Growing rosemary from seeds in the country. Growing rosemary in open ground, care rules. DIY rosemary oil

Many garden plant lovers like to grow unusual and exotic shrubs on their plots. One of my favorites is rosemary. Some gardeners are cautious about growing it, because they believe that in our regions this plant does not take root well. But through trial and error, an instruction was developed, following which you can settle it in your country house and enjoy an unsurpassed aroma.

Description of the plant and photo

Rosemary repels insects with its aroma

Rosemary (Rosmarínus) is related to plants such as lavender, lemon balm, mint and basil. You can't confuse their aroma with anything.

Sometimes you can hear alternative names: sea dew, wedding color or incense grass.

Outwardly, rosemary looks like a tall shrub (some varieties can reach a height of 1–2 m) with leaves in the form of needles (in this it is similar to coniferous species). The plant is flowering, so you can often see small flowers of pink, white or purple on it. Its fruits are round and resemble nuts.

In nature, there are about 5 varieties of rosemary. Rosemary is considered the most popular among gardeners.

How best to grow rosemary in Russia

Despite the fact that the spice is still grown in the regions, it is not worth expecting the plant to feel good under any conditions. For home conditions, low varieties are chosen, for garden ones, less whimsical ones are selected.

Rosemary loves light and warmth, severe frosts are fatal for him. In addition to temperature conditions, the quality of the land must be taken into account. The shrub loves light, loose soil mixed with lime.

How well it grows in regions

The spice was and remains a southern plant, therefore, in the northern latitudes, as well as in the Urals and in some regions of the middle zone, this plant will be problematic to contain. Too little light, sudden frosts, and unsuitable soil can kill a shrub in its early stages. If you are planning to get rosemary, but live in regions with a cold climate, then give preference to indoor varieties.

At home, it is much easier to provide the plant with artificial comfort (using lamps, specially selected soil, temperature, etc.)

But the closer to the southern latitudes, the more favorable the conditions for growing rosemary. I must say that even some regions of the Moscow region and the middle zone are suitable, the main thing is that the winters are not too cold here, and the summers are dry.

The southern regions (Kuban, Krasnodar, Crimea) are ideal for cultivation. The only condition, again, will not be too dry climate, since rosemary is used to drawing moisture not from the soil, but from air currents, therefore, even with excellent watering, the plant may die due to lack of moisture in the air.

Role in landscape design

In warm regions, it is not uncommon to find a huge rosemary bush right next to the path leading to the house or garden.

Rosemary is good both in group plantings and single

The middle lane is characterized by decorating a terrace or a spicy garden with rosemary, since it is very difficult to grow a tall shrub in a place where frosts are not so rare.

Sometimes entire borders, and even hedges, are built from this plant, which looks very impressive.

For mid-latitudes, it is still preferable to include rosemary in a mix of tub plants. Thus, you will save yourself from many problems with wintering shrubs. You can combine rosemary with other spices: thyme (thyme), oregano (oregano), mint, lemon balm, etc. You can place all this splendor not far from the summer kitchen. As a pair for rosemary, you can plant lavender, sage or juniper.

If you want to pick up something for a contrasting vertical, then we advise you to opt for eremurus. Looks very impressive

You can try to grow rosemary as a ground cover (this option is very common in Mediterranean countries), but here it is worth taking care of the seeds of this particular variety or at least one individual.

How to plant: timing, methods, tricks

In order to grow rosemary outdoors, you can use several planting methods. Each method has its own nuances, so read them carefully and choose the one that suits you.

Soil preparation for planting rosemary

First of all, you need to take care of the soil in which the shrub will be planted. Keep in mind that spicy greens do not like lowlands and flooded areas. Therefore, for landing, choose a place with a flat surface, but avoid drafts.

Most of all, rosemary does not like acidic heavy soil. In order to please the bush, prepare a simple substrate: mix black soil with dry leaves, some neutral peat and sand. Take all components in equal parts. Then add crushed lime to the substrate in the ratio of 10 buckets of substrate 100 g of lime.

The beds for the future shrubs need to be prepared 7-10 days before planting. The soil under them must be moistened in advance, and 3-4 days before planting, add mineral top dressing to it.

Growing from seed in spring

Germination should begin in early spring. The seeds are grown indoors. For this, several containers are usually taken (the main thing is that they are suitable for growing flowers). Of course, you can sow the seeds directly into the ground, but there is no guarantee that the temperature will be consistently warm, and even with this method of growing, you will only see your rosemary closer to autumn. Therefore, for those who want to see their offspring in the summer for sure, we advise you to sow the seeds indoors approximately at the end of February.

Rules and instructions for growing rosemary using seeds:

1. Take a clean gauze and roll it up in several layers so that you can put some seeds on one part and cover them with the other.
2. Soak one half of gauze in water and spread the seeds on it in a thin layer. After that, cover them with the second half of wet gauze.
3. Moisten the gauze from the spray bottle daily. In the room where the seeds germinate, the temperature should be constantly maintained at 19–23 ° C.
4. The soil in which rosemary will be planted should be prepared in advance.
5. After 3-5 days, collect the seeds and sow them also in a thin layer, cover it with earth (the layer should not exceed 5 mm). Moisten the soil from the sprayer and close the container with the planted seeds with polyethylene (you first need to make holes in it), then put the container in a warm place.
6. Water the soil three times a day, ideally using a sprayer to avoid accidentally washing away the soil and exposing the seeds.
7. After about 14 days, you will notice little rosemary sprouts. When the first shoots appear above the ground, remove the polyethylene and expose the containers with the sprouts to the sun.
8. After a couple of months, the sprouts should already be completely stronger for planting. Moving into the ground is not so difficult: you just need to carefully dig up the sprouts and plant them in the beds.
9. Immediately after transplanting rosemary, the ground must be moistened.

spring cuttings

It is much easier to grow spices in this way. In this case, the tops of the shoots that are cut from an adult bush will serve as cuttings. The best time for cuttings is April or early May.

As cuttings, you can also use those bunches of greens that are sold on the market as a spice.

How to grow rosemary from cuttings:

1. Remove the lower leaves from the branches, partially exposing the stem.
2. Put the branches in the water and wait until the roots sprout from them (you can, of course, plant them in a pot of earth and wait until the roots sprout there, but the method with water is more efficient and clearer). After the roots have appeared, the stems are ready for transplanting into open ground.
3. The water under the stems should be changed every 3-4 days. If you are using the pot method, then water the sprouts every other day, but do not overdo it with the amount of water.
4. Noticeable roots should appear in about 20 days. As soon as this happens, you should immediately transfer the cuttings to the prepared beds. You need to plant the stems in holes with a depth equal to the length of the roots. Water the soil under the planted young.

Growing by dividing in the summer

Dividing is the easiest way to get spice in your garden. It does not require preliminary home manipulations such as germination, and immediately makes it possible to plant rosemary in open ground. This is best done in June.

1. Prepare the soil for planting according to the instructions above.
2. Next, you should get a shrub with a lot of shoots (you can look for one in the store or from someone you know).
3. Roots should be removed from the ground and shaken off.
4. Dig holes in the soil with a depth equal to the length of the roots, and plant sprouts.
5. Water the soil.

Conditions of care

Proper care is sometimes much more important than taking into account the nuances of planting. There are several general rules.

Watering

Watering will depend on many conditions, including the region in which the shrub was planted. Rosemary bushes are usually watered sparingly. If the weather is hot outside, then you need to water every other day. If it is still cool enough, then watering should be repeated every 3-4 days. It is important to ensure that the soil does not retain moisture and has good drainage, so you will need to periodically fluff the beds.

top dressing

Active fertilizer should be started closer to flowering. Once a month, from April to August, the shrub should be fertilized. At the beginning of autumn and throughout the winter, this should be done no more than once a month.

Wintering

The most difficult period for rosemary is winter, as frost resistance is not inherent in it at all. In order to minimize the risk of plant death, you need to build a greenhouse for it, the roots need to be covered with sawdust. Watering for winter time is reduced to 1 time in 7 days. If the spice lives at home, then watering should be done more often - 2 times in 7 days.

Of course, wintering is completely dependent on climatic conditions. In the south, the plant most often does not need any manipulation at all and winters well on its own in the same garden or garden.

Diseases

Rosemary has excellent immunity. It is not susceptible to diseases, and its pungent smell repels almost all pests.

If, nevertheless, you notice a white coating on the leaves and stems, which subsequently turned brown, the plant is affected by powdery mildew. This is not scary - it is necessary to remove damaged areas, transplant into uncontaminated soil and treat with special means (for example, Baikal-M or Fitosporin-M)

Possible Growing Problems and How to Solve Them

When growing rosemary, there are rarely any problems. The most important thing here is to follow all instructions and carry out proper care. But you still need to be aware of possible errors:

• if the leaves are dull and wither, protect the rosemary from direct sunlight, create a shadow for it;
• if only the lower ones turn yellow, watering should be increased;
• if the aroma of the plant has become weak and the leaves fall off, on the contrary, moderate watering;
• if the leaves are curled up and covered with dots, the bush is affected by whiteflies or aphids, spray the plant with a suitable composition (Admiral, Aktara, etc.).

Southern plants are always associated with rest, warmth, sea and relaxation, so almost every gardener tends to have one or two of these green guests on his site. Rosemary has been gaining popularity in recent years. Through trial and error, gardeners adapted this fragrant shrub to life in different regions of Russia.

Rosemary is a spice whose aroma combines the smells of lemon, eucalyptus and pine, and also retains notes of fresh sea breeze. Today we will tell you how to grow rosemary outdoors in the country or at home in a small pot on the windowsill.

Description and features of rosemary

Under natural conditions, rosemary grows in the open field all year round. The average height of a bush, covered with thin, needle-like leaves, reaches 2 m. The culture blooms with small flowers of a delicate bluish hue. There are not so many varieties of culture known - only about five, but it is customary for us to grow two types: medicinal or ordinary rosemary.

It is noteworthy that the spice is valued not only for its exceptional aroma in cooking, but also is part of many healing tinctures and medicinal preparations.

Necessary conditions for growing

Growing rosemary in our latitudes requires certain conditions to be met. Remember: seedlings of culture do not withstand frost, do not like drafts and shading, they prefer light, loose and nutritious soil.

In the open ground

Rosemary is a heat-loving crop, so it is better to wait with its landing on the garden bed until warm spring weather sets in. The optimal time is the end of May, then the bush will probably take root well. The landing site should be sunny, sheltered from strong winds. It is important to observe the correct watering regime: the soil should be kept constantly moist, but not wet.

In apartment conditions

The decision to plant rosemary in a pot in an apartment requires compliance with almost the same rules as growing rosemary in the open field. You will have to maintain a constant temperature within +20 ° C, place the culture container on the southern windowsill, and monitor the level of soil moisture.

Landing Rules

To grow a beautiful, powerful rosemary bush, it is important to take into account not only the requirements of the culture, but also comply with all the mandatory planting conditions.

In open ground

So, when the place for planting on the site is selected, it's time to take care of the composition of the soil. It is not difficult to prepare the optimal soil mixture, it is enough to mix 2 handfuls of ordinary lime, 2 kg of coarse sand, 2 kg of humus, about 5 kg of leafy soil and a few handfuls of sawdust.

Observe the distance between the holes: the more powerful rosemary bushes you want to breed, the less often they should be planted. On average, the distance between plants should be 50 cm. Remember that you can plant rosemary only after the night frosts, even slight ones, have completely passed.

Culture can be planted or sown. If you have the opportunity to get a few well-formed layers of an adult bush, planting rosemary directly in open ground is not difficult. In addition, the seeds of the culture can be sown on seedlings, waiting until they sprout in room conditions, or even rooting the cuttings by cutting off the upper shoots of the bushes.

In apartment conditions

Growing fragrant rosemary in an apartment begins with sowing seeds. They are planted in light, well-moistened soil at the end of winter. The container is covered with glass or a transparent film, and sent for several weeks to a cool room with a temperature of about + 5–6 ° C. Then the pot is moved to a warm place, where shoots will appear (after about 1 month).

When the plants grow up a little, and already look like small bushes, they dive into separate boxes, and after a while they are planted in a permanent place.

Features of care

It is not difficult to take care of the culture, while the features of the process differ little from whether you grow rosemary in a garden bed or in a pot on a loggia.

In the open ground

Caring for rosemary outdoors is quite simple. It is important to keep the soil in your rosemary bed slightly moist, especially during hot summers. Culture and regular top dressing are necessary throughout the entire period of active growth. For this, it is customary to use complex nutrient mixtures. You will also have to perform the entire set of standard garden procedures: loosening, removing weeds.

Wintering in open ground is possible, but only if you have chosen a frost-resistant variety. But before leaving the bush until spring, you need to securely cover the rosemary for the winter so that the spice does not die.

In apartment conditions

If you're growing rosemary on your home balcony, you'll need to follow a similar set of steps, with the exception of preparing for the winter. With the advent of cold weather, rosemary pots are brought into a room where the temperature will not rise above +11 ° C, occasionally watered and maintained with artificial lighting for at least 7 hours a day. When growing at home, it is also important to ensure that excess water does not linger in the pans - this can lead to yellowing of the leaves.

Breeding rules

As already mentioned, the culture can be propagated in several ways: grown from seeds, sown on seedlings, rooting a cutting taken from an adult plant, or planting cuttings obtained by dividing and planting overgrown bushes. The last two ways allow you to get a large plant much faster than waiting for a bush to grow from a seed.

Disease and pest control

You may be surprised, but you are unlikely to see what a rosemary bush infested with pests looks like in an open garden. The reason is the sharp aroma of the spice, which repels most insects. The same applies to diseases - rosemary is extremely unpretentious and resistant to adversity. True, if you keep a bush in room conditions, be prepared to deal with whitefly or white powdery mildew.

The spice can be dried, frozen, stored in the refrigerator - as you like. The main thing is that it will always give you a breath of fresh air with the indescribable aroma of the Mediterranean coast.

Video "What are the benefits of rosemary"

In this video, Elena Malysheva and experts will tell you why rosemary should be consumed by all people.

Hello dear readers!

Traditionally, the set of herbs we use, as a rule, consists of parsley, coriander, sometimes more is added.

But there is also, which is still considered an exotic seasoning, although growing it is not so difficult.

Rosemary in Latin means "freshness of the sea" or "sea dew".

Rosemary it is a perennial, evergreen, decorative flowering, spicy-aromatic plant. It can be grown both as a spice and medicinal herb.

In Europe, for some time, rosemary was even used as a snuff to treat the common cold.

But the inhabitants of ancient Greece believed that rosemary is a magical plant that drives away evil spirits, brings happiness and restores youth. Rosemary not only has nutritional and medicinal value, it is also an excellent ornamental plant.

exquisite spice

Rosemary has a light sweetish camphor-pine aroma, and its taste is spicy-spicy with a pleasant bitterness.

You can use fresh tops of annual shoots with leaves and flowers. They can be added for flavor to various dishes, such as soups, meat hot dishes.

Rosemary shoots can also be added to various spicy compositions. So, for example, a mixture of rosemary and savory can perfectly replace black pepper.

The taste of rosemary goes well with cabbage, legumes and eggplant dishes.

Here is a very interesting recipe for poultry with rosemary: take a small amount of dried parsley and rosemary, grind it with butter to a paste consistency; then lightly rub the chicken pieces with this paste or put it inside the carcass, but only a little. The main thing here is not to overdo it and you get a very fragrant dish.

Rosemary gives a very piquant taste to tomato and creamy sauces, and it is also good to add it to tea. Tea acquires a unique aroma.

And fruit salads will acquire a very refined taste if you add rosemary to them in small quantities.

Rosemary essential oil is used in various industries, such as: baking, cosmetics, confectionery, perfumery and alcoholic beverages.

Helps with 100 ailments

Rosemary is a very valuable medicinal plant. Rosemary leaves contain a very valuable multi-component essential oil, which consists of camphor, resins and esters.

It has numerous therapeutic actions, such as: antispasmodic, anti-inflammatory, diuretic, expectorant. Rosemary has antioxidant properties and has the ability to remove toxic substances from the liver. It also stimulates the cardiovascular system and blood flow in low blood pressure, myocardial infarction.

And fresh herbs and preparations based on it are used in dietary nutrition for diabetes, diseases of the liver, gallbladder, vascular system, gastrointestinal tract, upper respiratory tract, insomnia, neurasthenia, dizziness, vegetative-vascular dystonia.

Tea and infusion of rosemary greens are used for headaches, for gargling with sore throats and tonsillitis.

Having learned about such most valuable medicinal properties of rosemary, I no longer doubted that it must grow in my summer cottage. And a new plant will appear in my collection of spicy and healthy greens.

Growing Rosemary

Despite its southern origin, rosemary can be successfully grown in our summer cottages.

It is only necessary to take into account some of its features. Rosemary is very thermophilic and photophilous, so spring-summer frosts are very detrimental to seedlings.

It prefers calcareous, light loose soils.

It must be planted in areas that are protected from the wind. It is also important to know that rosemary does not tolerate waterlogging of the soil, and also does not like acidic soils.

But on the other hand, “our capricious” rosemary is very resistant to various diseases and pests.

Rosemary is propagated in several ways: by seeds through seedlings, cuttings, layering or dividing the bush.

For seedlings, seeds are sown in February-March in seedling boxes. After about 25-30 days, the grown seedlings must be planted in separate pots.

And then, with the onset of heat, the seedlings are planted in a permanent place in open ground.

If you want to propagate rosemary by cuttings, then they should be cut from young shoots at the end of June. The cuttings should be about 8-10 cm long and have 3-4 internodes. Then we deepen the lower ends of the cuttings at an angle of 30-45 ° into the ground to a depth of about 5 cm and at a distance of 10 cm from each other.

Care for rosemary is the same as for other plants, it is primarily weeding and regular watering. After watering and rains, loosening is required.

It is also necessary to feed the plant and it is best to do this with a solution of mullein (1: 5).

By fulfilling all these simple requirements, we will be able to grow beautiful rosemary bushes.

If a harsh winter is expected, rosemary bushes should be securely covered.

rosemary harvesting

During the flowering period, rosemary accumulates the maximum amount of essential oil and at this moment it is necessary to start cleaning it.

It is necessary to cut only young shoots. Then we dry the cut shoots in the shade under a canopy or in a well-ventilated area. After drying, grind and store in glass jars with well ground lids.

The aroma of rosemary greens can last up to 2-3 years, of course, with proper storage.

"Bed" on the windowsill

Rosemary can also be grown at home on a windowsill. It grows well in pots.

For the summer period, rosemary would be best taken out to the balcony, but do not forget, then, long before the onset of the first frost, bring it back into the room.

Otherwise, due to sudden changes in temperature, the leaves will begin to fall intensively. And rosemary can lose its decorative effect.

Gradually, over the years, the stems of rosemary are exposed, so every year in spring or in mid-February, the crown must be cut.

An interesting fact is that the lower the temperature in winter, the better rosemary then blooms in spring. The most optimal temperature for it is 12 ... 14 o C. Rosemary, grown at home on the windowsill, releases phytoncides that constantly disinfect the air in the room, while destroying viruses and pathogens, as well as successfully eliminating unpleasant odors.

Here's what a wonderful plant you can grow in your summer cottage, and at home on the windowsill. And an exquisite spice, and an excellent healer, and a spectacular garden decoration - all this is rosemary.

I propose to watch a very interesting video about this wonderful plant, which was shared with us by a reader of the site Evgenia. Thank her very much for this!

See you soon, dear readers!

Rosemary- an evergreen shrub plant from the Lamiaceae family, the well-known spicy herbs - lavender, sage, coleus, monarda can boast of belonging to. In the natural environment, it grows up to 1.5-2 m tall.

Since rosemary is a southern plant that grows in Central and South America, as well as in the Mediterranean, the question arises: is it possible to grow rosemary in the Moscow region?

It turns out that it is possible, only for this it is better to use tubs, because.

in open ground it should be planted only in summer.

Rosemary loves sunshine and warmth. The best place to plant will be the southern slopes with light sandy soils that pass moisture and air well. In order for the water not to stagnate, drainage should be put in the pit before planting. To do this, you can use crushed stone or fragments of brick.

Growing rosemary outdoors

The best time for planting rosemary seedlings in open ground is the end of May, because. at this time, as a rule, frosts are no longer observed. Before planting, prepare the soil mixture: mix river sand, peat, leaf soil in equal proportions, and then add 1 tbsp per 1 kg of the mixture. l. crushed chalk. Place landing holes at least 1 m apart, because rosemary tends to grow both in height and in width. After planting, young plants should be watered and covered with foil for 5 days - during this time, rosemary will take root.

It should be remembered that in the open ground the plant can only be in the summer. For the winter, it should be transplanted into pots and brought indoors.

rosemary care

The main care in the open field comes down to moderate watering, loosening the soil and controlling weeds. Do not forget in March-April about the formation of a bush, and if necessary, then rejuvenation (this applies to those plants that are already 7-8 years old).

Also, during the active growing season (from spring to autumn), feed the plant twice a month with complex mineral fertilizers. In the spring, do not forget about nitrogen fertilizers, and in the fall - about phosphorus.

Rosemary will delight you with its flowering in April-May.

Since the ground part of rosemary freezes at a temperature of -10 ... -12 degrees, it is best to identify the plant for the winter in a room in which the average temperature does not fall below +16 degrees.

If, during wintering, the temperature in the room is kept within + 10 ... + 12 degrees, then rosemary will bloom in spring. If rosemary is overwintered at a higher temperature, it will most likely not bloom.

Rosemary prefers south or southwest windows. Every 2 days it should be rotated so that the crown develops evenly. In winter, it is necessary to illuminate with lamps for 7-8 hours a day.

Rosemary looks great in bansai.

Rosemary: growing at home, in an apartment (from personal experience)

Will rosemary grow in our apartments and gardens?

My romarin bushes are grown in two ways - from cuttings and from seeds. A bush grown from a cutting has been growing with me for about 7 years.

Once they gave me a small cutting, which I planted in light soil, and put the pot in a plastic bag - it turned out to be a small greenhouse. From time to time I opened the package, aired it, sprayed it and closed it again.

Rosemary from seeds (video)

Two months passed, and one day, while examining the pot, I noticed that roots had already appeared from the large holes in the bottom - the stalk was rooted! For some time he still remained in the seedling pot, and in the spring I transplanted him into a larger container. And my rosemary started to grow.

Important!

Rosemary is a highly branched shrub. Its shoots are densely covered with needle-like leaves. Rosemary blooms with small blue flowers.

rosemary care

Rosemary grows quite quickly, does not require special attention. He does not like excessive moisture; I water it when the soil in the pot is completely dry, but I spray it periodically. I feed along with all the flowers with complex fertilizer.

All my indoor plants spend summer on the loggia - there is a lot of light and heat here and a special microclimate is created in which flowers grow very well. And rosemary is also comfortable here.

In winter, rosemary prefers a cooler room, but I grow it in an apartment where it is very warm. True, at the slightest opportunity - as soon as it gets a little warmer outside the window - I put it on the loggia. It is there even when the temperature drops to 0-5?C.

By the way

I cut my rosemary regularly - I use spicy twigs for cooking meat and fish dishes.

Rosemary from seeds

The year before last, I bought rosemary seeds and sowed them in March. They sprouted pretty quickly, and small seedlings began to grow. By the summer they were already from 5 to 7 cm - there were 6 seedlings in total. I gave almost all of them to friends, and left one bush for myself.

This spring I took him to the kindergarten and planted him out of the pot on an alpine hill. Over the summer, my rosemary has grown and turned into a luxurious bush.

In the autumn I dug it up, transplanted it into a pot and brought it home.

Interestingly, these two rosemaries have a completely different shape: grown from a cutting, it forms flexible, crooked shoots, and since I constantly trim it, it has become a ball. Most likely, it is rosemary prostrate.

Grown from seeds, it had a pyramidal shape from the very beginning and now it looks like a young cypress - this is rosemary officinalis.

But both of them have an incomparable rosemary, slightly spicy and reminiscent of the smell of coniferous plants.

Grow this wonderful fragrant plant at home and in the garden!

According to the magazine "Dachny club"

How to grow rosemary

By planting rosemary in a pot or in the yard, you will delight yourself with the freshness of the sea breeze and get a fragrant seasoning for various dishes. How to plant and care for rosemary.

Rosemary (Rosmarinus) is an evergreen perennial shrub of the Lamiaceae family with narrow fragrant leaves, green above and white below, similar to coniferous needles, blooms with small blue-violet flowers.

Rosemary officinalis is a very valuable plant. It is used in medicine, cooking, cosmetology. Rosemary leaves contain an essential oil that has bactericidal, wound-healing properties.

Rosemary has the ability to remove toxic substances from the liver. It is also used as a diuretic plant, normalizes the functioning of the cardiovascular system. Tea and infusion of rosemary greens are used for headaches, for gargling.

Mediterranean cuisine is hard to imagine without rosemary. It has a pleasant spicy-spicy taste with a pleasant bitterness. Fresh greens are added to soups, meat hot dishes. Dried shoots and leaves can be added to various spicy compositions.

Rosemary in landscape design

Rosemary, like lavender, can be planted in a group or combined with other plants in a mixborder.

In southern countries, rosemary is often used as a green fence. Decorating fences and walls with rosemary on the south side is also a good design option. There are varieties of rosemary with creeping shoots. They are well suited for landscaping retaining walls, steps. They are used for landscaping and strengthening slopes.

Creating a Mediterranean-style garden is impossible to do without roses, lavender and rosemary. But if among the huge number of varieties of roses you can always choose winter-hardy enough for almost any climatic zone, then rosemary can be planted in a container. Classic garden vases will successfully fit into the design and emphasize the style features.

Rosemary is a fairly hardy plant and does not require special care. Like lavender, rosemary is a light-loving, drought-resistant plant. However, it is worth remembering that it does not withstand frost.

In northern regions with frosty winters, the best way to grow rosemary is outdoors in summer and in a pot in winter. In the open field, it grows faster and looks much better, healthier. In autumn, the growth of new shoots stops, the plant is cut and transplanted with a clod of earth into a spacious pot. Watering - minimal, keep in a cool room up to 10 degrees Celsius all winter.

Lighting and fit. When grown outdoors, rosemary should be planted in sunny (southern) places. It grows well on the southern slope. If overwintered in a pot, they are taken out into the open air when the threat of frost has passed. Planted in open ground after a short period of acclimatization.

Watering. Rosemary tolerates drought well, but requires good watering to thrive. Water regularly in spring and summer. If the bush grows in a container, then be sure to ensure that there is no overflow, rosemary does not like wet soils.

The soil. The soil for rosemary needs loose, nutritious, with good aeration. In nature, it grows on dry sandy and gravel soils. The root system is powerful, highly developed, penetrates deep enough into the soil. Does not tolerate excessive moisture and acidic soils.

pruning. Rosemary bushes need to be shaped if you want them to be beautiful. This is usually done in March-April before the start of active growth. Once every 7-8 years, the bushes are cut to the level of the soil for rejuvenation.

In addition, in the summer, young shoots are cut and used as a seasoning. Harvesting of greens is also done in the fall, when it comes time to bring the plants into the house or greenhouse. When transplanting into a pot, the shoots and roots of rosemary are pruned quite strongly.

Reproduction and planting.

Rosemary planting and care in the open field in the Urals

Rosemary can be propagated in 4 ways: seeds, layering, cuttings or dividing the bush.

It is not difficult to propagate with cuttings; after pruning a bush in spring or summer, cuttings are rooted in loose soil under a film. The length of the cuttings should be 8-10 cm. The lower ends are deepened into the ground at an angle. There should be a distance of at least 10 cm between the cuttings. They take root quite quickly.

Seeds can be bought at the store, you can sow seeds in February-March. The correct time for sowing is 6-12 weeks before the onset of warm weather. Seeds germinate at temperatures from +12 to +22 °C.

It is convenient to sow in transparent plastic containers with a lid for food. Be sure to ventilate or close tightly. Germination time is quite long, seedlings appear unevenly. When most of the seeds have sprouted, the lid is removed. Seedlings after a month can be planted in separate pots.

After the end of frost, young plants are planted in the ground. The distance between the bushes is about 50 cm. If grown as a cutting spice, then a distance of 10 cm will be enough.

Fertilizer. Fertilizers are usually used only for plants wintering in the ground. Complex mineral and organic fertilizers containing phosphorus and nitrogen are suitable. Once a month is enough.

During winter wintering and subsequent transplanting into open ground, it is not necessary to fertilize if fertile soil is introduced into the planting pit.

Growing in a container requires regular fertilizing with complex fertilizer.

Shelter for the winter. In a mild climate (Crimea, the Black Sea region, the Caucasus), rosemary winters successfully. If there are frosts down to -10 degrees, it is necessary to cover. Minus 5 - the temperature is detrimental to rosemary.

Harvesting. What is harvested and used as seasoning? Naturally, greens. It is advisable to do this in sunny weather. During the flowering period, young shoots are cut from rosemary, densely covered with leaves with flowers, dried in the shade and crushed. So the aromatic seasoning for meat is ready.

How to grow rosemary in the country (personal experience)

Rosemary is a Mediterranean plant, and therefore demanding of heat, moisture and light. But if you create acceptable conditions for him on the site, then he will delight gardeners with his flowering for more than one year.

Planting rosemary

Usually this shrub is propagated using cuttings or layering, since growing rosemary from seeds is extremely troublesome.

Layering is done from an adult bush. To do this, you need to choose a strong branch, tilt it and pin it to the ground with a wooden bracket. The place of fixation is sprinkled a little with earth and regularly watered. After a few weeks, the cuttings will take root, and then it can be separated from the mother plant.

Propagation by cuttings is a little more difficult. For this method of dividing a bush, it is necessary to take a branch on which there are at least three buds, and which is not shorter than 10 cm, cut with a sharp clean knife, remove the lower leaves and put the branch in a glass of water. The roots will appear pretty quickly, in about a week, and then the shoots can be transplanted into a pot with soil or into open ground.

Growing rosemary from seeds is the most difficult method. For planting, seeds must be purchased before the beginning of March, since in the first spring days they already need to be sown in the ground.

The soil for seeds needs fertile, loose, with plenty of sand and nutrients. It is not necessary to bury the seeds deep, it is enough to pour them on moistened soil and sprinkle a thin layer of earth on top. The first shoots will not appear soon - the seeds need at least a month to germinate.

Rosemary does not have to be planted outdoors. This plant feels great in a pot on the windowsill, at home, and if you transplant it into a large deep tub, the bush will grow at all, no worse than in open ground. The only requirement for excellent rosemary growth is sunlight. If the plant does not receive enough sunlight, then it will stretch, turn pale and lose some of its decorative and medicinal properties.

It is best to transplant shrubs into open ground in late May - early June, when the soil is warm enough and there are no frosts. But at first, young plantings must be protected from night cold and wind. Rosemary bushes are planted at a distance of about one meter from each other, since the branched root system needs space. It is better to prepare the soil for planting in advance by laying more sand, fertile soil and peat in the hole. Sometimes crushed chalk is also added to the holes.

Care for rosemary outdoors

Rosemary care is not difficult. Despite its southern tropical origin, rosemary is unpretentious and grows even when conditions are not very favorable for it.

• Rosemary grows well on poor soils without any fertilizer, but the soil must be light, breathable, and the water in the holes should not stagnate.

He does not like cold wind shrubs, so it is better to choose a landing site on the south side of the house, fence or hedge. It is much worse for a shrub without the sun, since in its homeland, in the Mediterranean, rosemary is not used to cloudy days and short summers.

You need to water the shrub regularly, but little by little. Rosemary tolerates drought much better than constant moisture, and too much water will lead to the development of diseases.

Another mandatory item in the rosemary care program is pruning and shaping the bush. As a rule, the shrub reacts normally to the removal of several branches. It is customary to cut old branches in the spring, in April, when the plant has already come out of hibernation, but has not yet released leaves. Old branches are cut almost to the root, and up to a third of the shrub can be removed at a time.

In the summer, young shoots are also pruned, but not for the health of the plant, but for the sake of seasoning, incredibly fragrant and healthy.

Rosemary almost does not require fertilizer. If the bush dies, it is fed a little with mineral complex fertilizers, or watered separately with phosphorus and nitrogen. In total, one feeding is enough for the season.

More top dressing is required for a shrub growing at home. Since the soil in pots is not updated, there is nowhere for the plant to take nutrients from, and flower growers are forced to feed the plant every three months, and sometimes even more often.

If for the winter the shrub is not brought into a warm room, but left in the ground, then it must be prepared and covered. Rosemary tolerates temperatures down to -5 degrees, and colder winters are detrimental to it. So that the bush does not freeze out, it is bent to the ground and covered with several layers of covering material, film, dry leaves or spruce branches. Such a shelter will allow the shrub to winter tolerably under the snow.

If in winter the temperature drops below 20-25 degrees, then it is better to dig up the bush and bring it into the house. No shelter will save you from such frosts, and the bush will freeze literally during the first frosts.

You can harvest green fragrant branches all year round, but July and August are most suitable for this. It is recommended to cut branches in sunny weather, and use only a sharp knife or scissors. You need to dry rosemary in a dark, well-ventilated room, and if this is not the case, then the branches are tied up and left in a warm oven for several hours.

Fresh herbs are used for salads and hot dishes. So that the seasoning does not lose its beneficial properties, it is stored either in linen bags or in a glass jar, hiding from direct sunlight.

Rosemary is used to improve digestion, increase immunity and treat colds, and eye medicines are made on its basis, since some substances in its composition affect the functioning of the optic nerves. This plant has bactericidal properties, needles freshen breath, and inhalation of its aroma relieves headaches, soothes and improves mood.

An evergreen semi-shrub of the Mediterranean, has long conquered our areas. How to properly grow it, use and harvest medicinal raw materials, we'll talk in this article.

Growing rosemary at their summer cottage

Heat-loving bushes with elongated leaves, feel great on the plots. But frosts, even frosts, are fatal. Therefore, it is necessary either to wrap it up well for the winter, or, in frosty winters, to plant it in pots for wintering indoors. Purple flowers are excellent honey plants. In the wild, it can grow up to 2 m. In our area - perhaps in the south of the country, because without human care, this plant will not survive the frost. For planting rosemary, you need the soil to be loose, calcareous, light. Waterlogging, as well as severe drought, rosemary does not like. The place should be chosen bright, sunny. It does not suffer from pests and diseases. Does not require special care. The main thing is:

• loosening the soil;
• weeding;
• moderate, regular watering.

It is better to plant young plants when the threat of frost has passed. It is best to grow seedlings or root cuttings. Rosemary grows quickly and takes the form of a bush.

Rosemary propagation

The overseas bush propagates in the following ways:

• Seeds. This is the most acceptable way for the middle lane. Seeds are planted, in March, in pots and seedlings are grown. When the likelihood of frost has passed, plant rosemary in the ground, maintaining a distance of 20-30 cm. If you do not need to form bushes, and growing for greens or medicinal raw materials, then 10 cm.
• cuttings. In June, a stem, 8-10 cm long, is cut off, placed either in a container with water to form roots, or planted in the soil at an angle of 45 ͦ.
• The division of the bush.
• layering. To do this, you need to dig a branch, tilting it to the ground, sprinkling the middle part with earth.

Often, you can find pots with small bushes of rosemary. They are used to decorate the premises or gazebos, summer buildings. Can be planted in open ground.

Collection of medicinal raw materials

Rosemary is harvested before flowering. Young shoots are cut and dried in the shade or draft, at a temperature not exceeding 35℃. Ideally, shoots collected on a bush that is at least 3 years old are considered the most healing. In our latitudes, it is difficult to grow such a bush, so the stems are collected from a young bush.

Medicinal properties of rosemary

Essential oils, which are part of the plant, are used both in medicine and cosmetology. Dried raw materials are used in case of:

• Treatment of the gastrointestinal tract: intestinal disorders, flatulence, heaviness in the stomach after eating, colic in the upper intestine.
• Frequent fatigue, loss of strength, stress.
• Low blood pressure.
• Sexual weakness, nervous exhaustion.
• Thrombophlebitis.
• Rheumatic diseases of the muscles and joints.
• With obesity.
• Convulsions and paralysis.

In cosmetology, face lotions are made based on rosemary. Because it improves the condition of the skin. A decoction is used for rinsing the scalp and hair, for cellulite, tightening the skin of the body. Essential oil is used to rejuvenate the skin, fight acne.

Healing rosemary tea prepared as follows: 1 teaspoon of dry raw materials, pour 250 ml of boiling water. Wrap and leave for 20 minutes. Take 2 times a day. Especially for restoring vitality after viral diseases.

Great for invigorating and rejuvenating rosemary bath . Brew 50 g of crushed rosemary in 1 liter of boiling water, leave for 20 minutes and add to the bath. Before going to bed, such bathing is contraindicated.

Application of rosemary

Herbes de Provence is a spicy blend that is indispensable without rosemary. This plant has a specific eucalyptus-coniferous aroma, which is perfect for meat, fish dishes, vegetables.

Growing rosemary in open ground and at home Rosemary from seeds Photo of species

During heat treatment, it does not lose its taste and aroma. Fresh, rosemary leaves are added to salads, pea soup, pizza, pasta. But it is important to remember that if you overdo rosemary in a dish (like laurel), it will add bitterness.

In landscape design, this is a very popular plant. Lovely bushes that are not afraid of pruning fit perfectly into summer compositions. In pots, or planted in the soil, in the hot sun they emit a delicate, pleasant aroma.

Growing rosemary in the country, you can save on the purchase of not only medicinal raw materials, but also an excellent seasoning.

Care and cultivation are not problematic. There are many ways to reproduce.

Sun-loving rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis) is an evergreen shrub in the Lamiaceae family that will give your garden a Mediterranean character. The homeland of the plant is the areas located on the Mediterranean Sea. It grows wild in France, Spain, Portugal, Tunisia, Algeria and other countries of the region. We will tell you in detail how to plant, care and grow rosemary in the open field.

plant description

Rosemary (lat. Rosmarinus officinalis) is a shrub plant originating from the Mediterranean. In many countries it is grown commercially. In Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, it is grown as an ornamental, medicinal, spicy plant.

The plant is in our climatic conditions small shrubs with lignified shoots. The extremely fragrant leaves of the plant are narrow, greenish-gray, reminiscent of lavender leaves. The flowers of the plant are blue or slightly purple.

In regions with cold climates, rosemary should be planted in pots to be able to move them indoors in case of severe frosts. The shrub is suitable for creating a low decorative hedge - you can freely give it any shape by trimming. Feels great planted in pots on terraces and balconies, along with other plants that love the sun, in quiet places in the garden.

It is interesting! In Mediterranean countries, it was believed that in gardens where rosemary grows well, a woman rules the house. In order not to expose themselves to ridicule, the men uprooted the plants. So in the 16th century, rosemary began to disappear from home gardens.

In its natural environment, the plant forms dense, fragrant, evergreen shrubs that grow up to 2-3 m in height. In our climatic conditions, the bush reaches a height and width of up to 70 cm.

The plant produces stiff, erect, tetrahedral shoots. The leaves are lanceolate, with folded edges, dark green above, covered with a silvery coating below, very fragrant.

A deep (up to 2 m) highly branched root system provides the plant with access to moisture even on dry days from deeper soil layers, which leads to a relatively high resistance of the plant to drought.

Rosemary blooms in early spring. From April to July, and sometimes longer, the bush is covered with blue or pink flowers. The strong, fragrant flowers attract bees, who turn the nectar into valuable rosemary honey. The fruit of the plant is a nut.

It is interesting! In Europe, since the Middle Ages, rosemary has been considered the plant of lovers. Twigs decorated the costumes of the future spouses. After the ceremony, the newlyweds planted a branch - if it began to grow, the plant promised them a long and happy life. The stems, tied with a multi-colored ribbon, were given to wedding guests as a thank you for accepting the invitation.

Landing

Growing rosemary in the garden is preceded by planting. It is important to choose the right place and soil.

Optimal position in the garden

Rosemary is an extremely photophilous plant. To maintain optimal growing conditions close to native, he needs to provide a warm place in the sun. Even hot sunlight at noon will not harm the plant.

The shrub should not be planted in partial shade.

Compatibility with other plants

Rosemary in the garden can be part of a Mediterranean-style arrangement or part of a herb garden. Don't be limited to one type.

A good neighborhood for a shrub will be sage, belonging to the same plant family. However, the shrub does not tolerate horseradish and mustard growing nearby.

Soil requirements

The ideal soil for the plant is permeable, sandy soil rich in nutrients. Rosemary does not like an acidic substrate, preferring well-drained soil with a pH of 6-7. The permeable structure is very important for this shrub, the plant reacts negatively to excess water.

It is better to refuse to buy land for flowers - it is too fertile. It is better to make the soil by mixing 2 parts of compost, 1 part of lime sand, 1 part of very small stones. Alternatively, you can use other sand, but then you need to add dolomite in the amount of 1-2 tablespoons to 5 liters of the resulting mixture.

A cactus substrate will also work, but due to the fact that it contains too few minerals, a small addition of compost will be required. Add dolomite to this mixture in the amount of 2-3 tablespoons.

If the bush is transplanted into a pot, the flower soil should be mixed in half with sand. This soil is more permeable. The bottom of the container must be covered with pieces of ceramic to allow excess water to flow out.

Before planting, you can fertilize the soil with a slow-release fertilizer and repeat top dressing every spring. The soil should be relatively moist.

Landing

When planting rosemary, it is useful to prepare a small mound and cover the surface with stones. Stones heated in the sun give the plants additional warmth, protect the soil from being washed out by heavy rains.

Transplanting or planting rosemary should be carried out in the spring, in the fall only in regions with a warm climate. The plant grows slowly, but already in the second year the growth rate increases markedly.

The shrub is very sensitive to damage to the roots and restores the root system for a long time, so it is better to avoid transplanting.

Growing and gardening

Since rosemary is not a very demanding plant (except for the lack of frost resistance), planting and care is carried out in the open field - in the garden, in the country and in pots. With its help, a garden, balcony or terrace can be filled with a festive mood, suitable for the warm Mediterranean.

Watering

Watering rosemary is carried out sparingly. At home, a shrub can extract most of the moisture it needs from the air. The rest is provided by an extensive, deep root system. Only during the summer heat should you give the shrub a little more water.

It is necessary to inspect the shrub, if the leaves wither - there is a lack of moisture. Excess moisture is much more dangerous for this plant than lack.

Watering is carried out using the “once, but well” method - then they wait until the soil in the container dries almost completely. Then again water abundantly so that the water begins to flow out through the drainage holes in the pot. After 15 minutes, drain the water from the pan.

If the plant grows in the ground, it is better not to use the "services" of rain. During rainstorms, it is better to cover the plant, for example, with a large plastic bottle. Why such measures are desirable can be read in the description of diseases and pests below.

top dressing

Rosemary fertilizer should be moderate. In the spring, it is necessary to provide the shrub with some nutrients, preferably of organic origin (compost). In summer, shrubs do not need fertilizing. The last time before winter, you can feed the plant in August. If the bush is growing in a pot, it can be fed every 2-3 weeks with small doses of fertilizer.

Fertilizers with a high nitrogen content should be avoided. Suitable fertilizer for flowering plants.

When and how to prune rosemary?

Rosemary is occasionally subjected to this operation. In autumn or spring, rosemary pruning is carried out, which allows the shrub to release new shoots. You need to cut carefully so as not to cut the old shoots. The secateurs must be clean and sharp.

After flowering, the plant is cut back by 1/3.

Wintering

There are specially bred varieties of rosemary that are resistant to low temperatures: Veitshöchheimer Rosmarin, Blue Winter, Madeleines Hill.

Rosemary is resistant to short-term frosts down to -15 °C.

It is possible to grow rosemary in open (unprotected) ground in the Moscow region, the Leningrad region only near the southern walls and under cover in winter. However, the plant often freezes. In our climatic conditions, temperature drops are observed, so the Mediterranean shrub may not survive the winter.

In adverse climatic conditions, it is safer to plant rosemary in pots. After spring frosts, he can safely decorate the garden until the autumn cold weather. The plant can stay outside until temperatures drop below freezing during the day. Slight night frosts should not harm the shrub.

In the rest of the period, it is necessary to provide the plant with wintering conditions.

1. In a warm room. You can grow rosemary in an apartment - a place on the southern windowsill, away from heating radiators, is suitable. When wintering in a warm room, the plant is watered as the soil dries, occasionally fed.
2. in the greenhouse. It is desirable to ensure wintering at low temperatures. The room should be bright, with a positive temperature of up to 10 ºC, preferably 2-8 degrees C. An unheated room or greenhouse is preferable for wintering rosemary, where the temperature does not exceed 5 degrees Celsius. During wintering, the bush should be moderately watered occasionally. Fertilizers are not applied, watering is aimed only at maintaining a slightly moist root system. It is worth paying attention to whether the shrub suffers from any damage.

Watering is the most difficult art in wintering, it often happens that it is because of this that rosemary does not survive.

A photo. Rosemary on the balcony and in the room in winter at rest.

How to propagate rosemary?

There are 2 ways to propagate a plant:

1. The easiest way to propagate is to buy the first plant and then propagate it vegetatively.
2. A more complicated method is to grow rosemary seedlings from seeds and then transplant them into soil, pots.

Growing from seed

Rosemary seeds are sown in March-April. Seed germination is average, it is more convenient to sow more seeds, and then thin out seedlings. Seeds are not covered with soil, they need light to germinate. Crops are placed in a warm, sunny place, covered with a film until germination, then the film is removed. The optimal soil is slightly alkaline or neutral.

Germination can take a long time - 3-4 weeks. Germination is uneven, requires a temperature of at least 20 °C. When the seedlings produce their first pair of true leaves, carefully transplant the seedlings into small pots.

Note - a plant planted from seeds grows very slowly in the first year.

Reproduction by cuttings

It is much easier to propagate rosemary cuttings. To do this, a cutting 10-15 cm long is cut from the plant with several pairs of leaves from the tops of young shoots or from side shoots.

After placing the cutting in the soil, roots appear after a few weeks (usually 3). Removing the shoot tip will cause the plant to branch out, allowing for a nicely shaped shrub.

You can cut cuttings for almost the entire growing season (except for hot and dry summer days and the flowering season). The use of preparations - rooters for plants increases the efficiency of rooting cuttings. Grassy cuttings can be tried to root in water.

After rooting, young plants are planted in a mixture of garden soil and peat. In open ground, seedlings should be planted when the probability of frost has passed (May).

Home care

Unfortunately, rosemary is not a potted plant like dracaena or ficus. You can grow it in pots, but in the summer you should take it out to fresh air, to sunny places. At home, the plant is too dark (even on the southern window), too hot in winter. Growing in a pot will facilitate the wintering of the bushes by moving from the garden to the appropriate room. In any case, rosemary should not be left at home throughout the year.

It is very practical to have flower pots with herbs on the windowsill in the kitchen. However, with a few exceptions, many kitchen herbs are not suitable for growing indoors - and so is rosemary.

Diseases and pests

When growing rosemary, the following problems may arise:

• powdery mildew;
• spider mite;
• coccids;
• mealybugs, or felters;
• weakened plants can be attacked by whiteflies, especially in winter;
• root rot in too wet soil.

To prevent root rot, tip wilt, and leaf rot, sufficient drainage in the soil and adequate air circulation must be ensured.

Yellow leaves most often indicate excess water - when rosemary leaves turn yellow, this is the most common symptom of poor watering.

White spots on the leaves can have various causes:

1. if the leaves are covered with a thin white layer, it is probably a fungal disease - powdery mildew. Affected leaves must be removed immediately.
2. Ticks may also be responsible for the white spots.

White, relatively light spots may indicate the presence of plant sap-feeding thrips. Sick plants should be treated with a suitable preparation.

In many regions (Siberia, the Urals), frosts destroy the above-ground part of the plant. To prevent this, the plant is planted in pots, placing them against the south wall to protect from cold winds. Using mulch to protect the roots won't hurt either. In warm regions (Crimea, Krasnodar and Krasnodar Territory), rosemary does not need additional protection.

Collection and storage

Rosemary can be harvested by cutting. As a spice, rosemary is best used fresh on a regular basis. It can be dried. For drying, it is better to harvest just before the plant blooms.

Rosemary can be dried by hanging, after tying bunches of several stems. The room should be warm, well ventilated. For "forced" drying in dryers, remember that the temperature should not exceed 35 °C.

When the stems are dry, the leaves are separated.

• freezing (sliced ​​in a bag or filled with water to form herbal ice cubes),
• preservation in vinegar, oil.

Dried herbs should be stored in a dry place, such as in a paper bag.

Usage

Although our cuisine is dynamically developing (pepper and salt are no longer enough), rosemary is not yet as popular as it is in French or Mediterranean cooking. While he loses with many other spices, such as marjoram, basil, bay leaf, turmeric.

Rosemary is a spice with a specific, spicy-bitter taste and a characteristic strong aroma, reminiscent of the aroma of pine needles. The spice belongs to a group of natural additives used to spice up foods in very small quantities. Whole or ground leaves (fresh, dried, frozen) are used for seasoning. It is better to add the leaves at the end of cooking, they increase the clarity of the taste and aroma of the dish (so you can not overdo it).

Rosemary goes well with other herbs, but it can also be used alone in cooking with:

• lamb,
• pork,
• birds,
• veal,
• beef.

Delicious pork chops marinated in a small amount of crushed rosemary leaves. The spice enhances the taste of dishes, adding a forest aroma to them.

In addition, rosemary works well as an addition to eggplant, potatoes, soups, meats, vegetables, sauces.

The spice is characterized by excellent taste as an additive to pastries, marinades with the addition of olive oil, wine, garlic.

Lignified shoots without side branches and leaves are sometimes used instead of skewers.

Composition and medicinal properties

Medicinal raw material - rosemary leaf contains 1.5-2.5% essential oil. It consists of borneol, cineole, limonene, pinene and camphor. Rosemary leaves are also a source of flavonoids, tannins, resins, saponins, phytosterols, rosmarinic acid, vitamins (A, C, B) and mineral salts (calcium, iron, phosphorus, magnesium, potassium, sodium, zinc).

Attention! Pure rosemary oil has a narcotic effect and a strong poisonous effect. Pregnant women should stop using it.

Rosemary has the following effects:

• antispasmodic,
• choleretic,
• diuretic,
• carminative,
• antiseptic,
• sedative
• astringent,
• bactericidal,
• strengthens the nervous system
• stimulates the appetite
• dilates blood vessels.

Rosemary infusion improves mood, brings relief from mental fatigue, calms and relieves stress. The infusion is used as a hair rinse, strengthens them, prevents baldness, and removes dandruff.

Rosemary is used for:

• digestive disorders, problems of the digestive system;
• liver problems;
• intestinal spasms;
• states of mental stress, depression;
• for general strengthening of the body;
• to lower blood sugar levels;
• with muscle pain, neuralgia (externally);
• from dandruff and premature baldness (applied externally).

Frequently asked Questions

Can you plant rosemary in your garden?

Unfortunately, the shrub is frost sensitive and is recommended as a pot plant. Deciding to plant it in the garden, you should ensure optimal soil conditions, watering, a sunny location and good protection of the bushes for the winter. Its fragrance makes it a great plant to plant along garden paths and near porches.

What temperature can rosemary withstand?

In climatic zones where the temperature does not fall below 10-15 degrees below zero, rosemary does not need protection. It should be placed near the south wall to provide wind protection and additional warmth.

Can rosemary be cut whenever you want, or do you have to wait for the right moment?

The plant under natural conditions grows up to 90-120 cm in height and width. Fresh leaves should be harvested as a culinary spice. Large pruning should be planned from early spring to mid-summer. Do not prune stems that are darker than young or lignified, they will probably not grow back. It should be remembered that the bush will never take the form of a perfect ball, because in nature the plant grows upwards. But you can make the bush take a more regular shape by proper pruning.

If you leave rosemary in a pot to overwinter, do you need to prune it to encourage growth?

Early spring is a great time to prune almost any perennial plant. First, dead stems free of leaves are removed, then the plant is given the desired shape. You don't need to prune very old stems, they are unlikely to grow back. If the size and shape of the bush suits, pruning is not necessary.