When to Plant Sweet Marjoram in Alice Springs, Arid / Semi-Arid Guide
Soil temperature is modelled from Open-Meteo forecast (Alice Springs), not a live sensor.
What this month normally looks like in Arid / Semi-Arid
In October the Arid / Semi-Arid zone normally runs 32°C by day and 16°C overnight, with about 19 mm of rain over 2 or 3 wet days. The coldest October night on record across the zone was 1.9°C, so a late frost is not out of the question. Averages 1991 to 2026, 10 postcodes, SILO.
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This Sweet Marjoram guide is written for the Arid / Semi-Arid zone, which takes in Alice Springs, Broken Hill and Port Augusta. Somewhere else? Your postcode picks the right one.
Not your zone? Cairns Brisbane Sydney Melbourne Canberra Perth
Also handy: will it frost this week? and what grows in shade.
- Planting window
- Feb to Apr, Aug to Oct
- Days to harvest
- 60 days
- Sun
- Full sun
- Water
- Moderate
- Spacing
- 20 cm apart
- Soil pH
- 6.5–7.5
A tender perennial (grown as annual in cold zones) closely related to oregano but with a sweeter, more delicate flavour. Essential in French and Mediterranean cooking. More cold-sensitive than oregano.
Published · By GardenBuddy.au
Planting dates, current conditions and prices on this page update daily.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Planting Calendar for Arid / Semi-Arid
- Jan -
- Feb S
- Mar S/T/D
- Apr T
- May -
- Jun -
- Jul -
- Aug S
- Sep T/D
- Oct T
- Nov -
- Dec -
S = Seed Tray T = Transplant D = Direct Sow
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How to Grow Sweet Marjoram in Arid / Semi-Arid Australia
- Soil
- Well-drained, light soil with some organic matter. Not as lean as oregano prefers.
- Salt
- Moderately sensitive. Copes with a little salt, but the harvest drops on salty bore water.
- pH Range
- 6.5-7.5
- Sunlight
- Full sun. At least 6 hours.
- Spacing
- 20cm apart, 30cm between rows
- Watering
- Moderate. More water-needy than oregano but still prefers drying between waterings.
- Good companions
- Capsicum, Sage, Apple, Gai Lan, Nectarine
Arid / Semi-Arid Growing Tips for Sweet Marjoram
Recommended Varieties
- Standard sweet marjoram
Key Challenges
- Extreme heat
- Needs some moisture
Pro Tips
- Better with some afternoon shade
- More water-needy than oregano
Pests and problems for Sweet Marjoram in Arid / Semi-Arid
Organic prevention (Aphids): Healthy plants in full sun.
Harvesting Sweet Marjoram
When ready: Harvest once plant is bushy at 15cm+. Best just before flowering.
How to harvest: Snip stems above leaf pair. Regular harvesting delays flowering.
Storing and preserving sweet marjoram
How to keep it
- Drying (good). Hang bundles 1-2 weeks. Strip leaves. Marjoram dries well but loses some sweetness. Keeps: 12 months.
- Freezing. Chop and freeze in ice cube trays with oil or butter. Keeps: 6 months.
- Herbes de Provence. Blend dried marjoram with thyme, rosemary, savory, oregano. Store in jar. Keeps: 12 months.
What members get
- Soil and weather from your nearest station
- An email when it's time to sow
- Your own garden plan, including planning from a photo
- Price history and price alerts
- Pest risk alerts for your area
- Full salt and canning detail
Common Questions About Sweet Marjoram
When do you plant sweet marjoram in Australia?
It depends on your climate zone, not the calendar month alone. Planting months by zone:
- Tropical (Cairns): Apr to Jun
- Subtropical (Brisbane): Sep to Nov
- Warm Temperate (Sydney): Aug to Oct
- Cool Temperate (Melbourne): Sep to Dec
- Cold / Highland (Canberra): Sep to Dec
- Arid / Semi-Arid (Alice Springs): Feb to Apr, Aug to Oct
- Mediterranean (Perth): Aug to Oct
Can you grow sweet marjoram all year round in Alice Springs?
No. In the Arid / Semi-Arid zone the planting months are Feb to Apr, Aug to Oct. Outside that window it either bolts, sulks or gets cut down by the weather.
When should I plant Sweet Marjoram in Alice Springs?
Frost-tender, so plant out after mid-September and in early autumn. Grow in well-drained soil near brassicas, where it helps confuse cabbage white butterflies.
What soil temperature do Sweet Marjoram need?
Sweet Marjoram germinate best when soil temperature is between 10°C and 25°C.
How do I know when Sweet Marjoram are ready to harvest?
Harvest once plant is bushy at 15cm+. Best just before flowering.
What are the best Sweet Marjoram varieties for Alice Springs?
Recommended varieties for the Arid / Semi-Arid zone include: Standard sweet marjoram.
What grows well with Sweet Marjoram?
Good companion plants for Sweet Marjoram include: Capsicum, Sage, Apple, Gai Lan, Nectarine.
Are sweet marjoram salt tolerant?
Only a little. Sweet marjoram are moderately sensitive to salt, so the harvest drops on salty bore water. Mix salty water with rainwater, and mulch the bed.
Which zone am I in?
Type your postcode into the box near the top of the page and it tells you, and links this crop in your own zone if it differs. Or look it up on the grow zone map. This page is the Arid / Semi-Arid zone, Alice Springs is its reference city.