Skip to content
Herb Full Sun Low water

Marjoram

Written by the GrowByCity Editorial Team · Updated April 2026
2 min read

Sweeter, milder cousin of oregano. Best suited for moderate climates, marjoram grows optimally between 15°C and 25°C and can handle temperatures from 5°C to 30°C. It needs full sun (6-8 hours of direct light daily) and minimal watering — it prefers dry conditions between drinks — leaves are ready for picking in about 60-80 days. A kitchen essential that grows equally well on a sunny windowsill, a balcony pot, or a dedicated herb bed.

Harvest 60-80 days
Temp Range 5°C — 30°C

Quick Answer: How to Grow Marjoram

Marjoram takes 60-80 days to harvest. It grows best in 15–25°C with full sun and low watering. Marjoram is not frost tolerant — wait until after the last frost to plant. It can be grown in 350 cities worldwide.

Find the best time to plant Marjoram in your city →

Growing Requirements

☀️
Sun
Full Sun
💧
Water
Low
❄️
Frost
Sensitive
📅
Harvest
60-80 days

Temperature Range

15-25°C
-10°C 45°C
Optimal: 15–25°C Tolerates: 5–30°C
Tropical suitable: No
Cities growing: 350 of 350

Growing Tips

💡

Expert Tips

More tender than oregano -- protect from frost. Harvest before flowers open. Wait until soil warms to at least 15°C before transplanting outdoors — cold soil stunts growth and can invite root rot. Overwatering is the most common mistake. Let soil dry out between waterings and ensure drainage is excellent.

Quick Facts

  • Grows in 350 of 350 cities
  • Available in 7 regions worldwide
  • Temperature range: 5°C to 30°C
  • Optimal growing: 15°C to 25°C
  • Harvest in 60-80 days

Did You Know?

  • 🌱 Marjoram needs at least 6-8 hours of direct sunlight daily for optimal growth.
  • 🌱 Marjoram is drought-tolerant — perfect for gardeners who tend to forget watering!

Step-by-Step Growing Guide

Sweet marjoram (Origanum majorana) is a tender perennial grown as an annual in climates with cold winters, requiring full sun and very well-drained, lean soil at pH 6.0–7.5. Unlike its robust cousin oregano, marjoram demands warmth and protection from cold and damp — it is an excellent container herb for this reason. Start seeds indoors 6–8 weeks before last frost at 18–21°C, as seeds are very small and germinate slowly. Surface-sow without covering as they need light to germinate. Transplant 20–30 cm apart outdoors only after all frost risk has passed. Water lightly and allow soil to dry between waterings — marjoram is quite drought-tolerant once established and resents waterlogged roots. Avoid fertilizing with nitrogen-rich products, which dilute the aromatic oils that make marjoram valuable. In mild climates (zones 9–10), marjoram survives as a perennial shrublet; cut back by half in late winter to encourage fresh, aromatic new growth.

Common Pests & Problems

Root rot from overwatering or heavy soil is marjoram's primary nemesis — leaves yellow and the base of the stem turns brown and soft; improve drainage immediately and hold off all watering. Spider mites are problematic in hot, dry indoor growing conditions, producing fine webbing and bronzed leaves; increase humidity around plants, mist foliage, and apply neem oil. Aphids may colonize soft new growth; remove by hand or apply insecticidal soap. Marjoram is generally very resistant to pests and diseases when grown in appropriate dry conditions with good airflow. The greatest challenge is maintaining heat and adequate drainage in cool, wet climates.

Harvest & Storage

Harvest marjoram stems just before the plant flowers — at this stage the leaves contain the highest concentration of essential oils and the sweetest, most complex flavor. Cut stems back by up to two-thirds; the plant will regrow for multiple harvests. Fresh marjoram is best used within a few days — store stems in a glass of water at room temperature or in a damp paper towel in the refrigerator. For drying, hang small bunches in a warm, dark, ventilated space; dried marjoram loses some of its delicate sweetness compared to fresh but remains useful in soups and stews. Dried marjoram keeps for 12 months.

Popular Varieties

"Sweet Marjoram" (Origanum majorana) is the species itself — there are few named cultivars commercially available, with most seed sold simply by common name. "Gold-Tipped" is a decorative form with yellow-edged new growth and full flavor, useful as both a culinary herb and an ornamental container plant. "Compact Marjoram" is a bushy, densely leaved selection that stays tidier than the species and is well-suited to pot culture. Pot marjoram (Origanum onites) is a closely related, hardier species sometimes sold as marjoram — it has a stronger, slightly more bitter flavor closer to oregano and is more suitable for gardens with colder winters.

Where to Grow Marjoram

Marjoram can be grown in 350 cities across 7 regions worldwide

🌍 Europe (80 cities)

City Level JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Aarhus, DK medium
Amsterdam, NL medium
Ankara, TR medium
Antalya, TR medium
Athens, GR medium
Barcelona, ES medium
Bari, IT medium
Belgrade, RS medium
Bergen, NO medium
Berlin, DE medium
Bilbao, ES medium
Bologna, IT medium
Bordeaux, FR medium
Bratislava, SK medium
Brussels, BE medium
Bucharest, RO medium
Budapest, HU medium
Catania, IT medium
Cologne, DE medium
Copenhagen, DK medium
Corfu, GR medium
Cork, IE medium
Dublin, IE medium
Dubrovnik, HR medium
Edinburgh, GB medium
Florence, IT medium
Frankfurt, DE medium
Gdansk, PL medium
Genoa, IT medium
Glasgow, GB medium
Gothenburg, SE medium
Hamburg, DE medium
Helsinki, FI medium
Heraklion, GR medium
Istanbul, TR medium
Izmir, TR medium
Krakow, PL medium
Kyiv, UA medium
Limassol, CY medium
Lisbon, PT medium
Ljubljana, SI medium
London, GB medium
Lyon, FR medium
Madrid, ES medium
Malaga, ES medium
Marseille, FR medium
Milan, IT medium
Munich, DE medium
Naples, IT medium
Nice, FR medium
Nicosia, CY medium
Oslo, NO medium
Palermo, IT medium
Paris, FR medium
Porto, PT medium
Poznan, PL medium
Prague, CZ medium
Reykjavik, IS medium
Riga, LV medium
Rome, IT medium
Seville, ES medium
Sofia, BG medium
Split, HR medium
Stockholm, SE medium
Strasbourg, FR medium
Stuttgart, DE medium
Tallinn, EE medium
Thessaloniki, GR medium
Tirana, AL medium
Toulouse, FR medium
Turin, IT medium
Turku, FI medium
Valencia, ES medium
Valletta, MT medium
Verona, IT medium
Vienna, AT medium
Vilnius, LT medium
Warsaw, PL medium
Zagreb, HR medium
Zurich, CH medium

🌏 Asia (79 cities)

City Level JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Ahmedabad, IN medium
Almaty, KZ medium
Bali, ID medium
Bandung, ID medium
Bangalore, IN medium
Bangkok, TH medium
Beijing, CN medium
Busan, KR medium
Cebu, PH medium
Chandigarh, IN medium
Chengdu, CN medium
Chennai, IN medium
Chiang Mai, TH medium
Chittagong, BD medium
Chongqing, CN medium
Coimbatore, IN medium
Colombo, LK medium
Da Nang, VN medium
Dalian, CN medium
Davao, PH medium
Delhi, IN medium
Dhaka, BD medium
Dharan, NP medium
Fukuoka, JP medium
Galle, LK medium
Guangzhou, CN medium
Hangzhou, CN medium
Hanoi, VN medium
Harbin, CN medium
Ho Chi Minh City, VN medium
Hong Kong, HK medium
Hyderabad, IN medium
Incheon, KR medium
Indore, IN medium
Islamabad, PK medium
Jaipur, IN medium
Jakarta, ID medium
Jeju, KR medium
Johor Bahru, MY medium
Karachi, PK medium
Kathmandu, NP medium
Kochi, IN medium
Kolkata, IN medium
Kuala Lumpur, MY medium
Kunming, CN medium
Kyoto, JP medium
Lahore, PK medium
Lucknow, IN medium
Manila, PH medium
Mumbai, IN medium
Nagoya, JP medium
Nanjing, CN medium
Nha Trang, VN medium
Okinawa, JP medium
Osaka, JP medium
Pattaya, TH medium
Penang, MY medium
Phnom Penh, KH medium
Pune, IN medium
Sapporo, JP medium
Seoul, KR medium
Shanghai, CN medium
Shenzhen, CN medium
Siem Reap, KH medium
Singapore, SG medium
Surabaya, ID medium
Surat, IN medium
Taipei, TW medium
Tashkent, UZ medium
Tbilisi, GE medium
Tokyo, JP medium
Ulaanbaatar, MN medium
Varanasi, IN medium
Vientiane, LA medium
Visakhapatnam, IN medium
Wuhan, CN medium
Xi'an, CN medium
Xiamen, CN medium
Yangon, MM medium

🌎 North America (78 cities)

City Level JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Albuquerque, US medium
Anchorage, US medium
Atlanta, US medium
Austin, US medium
Baltimore, US medium
Baton Rouge, US medium
Boise, US medium
Boston, US medium
Bridgetown, BB medium
Buffalo, US medium
Calgary, CA medium
Cancun, MX medium
Charleston, US medium
Charlotte, US medium
Chattanooga, US medium
Chicago, US medium
Denver, US medium
Des Moines, US medium
Detroit, US medium
Edmonton, CA medium
El Paso, US medium
Fargo, US medium
Fresno, US medium
Guadalajara, MX medium
Halifax, CA medium
Hartford, US medium
Havana, CU medium
Honolulu, US medium
Houston, US medium
Jacksonville, US medium
Kansas City, US medium
Kingston, JM medium
Knoxville, US medium
Las Vegas, US medium
Little Rock, US medium
Los Angeles, US medium
Louisville, US medium
Lubbock, US medium
Madison, US medium
Memphis, US medium
Mexico City, MX medium
Miami, US medium
Milwaukee, US medium
Minneapolis, US medium
Monterrey, MX medium
Montreal, CA medium
Nashville, US medium
New Orleans, US medium
New York, US medium
Oaxaca, MX medium
Oklahoma City, US medium
Omaha, US medium
Ottawa, CA medium
Panama City, PA medium
Phoenix, US medium
Pittsburgh, US medium
Portland, US medium
Puebla, MX medium
Quebec City, CA medium
Raleigh, US medium
Richmond, US medium
Sacramento, US medium
Salt Lake City, US medium
San Diego, US medium
San Francisco, US medium
San Jose, CR medium
Santo Domingo, DO medium
Saskatoon, CA medium
Savannah, US medium
Seattle, US medium
Spokane, US medium
St. Louis, US medium
Tampa, US medium
Toronto, CA medium
Tucson, US medium
Vancouver, CA medium
Victoria, CA medium
Winnipeg, CA medium

🌍 Africa (39 cities)

City Level JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Abidjan, CI medium
Accra, GH medium
Addis Ababa, ET medium
Algiers, DZ medium
Antananarivo, MG medium
Arusha, TZ medium
Bamako, ML medium
Bloemfontein, ZA medium
Cairo, EG medium
Cape Town, ZA medium
Casablanca, MA medium
Dakar, SN medium
Dar es Salaam, TZ medium
Douala, CM medium
Durban, ZA medium
Entebbe, UG medium
Fez, MA medium
Freetown, SL medium
Harare, ZW medium
Johannesburg, ZA medium
Kampala, UG medium
Kigali, RW medium
Kinshasa, CD medium
Lagos, NG medium
Libreville, GA medium
Lilongwe, MW medium
Lome, TG medium
Luanda, AO medium
Lusaka, ZM medium
Maputo, MZ medium
Marrakech, MA medium
Mombasa, KE medium
Nairobi, KE medium
Ouagadougou, BF medium
Port Louis, MU medium
Pretoria, ZA medium
Tunis, TN medium
Windhoek, NA medium
Zanzibar, TZ medium

🌎 South America (39 cities)

City Level JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Arequipa, PE medium
Asuncion, PY medium
Barranquilla, CO medium
Belem, BR medium
Bogota, CO medium
Brasilia, BR medium
Buenos Aires, AR medium
Cali, CO medium
Campinas, BR medium
Caracas, VE medium
Cartagena, CO medium
Concepcion, CL medium
Cordoba, AR medium
Curitiba, BR medium
Cusco, PE medium
Fortaleza, BR medium
Georgetown, GY medium
Goiania, BR medium
Guayaquil, EC medium
La Paz, BO medium
Lima, PE medium
Manaus, BR medium
Medellin, CO medium
Mendoza, AR medium
Montevideo, UY medium
Paramaribo, SR medium
Port of Spain, TT medium
Porto Alegre, BR medium
Quito, EC medium
Recife, BR medium
Rio de Janeiro, BR medium
Rosario, AR medium
Salvador, BR medium
Santa Cruz, BO medium
Santiago, CL medium
Sao Paulo, BR medium
Sucre, BO medium
Trujillo, PE medium
Valparaiso, CL medium

🌊 Oceania (19 cities)

City Level JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Adelaide, AU medium
Alice Springs, AU medium
Auckland, NZ medium
Brisbane, AU medium
Cairns, AU medium
Canberra, AU medium
Christchurch, NZ medium
Darwin, AU medium
Dunedin, NZ medium
Gold Coast, AU medium
Hamilton, NZ medium
Hobart, AU medium
Melbourne, AU medium
Noumea, NC medium
Perth, AU medium
Suva, FJ medium
Sydney, AU medium
Townsville, AU medium
Wellington, NZ medium

🕌 Middle East (16 cities)

City Level JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Abu Dhabi, AE medium
Amman, JO medium
Baghdad, IQ medium
Beirut, LB medium
Doha, QA medium
Dubai, AE medium
Erbil, IQ medium
Jeddah, SA medium
Kuwait City, KW medium
Manama, BH medium
Muscat, OM medium
Riyadh, SA medium
Sana'a, YE medium
Tabriz, IR medium
Tehran, IR medium
Tel Aviv, IL medium

When should I plant marjoram in my city?

The best time to plant marjoram depends on your local climate zone. It thrives in temperatures between 15°C and 25°C. Wait until after the last frost in your area. Check your city's planting calendar on GrowByCity for exact dates.

Can I grow marjoram in winter?

Marjoram is not frost tolerant and cannot survive winter outdoors in most temperate climates. In tropical areas (USDA Zones 10+), it may grow year-round.

Get Marjoram Seeds & Plants

Ready to start growing? Find Marjoram seeds and starter plants online.

People Also Search For

how to grow marjorammarjoram growing tipsbest soil for marjorammarjoram planting seasonmarjoram companion plantsmarjoram pests and diseases

Similar Growing Requirements

Frequently Asked Questions about Marjoram

When should I plant marjoram?

The best time to plant marjoram depends on your local climate. Marjoram grows best in temperatures between 15°C and 25°C (can tolerate 5°C to 30°C). Marjoram is not frost tolerant, so wait until after the last frost in your area. Check your city's planting calendar on GrowByCity for exact planting months.

Can marjoram grow in tropical climates?

Marjoram is not well-suited for tropical climates. It prefers cooler conditions with temperatures between 15°C and 25°C. In tropical areas, it may bolt, fail to fruit, or suffer from heat stress. Consider growing it in cooler seasons or at higher elevations.

How long does marjoram take to grow?

Marjoram typically takes 60-80 days from planting to harvest. It requires full sun and low watering. More tender than oregano -- protect from frost. Harvest before flowers open. Wait until soil warms to at least 15°C before transplanting outdoors — cold soil stunts growth and can invite root rot. Overwatering is the most common mistake. Let soil dry out between waterings and ensure drainage is excellent.

Find the Best Time to Plant Marjoram

See the planting calendar for Marjoram in these popular cities:

Last updated: March 2026 · Climate data from NOAA, FAO, USDA

See an error? Report it