Content
- When is the best time to harvest marjoram?
- Harvest from summer to fall
- Only harvest the upper third of the stems
- Especially aromatic just before flowering
- Consume marjoram as quickly as possible
- Tips & Tricks
When is the best time to harvest marjoram?
You can harvest marjoram on a regular basis whenever you need a few leaflets in the kitchen. If you plan to dry the herb, you should cut it just before the flowers start to bloom. Then marjoram contains most of the essential oils.
Early Article Marjoram - How to properly cultivate the herbs Next article Marjoram also during flowering harvestHarvest from summer to fall
If you have planted marjoram in the field, it will take about two months for the plants to grow enough to harvest them.
The harvest can be continued into the autumn, as long as the plant forms enough new shoots.
Only harvest the upper third of the stems
Harvest marjoram by cutting the upper third of the stems with scissors or a sharp knife. You should not go deeper when harvesting, so that the marjoram can recover.
Do not just pluck the leaves from the marjoram, but cut the whole stem, as it makes the plant better branched.
Especially aromatic just before flowering
If you want to conserve marjoram from your own garden for the winter, you should cut the branches before the flowers bloom.
At this time, the leaves contain a lot of essential oils. Since preserving some flavorings are lost, it makes sense if the herb is particularly aromatic at harvest.
Consume marjoram as quickly as possible
Harvest as much marjoram as you need. Although the herb lingers for a while, flavorings are lost with every touch. The fresher you add marjoram to the soup or stew, the stronger the spice effect.
Unused herb can be hung up to dry or put in oil. For freezing marjoram is only partially suitable.
Tips & Tricks
It is often to be read that marjoram may only be harvested until flowering. That's not true. All parts of the plant can be eaten without any problems as they contain no toxic substances, even after flowering. In industrial cultivation, marjoram is even harvested and processed with flowers and stems.