A free flowering bushy evergreen shrub, highly attractive to bees, the leaves are strongly aromatic and may be used, fresh or dried, for flavouring.
This herb has been used in food and medicine preparations for centuries.
Being an evergreen plant, the leaves are available at all times.
Note; There are numerous varieties and not all are suitable for cooking with.
|
|
It can grow to a height of 900-1200mm (3-4ft) high, and the mall, blue or white flowers open in March / April and continue
to appear sporadically until September.
It may require staking in more exposed areas.
The most common variety is; officinalis or ‘Common Rosemary’
This plant originates from the Mediterranean so it requires full sunlight, and good drainage.
It thrives on low fertile soils and will tolerate very dry conditions, once established.
It won’t tolerate the cold wet winters of the UK so it is recommended that it be grown in containers and these containers moved to a frost free position in the winter months.
Cultivation;
Week 17; Sow seed in trays or modules containing a proprietary seed compost and place in a cold frame to germinate.
Germination can be slow and erratic.
Later sowings can be made directly in to a seed bed in very shallow drills.
When seedlings are large enough to handle they should be transplanted into to pots until planting out time.
Note; Rosemary is not easy to grow from seed so buying small plants from the garden centre might be a better option.
If pre-germinated plants have been obtained by mail order, unpack immediately on arrival and water thoroughly, and if necessary place in a sheltered, airy position out of direct sunlight for a few days so the plants can acclimatise.
Once acclimatised either plant them direct into the garden, or into containers, growbags, or if kept trimmed they can be grown in pots on the windowsill.
Week 18; Layer suitable woody stems by burying the stem.
Firstly remove leaves from the stem to be buried and scrape the underside to create a wound then loosen the soil and pin the stem down with wire.
Cover with soil, leaving the growing tip clear of the surface; water well.
New plants should be ready to detach by autumn.
Week 21; Plant out the young plants 900-1200mm (3-4ft) apart in any ordinary, well drained garden soil, in a sunny position.
Ensure that soil does not waterlog, especially during Winter.
Week 25; Mature plants that have become straggly, can be regenerated by taking heel cuttings
To take heel cuttings select a non-flowering shoots, remove the lower leaves, dip the cuttings into hormone rooting powder and insert them into pots containing a 50-50 mix (by volume) of compost and sharp sand.
Put in a propagator, or pull a plastic bag loosely over the cutting to retain moisture, seal it and place on a warm windowsill (not in full sun).
Roots should form in six weeks.
Pot or or plant out into free-draining soil.
