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| Rosemarinus officinalis | Common name; Rosemary |
A free flowering bushy shrub, highly attractive to bees, the leaves are strongly aromatic and may be used, fresh or dried, for flavouring.
It is an ever green plant so leaves are available at all times.
It can grow to a height of 900-1200mm (3-4ft) high, and the mauve flowers open in March / April and continue to appear sporadically until September.
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.
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.
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