Fragrant and delicious, rosemary is a wonderful plant that you can grow yourself, indoors in a pot or outside in the garden. It is generally not difficult to care for, and once established, this woody, perennial shrub will thrive for years. Read on to learn how to plant, grow and harvest rosemary.
Steps
Part 1 of 3: Plant the Rosemary
Step 1. Get a rosemary cutting
Rosemary grows more easily from a cut than from seeds. Go to the nursery and get a cut or, better yet, find a rosemary plant you like and cut a few 10cm sprigs to propagate it. The best time to retrieve the cutting is in late spring, but if you live in a warmer climate, you can also pick up the twigs in early fall. The plant that will develop from the cut will have the same qualities and characteristics as the original one.
- If you'd rather grow a variety you've never seen in your area, you can order a cutting online or ask the nursery for one. There are many varieties of rosemary, each with slightly different characteristics. Some grow very thick and tall, others tend to grow by spreading over the ground; some produce purple or blue flowers, others white.
- If you don't want to propagate a cut, you can buy a seedling.
Step 2. Remove the outer part of the stem, approximately 2-3 cm from the lower end
This is the part that goes underground when you plant it.
This part of the process is important, otherwise the stem will rot instead of taking root
Step 3. Propagate the rosemary
Place each cutting in a jar two-thirds full of coarse sand and one-third full of peat. Place the pots in a sunny spot, but not in direct sunlight. Water the cuttings regularly and keep them in a warm place until they form roots, which should take about 3 weeks.
- To facilitate the growth of the cuttings, you can put the whole pot inside a plastic bag with some holes on the top. This will help regulate the temperature and keep the room warm and humid.
- You can also soak the tips of the cuttings in rooting hormones to help them develop.
Step 4. Plant the sprouts
Once the roots have formed, you can plant rosemary in pots or outdoors in the garden. It is a plant that adapts to most climatic conditions and is very hardy. It thrives on snow, limestone, high temperatures, by the sea and in all types of terrain. Its best habitat, however, is a warm or temperate, fairly dry climate. Choose a spot that is exposed to full sun and is dry enough.
- Decide if you want to keep rosemary in a pot or if you prefer to grow it as a shrub in the garden. You can choose to grow it as a delightfully scented hedge. If the weather is rather cold, however, it may be a better solution to keep it in pots, so that you can transfer it if necessary.
- If you decide to plant it in the garden, choose well-draining soil. If the soil is saturated with water, the roots tend to rot. The more alkaline the soil, the more fragrant this herb will be. Add some lime if the soil is too acidic.
Part 2 of 3: Caring for Rosemary
Step 1. Water carefully
Rosemary prefers dry soil, so don't overdo it with water. If it is planted in the garden soil, moderate watering is sufficient. It is a plant that prefers to get the water it needs from the rain.
Step 2. Don't worry about fertilizing
This plant has no particular need for it. However, make sure the soil contains lime.
Step 3. Bring the pot indoors in the winter if you live in a cold place
Although rosemary is hardy, it can suffer when the season is very cold and its branches can get damaged if they are loaded with heavy snow. If you want to be sure that the plant will survive the winter, it is recommended that you bring it indoors.
If during the winter the temperature does not drop to values such as -17 ° C, this part is not necessary
Step 4. Prune it if needed
This is not a fundamental procedure for the health of the plant, but rosemary tends to grow in size and can take up a lot of space in the garden. Prick the branches out a few inches each spring to help the plant retain its shape.
Part 3 of 3: Collect and Use Rosemary
Step 1. Collect the rosemary
Choose the twigs according to your needs. The bush will continue to thrive. Since it is an evergreen plant, you can harvest the twigs all year round.
Step 2. Store the twigs in a cool, dry place
You can also freeze rosemary by placing it in food bags suitable for freezer storage. Alternatively, remove the leaves from the stems and store them in airtight jars. Stored this way, rosemary dries slowly and can last for several months.
Step 3. Eat it
It is a wonderful condiment, ideal for both sweet and savory dishes. Use it to enhance the flavor of meat and chicken, add it to bread, butter and even ice cream. Here are some ideas:
- Herb bread.
- Marinated pork.
- Rosemary syrup.
- Lemon sorbet with rosemary.
Step 4. Use garden rosemary
Its scent is not just for culinary purposes; for example, you can dry it and create scented bags to put in furniture drawers, use it as an ingredient in homemade soap, as a base for scented water that makes hair shiny and soft, and more. Sometimes it is enough to simply touch the plant with your hands to feel a fresh wave of intoxicating perfume.
Advice
- Rosemary can come in different shapes, as well as different leaf colors and sizes. The colors of the flowers also vary, usually from blue to white.
- The leaves can be frozen for up to 6 months. Simply put the twigs in freezer bags and freeze them. However, if you have your own bush, it is much easier and more convenient to take out just the amount you need from time to time, rather than taking up additional freezer space.
- Rosemary can tolerate salt and wind, making it an ideal plant even in seaside gardens. However, it grows best in a sheltered location, such as against a wall, so try to provide it with this habitat if you can.
- In some countries, rosemary is used for "commemoration".
- This evergreen shrub grows to about 2 meters in height. However, it is very slow in reaching that height. The dwarf variety typically does not exceed 45 cm and is suitable for growing in pots.
- Plant a rosemary bush near the place where you hang your laundry. The clothes that touch it will have a wonderful scent. It is also a beautiful plant to grow on a raised driveway.
- If you decide to plant it in a container, know that rosemary is a great pot plant. This is an ideal solution in very cold climates, as you can bring it indoors during the winter. Although rosemary resists very little amount of snow, it suffers too much if there is a lot of it or if the temperatures are very cold. By putting it in a vase, you can keep it in great shape!
