. You can get away with 1-2 plants per 18 inch pot. Make sure the pot you choose drains well and is full of nutrient rich soil. Position the pot in a sunny spot or move it as the sun’s pattern changes.
How to care for marjoram
Once your marjoram seedlings are in the ground, you will want to provide them with some care so they are sure to flourish. While your seedlings are growing, trim them before the appearance of buds or flowers. This will help them grow properly and to the desired height of about 18 inches.
Marjoram loves a cool drink, so be sure it gets a good inch of water per week. Yellowing of the plant could signal too much water, so be observant of any changes in your plant and adjust the water accordingly. Like most plants, marjoram will do well with a mulch layer around its base to help keep moisture in and dryness out.
Marjoram is a perennial, so you can leave it out during the winter months. Simply cut the foliage down to the base and cover with a thick layer of mulch for protection. If you have planted your marjoram in pots, you can take your posts inside and continue to enjoy your fresh herbs even during the cold months.
How to harvest marjoram
Marjoram will be ready for harvesting 5-6 weeks after planting. You want to pick the leaves from the plant just before the flowering buds appear. You can continue to pick throughout the season as long as you leave about 1/2 of the leaves on the plant intact. Doing this will encourage it to keep producing for you.
Once your leaves have been picked they can be used fresh or dried out and saved for later. Marjoram is well known for retaining lots of flavor even in its dried state.
As you can see, marjoram can be a handy herb to have in the kitchen. Give these tips for growing marjoram a try and see what results you can achieve.
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