When to plant Marjoram in Cool Australia

Cool zone — applies to Hobart, Canberra, Ballarat, Orange, Armidale and similar areas. Growing elsewhere? Temperate · Subtropical · Tropical · Arid.

Sow marjoram direct from September to December after the last frost, as this Mediterranean herb is frost tender and will not tolerate cold soil. Barely cover the small seed at 5 mm deep in a warm, sunny, well-drained spot; germination is slow and uneven, taking 10 to 28 days. Plants mature in 80 to 90 days and want plenty of room, so space them 50 cm apart with rows 20 to 30 cm apart. In cool gardens around Hobart, Canberra and Orange, marjoram is best treated as a summer annual or lifted into a pot to overwinter, since it rarely survives a hard cold-zone winter outdoors.

Sowing calendar — cool zone

Green months are your sowing window: September to December.

Growing notes

Marjoram carries all the traits of a warm-climate herb, so growing it well in the cool zone is about heat, drainage and patience. Sow direct only from September to December, well after the last frost, because it is frost tender and cold, wet soil either rots the seed or stalls it. Even in good conditions germination is slow and patchy over 10 to 28 days, so do not give up on a bed too early.

The main failure mode is cold, heavy soil. In gardens around Ballarat or Armidale, marjoram planted into a shaded or poorly drained spot sulks, yellows and often dies before it establishes. Choose the sunniest, sharpest-draining bed you have, raise it if the ground stays wet, and keep watering moderate rather than constant.

Give each plant its full 50 cm of space, as marjoram bushes out and resents crowding, which invites rot in cool, still air. Pinch out the tips regularly to keep growth compact and the flavour strong, and harvest just before flowering when the oils peak. Because it will not reliably survive a cold-zone winter in the open ground, lift a plant into a pot and bring it under cover, or take cuttings in late summer to carry the strain through to spring.

Marjoram at a glance

Common questions

Can marjoram survive winter in a cool climate?

Usually not in the open ground. Marjoram is frost tender and a hard cool-zone winter will kill outdoor plants, so treat it as a summer annual, or lift it into a pot and overwinter it under cover. Taking cuttings in late summer is another way to keep it going.

Why is my marjoram seed so slow to come up?

Marjoram is naturally slow and uneven to germinate, taking anywhere from 10 to 28 days even in warm soil. Sow only after the last frost into a warm, well-drained bed and be patient rather than resowing too soon.

When should I harvest marjoram for the best flavour?

Harvest just before the plant flowers, when the aromatic oils in the leaves are at their strongest. Pinching the tips regularly through the season also keeps the plant bushy and encourages fresh, well-flavoured growth.

What conditions does marjoram need in Hobart?

The sunniest, best-drained bed you can offer, since Hobart's cool, damp conditions are the opposite of its Mediterranean origins. Raise the bed if the soil stays wet, and consider growing it in a pot so you can move it to shelter as the weather cools.

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