Even the smallest herb garden should include at least a few marjoram plants. The one difficulty is that, being a native of the warm Mediterranean region, it is damaged by frost in colder winters and must be sown afresh every spring.
The first European botanist to describe the plant was Mattioli. He named it `mala insana', meaning unhealthy fruit, and for a long time it was considered poisonous. In consequence it was not eaten until the 19th century.
Mattioli was partly right, for the green parts of the plant are slightly poisonous and furthermore he was perhaps guided by a well- founded fear; for the tomato belongs to the nightshade family which includes many highly poisonous species which it resembles.
The rhizomes and roots are used to make commercial soup flavourings. The hollow stem may be cut crosswise into ring-like pieces and candied in the same way as the stem of angelica. All parts of lovage may be used fresh as well as dried, whole, crushed or ground.
Nowadays, marjoram is added to soups, sauces for stewed meats (mainly mutton), stuffings and pkes. Its widest use, however, is in seasoning sausages and salamis. Sometimes it is used together with other fresh herbs in 'bouquet garni'.
Majorana hortensis is a perennial, bushy plant growing up to 40 cm (16 in) high that flowers from July to September. It requires a rather light, limy soil, rich in nutrients and moisture. It is grown throughout the whole of Europe as well as in north Africa (Algeria, Tunisia, Egypt). The seeds should be sown in boxes in early spring and the young seedlings moved outdoors to their permanent position when all danger of frost is past. Marjoram may be harvested and used in cooking as spice.
The first European botanist to describe the plant was Mattioli. He named it `mala insana', meaning unhealthy fruit, and for a long time it was considered poisonous. In consequence it was not eaten until the 19th century.
Mattioli was partly right, for the green parts of the plant are slightly poisonous and furthermore he was perhaps guided by a well- founded fear; for the tomato belongs to the nightshade family which includes many highly poisonous species which it resembles.
The rhizomes and roots are used to make commercial soup flavourings. The hollow stem may be cut crosswise into ring-like pieces and candied in the same way as the stem of angelica. All parts of lovage may be used fresh as well as dried, whole, crushed or ground.
Nowadays, marjoram is added to soups, sauces for stewed meats (mainly mutton), stuffings and pkes. Its widest use, however, is in seasoning sausages and salamis. Sometimes it is used together with other fresh herbs in 'bouquet garni'.
Majorana hortensis is a perennial, bushy plant growing up to 40 cm (16 in) high that flowers from July to September. It requires a rather light, limy soil, rich in nutrients and moisture. It is grown throughout the whole of Europe as well as in north Africa (Algeria, Tunisia, Egypt). The seeds should be sown in boxes in early spring and the young seedlings moved outdoors to their permanent position when all danger of frost is past. Marjoram may be harvested and used in cooking as spice.
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