Marjoram convinces with its characteristic flavor and also as a medicinal herb. But what needs to be considered when harvesting and how can the herb be stored?
Harvest marjoram properly
As with all herbs, the essential oils are the decisive factor for the taste of marjoram. The composition and content of the oils depend on the one hand on the variety, but on the other hand they can also be influenced by the time of harvest. The most aromatic plant material can be harvested just before or at the beginning of flowering. Flower formation costs the plant a lot of energy, which is then no longer available for the production of essential oils. Thus, the content of the flavoring substances decreases with the formation of the flowers.
The herb is harvested by cutting off whole shoots just above the substrate. If a few centimeters of the shoots are left with leaves, this promotes new growth and branching of the plant. If you harvest the entire plant before the flowers develop, the ornamental flowering of the marjoram is significantly delayed. If you do not want to do without the flower, you can also harvest after it. Unfortunately, you then lose the intensity of the taste.
Store marjoram correctly
The usability can be easily extended so that the spice is available from your own garden all year round.
- drying marjoram
In addition to being used freshly harvested, marjoram can also be dried. When drying the whole shoots in a dry place for two weeks, some aroma is lost, but the leaves, which are then rubbed and sealed airtight, are in the kitchen for several years usable. - Freeze marjoram
The freshly harvested marjoram leaves can simply be frozen after chopping them up. Removed from the freezer as needed, the marjoram is available all year round like freshly picked from the garden. - pickle marjoram
The fresh sprouts of marjoram can be preserved whole with olive oil in a bottle, for example. The shoots must be completely surrounded by the olive oil to prevent mold growth. The olive oil absorbs the aromas of the marjoram and can be used for a flavorful salad dressing or for tasty frying.
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