Growing Rosemary

Growing rosemary can provide a fantastic culinary herb. Planting rosemary also makes for a wonderful fragrant foundation planting for homes in zones 8 to 10.

Greek students once wore garlands of rosemary in their hair while while taking examinations because they believed it strengthened the memory.

Though a wreath may have no effect on your mind power, the flavor of this herb is indispensable in the kitchen.

Fresh or dried rosemary leaves are frequently used in mediterranean dishes; they have a bitter, astringent taste, which complements a wide variety of foods.

When burned, rosemary gives off a distinct mustard smell, as well as a smell similar to that of burning which can be used to flavor foods while barbecuing.

Description

Usually grown in containers, rosemary is a perennial herb that grows 2 to 6 feet tall in the cooler zones of 8 to 10.

Flowers: Tiny pink to purple flowers bloom in clusters of two or three along the branches in late winter to early spring.

Leaves: Rosemary's neddlelike leathery leaves are 1/3 to 1 1/2 inches long, opposite, and evergreen.

Flavor and fragrance: Rosemary has a strong, pungent flavor and aroma with a hint of pine.

How To Grow

When to plant: Rosemary seeds grow so slowly that it's preferable to buy plants. In warm climates, plant outdoors anytime. North of zone 8, keep plants indoors until night temperatures are at least 55 degrees F. Take the cuttings in late summer and layer the plants in early summer.

Where to plant: Rosemary prefers full sun during the growing season. To overwinter indoors, place it in a south or southeast window.

Soil and fertility: Plant rosemary in extremely well-drained soil. Allow the top 1 to 1 1/2 inches of the soil's surface to dry between waterings. Apply 1/2 inch of compost around the plants every other year.

Plant spacing: When growing rosemary, allow 1 to 3 feet between plants outdoors. Container-grown plants require deep pots. As your plant grows, transplant it into larger pots. Mature plants may require a 10-gallon pot.

Pests: Scale, mealybugs, spider mites, whiteflies

Diseases: Root rot, botrytis blight

Harvesting

When to harvest: Harvest the stems and leaves anytime.

How to harvest: Snip the branch tips when you need only a small amount. To harvest larger quantities, cut the stems back to within one or two leaf nodes above the woody growth.

Drying: Dry flat on screens or in a dehydrator.

Freezing: You can freeze whole sprigs of rosemary.

Uses

Cooking: Use fresh or dried leaves of rosemary with pork, lamb, poultry, fish, tofu, eggs, cheese, breads, stuffings, and many vegetables.

Oils: You can flavor olive oil or lighter oils such as safflower or canola with a few sprigs of rosemary.

Cosmetic: Add rosemary to your bath water for a stimulating effect. Use it in hair rinses and conditioners to add highlights to dark hair, to condition oily hair, to help prevent dandruff, and to give your hair some body.

Crafts: Add it to potpourris and sachets for added fragrance.

As you can see growing rosemary has many benefits, so make sure to add some to your garden soon.