Rosemary is a wonderful herb that grows as a hardy, bushy perennial. Rosemary goes by several different names such as Rosemarine, incensier and garden rosemary. It is hardy in the U.S. Department of Agriculture zones 7 through 10, although it can grow in the southern portions of zone 6 with protection. For those of us living in zones lower than 7, rosemary can grow indoors as a houseplant. Rosemary grows 1 to 6 feet tall with a 2 to 4 foot spread. The flowers come in shades of pink or blue and in the northern areas, it blooms in the summer while in the warmer regions, it can bloom continuously.
Rosemary has many uses and medicinal properties. It is added to food recipes, used as a tonic, or astringent. It can stimulate the liver and gall bladder, lowers blood sugar, improves digestion and circulation. You can find the rosemary hiding in many a cook’s kitchen just by opening the spice drawer. The problem with buying this herb, or any herb, at the grocery store is this; you never know how long those containers have been there or how old the rosemary inside them might be. Ditch the store bought container and opt for fresh by growing your own rosemary plants. What could be better than picking off a sprig of fresh rosemary and chopping it fine to add to your favorite foods?
Rosemary is not the easiest plant to start from seed, but it can be done. All you need is the right information, and a lot of patience. Not all Rosemary seeds will germinate. They have about a 30% germination rate, so you need to sow more than you actually need. Also, rosemary seeds are slow to germinate, taking anywhere from three weeks to over two months.
Start the seed indoors three months before the last expected frost ate in your area. Fill a seed tray with cactus mix or seed starting soil. Level the soil, so it is even with the rim of the seed tray. It will settle when you water. Bang the seed tray on the tabletop to collapse air pockets.
Moisten the soil with water, allowing the excess moisture to drain away. It is always best to water the soil before planting; otherwise, the seeds might wash too deep in the soil. You don’t want too much water or the soil will be soggy and the seeds may rot.
Lay one rosemary seed on top of the soil spacing them about ½ to 1 inch apart. Lightly press the seed with your finger so the seed coat is in firm contact with the soil, but do not bury the seed. Barely cover the rosemary seeds with vermiculite or potting soil. Mist it with water to moisten.
Place the seed tray in a tray that does not have drainage holes at the bottom. This will contain any water seepages that may ruin your tabletop. If your seed tray came with a cover, put that on top. If you don’t have one, cover the seed tray with a sheet of clear plastic.
Location
Place the seed tray in a warm location. For maximum germination, use a heat mat to maintain a soil temperature of 70 to 85° Fahrenheit. If you don’t have a heat mat, put the seed tray on top of the refrigerator. Keeping the soil warm is an important part to obtaining a successful germination.
Check the soil daily for moisture. Mist the soil to keep it evenly moist, but not soggy or the seeds will rot.
After Germination
When the seeds germinate, remove the plastic cover. It can take 3 weeks to 2 months or longer for the seeds to sprout.
Move the seed tray to a bright location, like a south-facing window or under grow lights. The distance between the growlights and the tops of your rosemary plants should be 4 inches. Allow the soil to dry out slightly before you water the rosemary.
Transplanting
Transplant the rosemary plants into 4-inch pots when they are 3 inches tall. If the weather has warmed, and there is no danger of frost, you can plant them in the garden.
