by Karen Bledsoe

Created on: April 08, 2008   Last Updated: October 04, 2010

Rosemary, according to European folklore, thrives near a home where a powerful woman lives. Fortunately rosemary is so easy to grow that personal charisma isn't really a requirement. Anyone can enjoy its pungent flavor and beautiful blue blossoms with just a little care.

The simplest way of adding rosemary to the garden is to buy a plant in a variety that does well in your area. Once established, one plant will supply most households with plenty of fresh rosemary tips for cooking. Rosemary can also be started from seeds or cuttings, though you'll get a lot of variation in the seedlings. In cold climates where rosemary may be grown as an annual, starting from seed may be cost-effective.

STARTING FROM SEED
Patience is required to start rosemary from seed, as the seeds are slow to germinate and the germination rate is often low. The seeds should be soaked several hours or overnight before planting. Plant them in a sterile seed starting mix and set the pots on a heat mat to help speed up germination. Once the plants are several inches tall, they can be hardened off and transplanted into the garden.

STARTING FROM CUTTINGS
If a friend offers you cuttings from a plant, or if you take cuttings from your own, keep them moist by wrapping them in damp paper towels until you have your rooting supplies together. Prepare a pot by filing it with a mixture of half perlite and half peat moss or coco fiber. Dampen the mix. With sharp scissors, snip the leaves off of the lower few inches of your cutting. Dip the end in rooting hormone powder, and insert into your rooting mix. Set on a sunny windowsill and lightly mist the plants every few days.

CARING FOR ESTABLISHED PLANTS
In climates with mild winters (up to Zone 7), rosemary can grow outdoors all through the year. It will do best in the ground, as a hard frost can kill roots in potted specimens. In zones 7 and 8, plants can benefit from a light cover of translucent fabric when hard frosts are expected. In cold climates (Zone 6 and below), it can be grown in a pot and brought indoors to live under grow lights for the winter.

Rosemary should be planted in full sun where it will get good drainage. If your soil is heavy with clay, add compost and a little sand, and rake up a low hill to plant your rosemary on to assure drainage around the roots. Early in the spring, clip back any winter-killed branches. Later in the summer, after the new growth has emerged, you can shear the bush to keep it in good form. Removing the soft tips for

• 1
• 2
• Next Page >>