Rosemary is a great plant to add to your herb garden. It is an evergreen perennial herb that is perfect for new gardeners looking for easy to grow herbs. Perfect for adding to flower beds or growing in pots for an indoor herb garden year-round. Rosemary is one of the most common herbs in home gardens and here are some tips to help you with growing rosemary.
Growing Rosemary
Rosemary grows best with lots of sun, well-draining soil, and plenty of airflow. Be sure to give your rosemary room to thrive in the garden, use plenty of mulch to help keep the soil moist without having to over water. Plant in full sun area that receives 6-8 hours of sun each day.
When growing rosemary indoors you will have a continuous supply of fresh rosemary year-round. Place near a window or grow bulb in the cooler months and outside to soak up the sun in the warmer months. Be sure to bring in your rosemary if you have a frost expected.
Rosemary can grow to be rather large so be sure to plant it in an area it will have room to spread as it grows. Perennial plants need plenty of room of you will have to dig up your garden at a later date when your plants outgrow the space you provided them.
Planting rosemary from seed is a challenge and unsuccessful for the most part. When you wish to start a new plant propagation a cutting is the most effective option available. To propagate a rosemary cutting trim off a 2-inch stem from your mother plant. Remove leaves from the bottom two-thirds. Dip the end of the cutting in root strike powder or even honey and place in a small container with peat moss and fertiliser and water lightly.
Potted rosemary plants will need to be repotted yearly as they have a tendency to become root-bound. When the lower leaves show signs of yellowing you know that the plant is in need of repotting. Rosemary likes dryer soil so using a terracotta pot is a great way to help the plant keep the proper water balance.
Harvesting rosemary
Being a perennial shrub, rosemary does best when properly pruned, it will fluff up into a beautiful thick shrub. When growing rosemary or cooking you can usually keep your plant well-poured without much effort. If you do not cook with it often you may find yourself in need of pruning and with an abundance of rosemary to share with friends and family.
If your plant will be remaining outdoors be sure to do your last pruning no later than 4 to 6 weeks before the first frost. Pruning your rosemary too late in the season will encourage it to focus on new growth rather than hardening off the growth it has already produced for winter. Be sure to always use sharp clean pruning shears to prevent leaving your plants vulnerable to harmful pests. Extra rosemary is great for crafts or giving away to loved ones.
Using rosemary
Rosemary has many uses. In the culinary world growing rosemary opens your kitten to plenty of flavor possibilities. Use rosemary for flavoring or garnishing meat, poultry, and fish dishes. Add rosemary to cocktails and frozen desserts for fresh earthy flavor undertones.
Rosemary is a favorite of chefs from around the world for its beautiful presentation that will not wilt between the kitchen and the dining table. Rosemary gives you a picture-perfect presentation every time. If you find yourself with more rosemary than you can use or give away you will discover this lightly aromatic herb is perfect for evergreen crafts as you prepare for the holiday season. Use trimmings in your wreaths and another simple holiday decor.
With its many uses in recipes, it is easy to see why rosemary has been such a favourite throughout the ages. With a little work and these tips on growing rosemary, anyone can enjoy the benefits of this delicious and healthy herb in their own garden.
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