Description marjoram
Marjoram garden (Majorana hortensis Mill) is native to the Mediterranean, North Africa and Western Asia. In its natural habitat it grows as a perennial shrub. In our country, heat-loving plant usually grown as an annual because it is not quite hardy.
Very flavorful plant grows to a height of 0.2 to 0.4 meters. If there is enough space, it is very much branched and reach a height of 50 cm.
Stems stiff, red-brown, pubescent. Opposite leaves elliptical, gray-green on both sides, in length from one to three centimeters,
Small pink blossoms appear in the period from June to September.
Note!This oregano is often confused with oregano. These two types of grasses are very similar. Marjoram – an independent plant that is easy to grow
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Growing marjoram
What should be considered in the care of marjoram? Caring for oregano in the garden will require a little time and effort. Grass is very undemanding, and grows well enough without extra effort.
Marjoram grows in sunny and warm places. Best of all it reveals its strong aroma when it is on a very sunny location. It can grow in a pot on the balcony facing east or south, because these plants love lots of sun. When growing marjoram on the balcony or window in the pot with a diameter of about 15 cm can be planted between 3 and 5 plants.
soil
The soil should preferably be loose, well drained and nutrient-rich, high calcium content. Especially heavy soils are usually not suitable for this plant, but can be loosened by adding sand. When choosing a location to be possible to pay attention to crop rotation, to comply with the appropriate break in the cultivation of this plant and grow in the same place no more frequently than every 3-4 years.
Watering
Initial growth is slow and requires more maintenance. From the start, pay attention to regular and proper watering, the plants had not been dried until rooted. Young or newly planted plants should not be located too dry. Older plants usually do not have problems with drought, and cost considerably less water.
In the summer months should be watered in the evening, and if possible, not over the leaves, to avoid fungal diseases. Moreover, one should not use cold water for irrigation.
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ImportantUnder no circumstances should you expose it to water logging; plants can not cope well with this.
From time to time the plants should be weeding to remove weeds and keep the soil loose.
Multiplication
The ideal method of reproduction – the sowing of spring. Seeds can be collected from the plants after flowering.
How to plant oregano? It makes sense to plant oregano on the spot in the garden, and can be sown indoors in boxes or in a greenhouse.
Young plants are planted outdoors in late May at a distance of 20-30 cm from each other. Sow the seeds too thickly. After sowing the soil is well moistened. Water the seeds regularly and most importantly, very carefully, to small grains is not washed away by irrigation water. Buying a ready-made plants in nurseries or garden centers saves waiting time of harvest, and immediately receive a strong plant. They are easy to transplant in their own garden.
Pre-cultivation possible from March to April. Seeds are sown in the seed crumbly substrate and covered with earth, but just a little pressed. Substrate moisturize and maintain a uniformly moist. The container is covered with a translucent film and put in a bright location but out of direct sunlight, such as on a windowsill. The ideal germination temperature – from 18 to 20 degrees.
Handles
For propagation by cuttings grown in pots only. Cuttings cut from shoots in July or August. Removed from cutting the lower leaves and stick it to a few centimeters in moist potting soil. Translucent film covered container and maintained uniformly moist substrate.
Placed in a bright place, without exposing the scorching sun. The formation of roots can take several weeks. Once the cuttings take root enough, they can be transplanted into pots, where they grow until next spring and are planted from mid-May to fresh air.
Fertilizer
Adding compost spring before planting sufficient to marjoram to provide it with enough nutrients during the season.
The use of manure is not recommended. This may adversely affect the quality of spices. Ideal options for making a mature compost into the soil or substrate.
Typically, fertilizer is not necessary. Marjoram is no need to fertilize, but you must do so no more frequently than every 40-60 days and only very sparingly. It is better to avoid fertilizers containing nitrogen. This will lead to an increase in plant growth, but at the expense of flavor plants.
Trim the stems
For marjoram pruning is not necessary, but the plant can be cut. This usually results in a more dense growth.
When harvested marjoram
Fresh young leaves for immediate consumption can be harvested throughout the growing period.
For storage it is collected before and during flowering time, and sometimes the second time in late summer. The best time – the period of full bloom, while top quality marjoram.
Note! Gather the tops of the shoots with buds, as well as the entire stalks at a height of about 5 cm above the ground. They sprout again, and in the same year may be another crop. Cut off the best early in the morning or in the afternoon, then the content of essential oils is the highest.
Drying.Stems tie small bunches and hung in a ventilated place to dry. You can expand the raw material with a thin layer. When the grass is dry, it can be crushed and stored in an opaque airtight container. Properly dried marjoram has a gray-green color and should never be brown! The dried stems are nice and spicy smell. 
When properly stored in a dried form of oregano can be stored for several years, and almost does not lose flavor.
Marjoram can and freeze, but freezing it loses most of its flavor.
Diseases and pests
As a result of too much moisture fungi can spread and damage the plants. Rot appears in the lower part of the stem and root. Infected plants and soil must be removed and disposed of. Then recommended to apply calcium cyanamide to the affected area. To prevent a recurrence of the disease in the future to avoid excessively intensive irrigation.
Basically, oregano is extremely insensitive to disease. Sometimes snails spoil the leaves.
Using marjoram
Marjoram – the most famous fragrant spices, a spokesman for the culinary herb better home-cooked meals. Fragrance grown and dried in a home marjoram flavor and differs from conventional selling spices.
Medicinal properties of oregano
Marjoram is very versatile and is used not only in the kitchen. It has a wide range of applications, possessing antibacterial, antispasmodic, diuretic and sweat. 
Traditional medicine knew about the positive properties of marjoram for many years and used the action of essential oils, tannins and flavonoids in the treatment of many diseases.
Marjoram yard contains several vitamins, minerals and useful substances for the organism. Of the vitamins mainly C, A and ?-carotene. Minerals – calcium and iron it. In addition, it contains, tannin, essential oils and fatty acids omega-3 and omega-6.
It has an antiseptic effect and maintains the body’s natural defenses. In particular, it has beneficial effects on the digestive process, effectively eliminates flatulence and supports metabolism, promotes the formation of red blood cells.
Application at home:
- stimulates digestion;
- relieves headaches;
- calms, improves mood;
- helps when you cough and rhinitis.
In the form of tea it is taken with sleep disorders, headaches, nervous excitement. It helps with gastro-intestinal diseases, and loss of appetite.
Use of a tea: 1 teaspoon of raw material is poured 200 ml of boiled, hot water and allowed to stand for 10 minutes. This tea should drink a maximum of two times a day, and in any case for a long time!
In folk medicine, prepare a decoction for gargling, which is used in respiratory diseases and how to prevent colds. It helps eliminate the cough and loosen the mucus.
Dressings can be used in the treatment of poorly healing wounds and wet ulcers. Dried leaves can be flavored sachets or pillows.
Marjoram oil is applied topically, it relieves muscle pain and tension.
Wintering
Marjoram is sensitive to late spring frosts. He’s not winter hardy, but tolerates temperatures up to -7 degrees.
In our country it is grown in the garden or in containers. He does not tolerate frost, so it should be sown again every year. If you keep it in the house in winter (preferably in a cold room) in the spring it will sprout again. You can also grow it in a pot at home, where it requires a lot of light and heat.
Fragrant herb is also a good fit in the flower bed. Its small flowers attract many beneficial insects. Thyme do not put close to marjoram, because the two plants do not get along with each other and hamper each other in their growth.
