Growing rosemary from seeds: features, recommendations and care

For cooking we often use all kinds of herbs and seasonings. Among the aromatic plants it is necessary to highlight the rosemary. It is used in the kitchen often enough. If you always want to have flavorful seasoning, you can put a plant on your window. In our article we want to talk about growing rosemary outdoors and in the apartment.

Description of the plant

Rosemary & ndash; it is a shrubby evergreen plant of the family Lamiaceae. In the wild it is widespread in North Africa, Cyprus and southern Europe. In our country the rosemary was introduced in the nineteenth century. Since then, the plant loved people and actively cultivated in homes and gardens. In the wild in Russia rosemary is not found because it is not tolerant of our climate. Growing rosemary possible at home.

Externally, the Plant is a large shrub, which reaches a height of 50-200 cm Stems of rosemary have a tetrahedral form. Small leaves are very similar to needles. The small flowers of the plant have a purple hue. They are located on small shoots and buds. After flowering, fruits are formed in the form of nuts brown. Rosemary blooms in April-may, but it may produce inflorescences in February. By mid-September on the bushes to ripen the seeds.

Growing rosemary from seed at home

Rosemary at home are grown from seed, through seedlings, strains, cuttings and by division of the Bush. Each method has its own characteristics. Growing rosemary from seed-quite a troublesome thing. In General, nuts-seeds have good germination and are perfectly stored for up to three years in paper bags. Before planting them in the ground no additional processing is required.

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Growing rosemary from seed will require patience Housewives. Seeds can be sown in early March. The first seedlings in the boxes will appear not earlier than a month. The reason for that is the peculiarity of the seed culture for a long time to germinate. For process acceleration it is possible to prepare them for planting by placing in boiled water to swell for five hours.

For the cultivation of rosemary, you need to prepare the right soil. To do this, mix two parts regular ground neutral acidity with a part of sand and compost. You can also buy in the store ready-made substrate.

In addition, you need to prepare the pots for planting. Their height must not exceed 15 centimeters. At the bottom of the tanks will certainly spread the expanded clay or small gravel for the drainage layer. Next, fill them with substrate. The swollen seeds are dispersed on the surface of the soil, and then lightly sprinkle the ground. After sowing, the substrate is moistened from a spray. Top boxes or pots and cover with film to get a mini-parniczky. The container should be placed in a warm place, the seeds began to germinate. The optimum temperature is about 20-25 degrees Celsius. Growing rosemary from seed is only one of the possible solutions. The process is quite long because the seedlings as we have already said, appear not earlier than a month. During this time, you must maintain the optimum temperature for crops. Mini-greenhouses regularly aerate and hydrate the soil surface from a spray. After germination remove the tape to delicate plants not subjected to such a disease as black leg.

Caring for crops

The Successful cultivation of rosemary is only possible under certain rules of care. For the normal development of seedlings need heat and lighting. The best variant-is to place the pots on the South window. On cloudy days have to dosvechivat plants lamp. Temperature contents should not be below +18 degrees. Moderate watering is better done through a spray bottle.

Seedlings can you not dive if the distance between plants is three centimeters. In good light, the seedlings can grow for months without thinning. In the same case, if your shoots are very thick, you will have to dive. This can be done immediately after the appearance of the first two leaves. Dive plants in individual cups or pots with a nutrient mixture.

After the seedlings grow up to three or four inches, it can be a little tempering. First, you can just put the plants at the open window for a few minutes. But it is important to prevent drafts, which is terrible for seedlings. Gradually, the sessions of hardening can be increased, subsequently, to make the plants on the balcony, and then outside. Outdoors you need to choose a windless place. Seedlings must be protected from direct sunlight, because it is very vulnerable.

Landing on a permanent place

The Fledgling seedlings, under eight inches, can already be transplanted to a permanent place. Is possible to grow rosemary at home in a pot or in open ground. If you are planning to plant plant under the open sky, then the first step is to choose the right place. Land should have good lighting, drainage andsoil nutrient. In the draft, in the shade or lowland plants just die, so such places should be avoided.

For planting, dig a hole, make organic fertilizer. The seedling is gently removed from the containers and lowered into the recesses. The plants are watered and sprinkled with soil, tamped and re-added.

When making a group planting is necessary to maintain the distance between the bushes. This will provide the proper cultivation of rosemary, indeed, over time the Bush will increase in size and volume.

Planting in pots

If you are planning to organize growing rosemary at home, then planting seedlings in pots, in essence, no different from planting in the open ground. In containers pre-made holes for drainage. Next, fill the pots light soil or substrate ready, not forgetting at the bottom to put the clay pebbles. Next, seedlings are planted and watered. Immediately after planting, the rosemary can be put in light partial shade to the plant was easier to settle down.

In leaves of the crops are tannins, acids, and alkaloids. In addition, herbs with valuable essential oils, which are widely used in cosmetics and medicine. The greatest content in the plant is observed in the flowering period.

Rosemary at home: planting and care

The Main question in care is proper watering. Wherever the plant – in the garden or in a pot, the ground should be neither dry nor wet. Navigate the amount of moisture directly at the plant. If the lower leaves began to turn yellow, the roots are clearly not enough moisture. Falling leaves indicates excessive waterlogging. The water jet is directed directly into the soil so the greens stay dry.

If you plan to use rosemary in your food, you feed it only organic matter. Feeding shall be held no more than twice a month. The culture is highly resistant to many diseases and pests, but may damage the plants by scale insects, spider mites, spots.

Diseases and pests

In the early stages of the appearance of mites, the foliage is enough to wash with soap and water. In more advanced cases you will have to use the ‘Agravity” and “Was”. With the appearance of spots on the bushes should be treated with drugs which contains copper.

Particular care

In terms of indoor growing, the plant should receive enough sunlight. Periodically, the pot must be deployed to all shoots were well lit. House plants need to be aired. They can be taken on the balcony or keep outside in the warm seasons, starting with spring. Gradually, rosemary becomes overgrown and requires trimming. The crown of the tree you can give the desired shape. Pruning should be performed at least two times a year - spring and fall. With the advent of cold weather the plants brought to the house. For the normal development indoors in the winter should not be below +10 degrees. And at the same time the plant does not like high temperatures. The best option is +16 degrees.

In summer the plant can withstand higher temperatures, but extreme heat may occur yellowing of the foliage. In winter it is better to provide the plant a lower temperature (from +10 to +16). If in the cold season, rosemary is too warm the room is a high probability that it will not bloom. The pot can be placed near the cold window or to take during periods of thaw on covered balcony.

Rosemary planted in the open ground in the southern regions, can survive the winter on the street in the presence of the shelter. The soil at the roots sprinkled with dry leaves and sawdust. The shelter is prepared before the first frost. The plant itself can cover the top with spruce branches, or to wrap other materials, so it is not affected by wind and snow. When growing rosemary outdoors without thorough preparation for the winter just will not do. Many growers are planted in summer the plants on the site, and with the arrival of autumn, put them in pots and put them in the house not to take the risk.

Propagation by cuttings

It is Very convenient to propagate rosemary from cuttings. Quick method gives good results. On the plant pick good shoots and cut them into cuttings (10 cm long).

Next for planting, prepare the soil a mixture of peat, sand and loam in the ratio 1:2:1. The resulting mixture is sterilized. You can use the prepared substrate. On the bottom of the pot put the expanded clay and the rest of the space is filled with soil and covered with water.

The Lower part of the escape dipped in “Kornevin” or any other stimulant. The cuttings are immersed for three to four centimeters into the soil and added dropwise. On top of the seedling is covered with a jar or bag with holes for ventilation. Pots are placed on the West or South windowsill. In bright light you should definitely consider the protection from the direct rays. Young plants rooted for at least three weeks. In this period it is necessary to observe the plant. Rotten twigs are removed. After roots are formed, the rosemarycan be transplanted into individual containers. At this stage you can already use pots slightly larger size.

Raw material

Gather the leaves of rosemary for cooking is possible in the second year. By this time inside the plant has accumulated enough nutrients, and it will get stronger and grow. For drying the leaves are harvested during flowering rosemary. Cut only healthy young branches. Shoots are dried in a ventilated area with normal humidity level. Drying herbs correctly separately from other fragrant herbs that do not mix flavors. After the stalks are crushed and stored in glass containers with lids.

Some Housewives greens are frozen by placing it in packages. This option is also good. In this case, the rosemary did not lose its properties for several months. In the dry form, the leaves can be stored up to two years. If your house has such a beautiful plant, then you can always use the fresh leaves with it. They contain a lot more essential oils and nutrients than dried or frozen leaves. Accordingly, the aroma of dishes prepared with the addition of rosemary would be stronger.

Instead of an epilogue

Culture is of interest not only in terms of spices for cooking. Beautiful and voluminous bushes look very impressive not only on window but also on the site. Their decorative appearance, is an ornament to any garden or flowerbeds. Also apparently the plant is very similar to the coniferous culture.