Sweet Marjoram
Sweet Marjoram is a heirloom herb. Germination takes 7-14 days and fruit ripens from about day 80-95. Skin runs to gray-green foliage with small white to pale pink flowers. Water need is moderate, allow soil to dry between waterings. Suits zones 9-10. It will crop in a container.
Sowing
Start seeds indoors 6-8 weeks before last frost or direct sow after soil warms. Can also propagate from cuttings.
Cultivation
- Sun
- Full sun (6+ hours)
- Water
- Moderate, allow soil to dry between waterings
- Soil
- Well-drained, sandy or loamy soil
- Soil pH
- 6.5-7.5
- Spacing
- 6-8 inches
- Height
- 8-24 inches
- Season
- Tender Perennial
Appearance & flavour
- Colour
- Gray-green foliage with small white to pale pink flowers
- Size
- Small oval leaves, ¼ to ½ inch long
- Shape
- Compact, bushy mound with rounded leaves
- Flavour
- Sweet, delicate, pine-like with floral notes and mild citrus undertones
In the kitchen
French herb blends, roasted meats, vegetables, herb butters, teas, and Mediterranean dishes
Pests, disease & resistance
- Pests
- Aphids, spider mites, whiteflies
- Diseases
- Root rot in poorly drained soils, powdery mildew in humid conditions
- Resistance
- Generally disease resistant when grown in well-draining soil
Planting calendar by USDA zone
| Zone | Start indoors | Transplant | Direct sow | Harvest |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9 | January – February | March – April | — | April – December |
| 10 | January | February – April | — | April – December |
Companion planting
8 beneficial pairings indexed for this variety, 3 to avoid.
Avoid
Nutrition (per 100 g)
- Calories (per 100 g)
- 23
- Protein (g)
- 3.15
- Fat (g)
- 0.64
- Carbohydrate (g)
- 2.65
- Fibre (g)
- 1.6
- Sugars (g)
- 0.3
- Vitamin A (µg)
- 264
- Vitamin C (mg)
- 18
- Vitamin E (mg)
- 0.8
- Vitamin K (µg)
- 415
- Vitamin B6 (mg)
- 0.155
- Folate (µg)
- 68
- Calcium (mg)
- 177
- Iron (mg)
- 3.17
- Magnesium (mg)
- 64
- Phosphorus (mg)
- 56
- Potassium (mg)
- 295
- Zinc (mg)
- 0.81
- Selenium (µg)
- 0.3
Where to buy seed and equipment
Some links are affiliate links. If you buy through them we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
Cultivar facts compiled from public horticultural references including USDA GRIN and NC State Extension. Descriptions are original to this catalogue.
Grown Sweet Marjoram?
Post a crop report — day counts, reservoir readings, what worked. Variety-specific logs are the most useful thing on the forum.
Similar varieties
Other herbs with a comparable time to harvest, so a season that suits Sweet Marjoram suits these too.
- Mexican Tarragon 80 days
- Garden Sage 80 days
- Britton 80 days
- Greek Oregano 80 days
- Red Shiso 80 days
- Kelvin 80 days