Marjoram is one of the easiest herbs to grow at home. It is an excellent flavor enhancer for cooking and has utility in soap-making and medicinally for enhancing well-being, hence it’s nickname as the “happiness herb”.
I’ve grown several herbs in my indoor garden window over the years. Marjoram is one of my favorites!
After the heirloom seeds (Origanum majorana) I planted began to grow, I immediately discovered that sweet marjoram is a very easy herb to cultivate.
Growing it will make you feel like an ace gardener even if you are a novice!
Beauty and Practicality
Sweet marjoram sprouts quickly and grows bountifully.
The leaves of the marjoram plant are small, spherical, and woolly in appearance.
The grey-green leaves grow opposite each other as you can see in the image above which compares to other popular culinary herbs.
Delicate white or pink flowers bloom where the stems meet when the plant is fully mature.
When the flowers are just buds, they look like knots, which explains why a commonly used name is “knotted marjoram”.
Sweet marjoram should be picked immediately after it begins to blossom.
Consume it fresh as soon after picking as possible. This maximizes the bountiful antioxidant content.
Dry the extra at the end of the growing season for use during colder months.
Cold and Drought Hardy
Marjoram is sensitive to cold and is ideal for growing in warmer climates.
Bonus! It doesn’t easily wither like other herbs, being rather resistant to dry soil.
The downside is that I would forget to water it during dry spells as it would continue looking vibrant… drooping rather suddenly compared to other herbs with a slower wilt.
If in a colder clime, cut it back in the Fall to protect the roots.
In the Spring, regrowth will easily and quickly occur provided the winter wasn’t too cold with overly thick frost.
Marjoram does require some sun, preferably around 5 hours per day.
It even grows well on porches or garden windows which only enjoy the morning sun.
Sweet Marjoram for Cooking
The taste of sweet marjoram is similar to oregano.
Be careful not to confuse it with this herbal cousin even though oregano is sometimes referred to as “wild marjoram”.
Excluding the roots, all parts of sweet marjoram are edible including the leaves, soft stems, buds, and flowers.
This distinctive smelling herb when mature has a sugary aroma and essence.
It is best used as a savory spice in cooking, however, never sweet ones despite its name!
Marjoram is excellent for seasoning stews and meat dishes of all kinds but can also be used for veggie and egg dishes.
I use it in these recipes:
Other Uses
Artisans use marjoram for the wonderful scent it imparts to soaps and other handmade personal care products.
It holds its scent when dried better than many other herbs.
Drying herbs is very simple.
This article on how to dry homegrown basil describes the easy, straightforward process.
The same basic steps apply to marjoram and other herbs you buy fresh or grow yourself.
Be sure to store the dried marjoram properly to preserve potency during the off season.
The Happiness Herb
Historically, marjoram is known as the herb of happiness in Greek and Roman lore.
Newlyweds in these ancient cultures wore garlands of marjoram on their heads as a symbol of love and happiness.
Marjoram growing on a grave was thought to symbolize that the departed would enjoy a pleasant afterlife.
Perhaps marjoram’s reputation for enhancing happiness is due to the calm it can impart to the nervous system.
This and related medicinal benefits are outlined below.
Medicinal Benefits
Marjoram played a big role in traditional herbal medicine.
It was known primarily as a remedy for water retention (edema).
In addition, it has a reputation for relieving inflammation and pain when enjoyed as a therapeutic tea, ideally a homemade herbal infusion, although tea bags are fine in a pinch (suggested brand).
Sweet marjoram along with the wild oregano has some of the highest antioxidant properties of all culinary herbs. (1)
The essential oil of marjoram in aromatherapy is helpful for the following purposes: (2)
- Nervousness
- Insomnia
- Headaches
Contraindications
Marjoram has a tendency to induce menstruation.
Thus, it is not appropriate for pregnancy or during postpartum recovery.
Consult with your practitioner before use during nursing.
Summary
If you’ve never grown herbs before and want to start, marjoram is a good one to try first.
Easy to grow, delicious to eat, and highly antioxidant to boot.
What more could you want?
It may even confer a boost of happiness to your gardening and cooking endeavors!
(1) ORAC Value List – Top 100 Highest Antioxidant Spices, Herbs, Products
(2) 23 Surprising Benefits of Marjoram Essential Oil
My climate is too cold for marjoram to survive the winter. I bought a marjoram plant last fall and kept it in the house all winter. In the Spring, I was happy to see little lots of seedlings sprouting up. Unfortunately, I didn’t let them get big enough before transplanting outside and promptly forgot to water them. I just bought another plant from the farmer’s market. I do love the scent. I like it on green beans.