Rosemary is fragrant and delicious, is an excellent herb to grow yourself either indoors in pots, or outdoors like in your garden. Rosemary is generally not difficult to grow, and once it takes root, this perennial shrub will live for many years. Read on to learn how to grow, care for and harvest rosemary.
Step
Method 1 of 3: Planting Rosemary
Step 1. Take the rosemary by cutting it
Rosemary is easiest to grow from the cutting, rather than from the seed. Head to your local plant store, and buy some rosemary cuttings, or better yet, find a rosemary plant you like and pick up a few 4-inch pieces for you to replant. The best time to do this is in late spring, but if you live in a warmer climate, you can also do it in early fall. The plant you will grow from rosemary cuttings will have the same qualities as the parent plant.
- If you choose to grow a type of rosemary that you've never seen near you, order rosemary cuttings online or order them at your local plant store. There are many types of rosemary, each of which has different characteristics. Some types of rosemary will grow very thick and tall, while others tend to be short; some types of rosemary have purple or blue flowers, and others are white.
- You can also purchase young rosemary plants if you don't want to plant rosemary cuttings.
Step 2. Remove the leaves from the very bottom of the rosemary stem
Before planting rosemary, remove the leaves from the very bottom of the stem (about 2-3 cm from the tip) first as this will be buried in the soil.
You should remove the leaves in this area as they can cause the rosemary stems to rot and prevent them from growing
Step 3. Plant rosemary
Place each rosemary piece in a pot filled with two-thirds coarse sand and one-third peat moss. Place the pot in an area that gets a lot of sun, but not in direct sunlight. Water these cuttings regularly and keep them in a warm place until roots begin to form, which is about three weeks.
- To help the rosemary cuttings grow, you can place the pot in a plastic bag that has several holes in the top. That way, the temperature of the rosemary will be maintained so that it remains warm and moist.
- You can also soak the cut ends of rosemary in root powder to give it better nutrition to grow.
Step 4. Plant the rosemary seedlings
Once the roots are established, you can plant rosemary in a pot or outdoors as in your garden. Rosemary can adapt to most growing conditions and is quite hardy. Rosemary is resistant to snow, limestone, high temperatures, seaside, and all types of soil. But rosemary will grow best in a warm to hot environment, and a moderately dry climate. Choose an environment that gets full sun, and is dry enough.
- Decide whether you want to continue growing it in a pot or move it to the garden. Rosemary can also be made into a protective garden fence with a very fragrant smell. In colder climates, it may be best to grow rosemary in a pot, so you can move it whenever necessary.
- If growing rosemary in a garden, choose a soil with good drainage. Rosemary roots can rot if planted in waterlogged soil. The more alkaline the soil in which you plant it, the more fragrant your rosemary will be. Give a little lime if your soil is too acidic.
Method 2 of 3: Caring for Rosemary
Step 1. Do not water the rosemary too often
Rosemary prefers drier soil, so don't over-water it. This plant will grow better with an average amount of water in gardening. Rosemary will get most of its water needs from rainwater.
Step 2. No need to fertilize
Rosemary is not a plant that requires fertilizer. Just make sure that there is lime in the soil.
Step 3. Put the pot indoors in winter if you live in a cold area
While rosemary is a hardy plant, it will be difficult to grow when covered with snow. To ensure that the rosemary will survive all winter, it is best to keep it indoors.
Step 4. Prune the rosemary if necessary
Pruning the plant is not necessary to keep rosemary growing healthy, but rosemary bushes can grow quite large and take up quite a lot of garden area. Cut the branches a few inches each spring to help control their size.
Method 3 of 3: Harvesting and Using Rosemary
Step 1. Harvest rosemary
Take rosemary sprigs according to your needs. Rosemary plants will continue to grow well. Since rosemary is an evergreen plant, you can harvest it at any time.
Step 2. Store rosemary sprigs in a cool and dry place
You can also freeze rosemary by placing it in a food storage bag and storing it in the freezer. Alternatively, pick the rosemary leaves from the stems and store them in an airtight container. Save it like this. The rosemary will slowly dry out and you can store it for several months.
Step 3. Eat rosemary
Rosemary is an excellent complement to both sweet and savory foods. Use rosemary to add flavor to meat and chicken dishes, bread, butter and even ice cream. Here are some delicious recipes for using rosemary:
- Herb bread.
- Soak the meat.
- Rosemary syrup.
- Lemon sorbet with rosemary.
Step 4. Use rosemary around the house
Rosemary can be dried and can be used as a closet fragrance, to make natural soaps, and scented water to keep your hair smooth and shiny, among many more. You can also rub your body directly on the rosemary plant to feel its refreshing aroma.
Tips
- Rosemary has different shapes, colors, leaf sizes and sizes. The color of the flowers also varies, usually from pale blue to white.
- Rosemary can be frozen for up to six months. Place a few sprigs of leaves in a freezer bag and freeze. But if you have fresh rosemary plants, it will be easier to pick them right away than to fill your freezer.
- Rosemary can grow in salty and windy environments. So it is an ideal beachside plant. But rosemary will grow best in a sheltered environment such as near a wall, so give your plant the best possible protection.
- This plant can grow to a height of up to 2 meters. However, rosemary grows very slowly to reach that height. Short rosemary species can reach 45 cm in height and are suitable for planting in pots.
- If you plant it in a pot, trust me the rosemary will grow well. This solution is best for cold climates, as you can take it indoors during the winter. Although rosemary can still grow under a little snow, it can't grow with a lot of snow in cold temperatures. Plant rosemary in a pot, and cut it to control its size.
- Rosemary is a symbol of "keepsake".
- Plant rosemary near a clothesline. Clothes that touch this plant will smell good. The plant is also pleasant to touch on uphill trails.
