Question
Please guide me how Rosemary "rosmarinus officinalis" can be grown, what all things are needed. pls. guide me.

Answer
Harneek:
Stroll thru the following info:
Rosemary
( Rosmarinus officinalis )

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Alecrim da Horta                           
Alecrim de Jardim
Aroma del Mar
Erva Coroada
Flor do Olimpo
Romarin
Romaro
Romero
Romero Comun




Rosa Marina
Rosa Marinha
Rosmarinho
Rosmarino
Rosomarijn
                                                                                                                                               
      

Rosemary is native to the Mediterranean regions of Europe and North Africa. It is widely grown in home gardens in the West Indies, Mexico, Central and South America.

One of the plants most commonly sold by herb vendors in the West Indies and Latin America. In the Yucatan, an alcoholic infusion of 20 g of leaves with 10 g of dried lavender is applied on contusions and sprains and on the scalp to stop falling hair.

In Cuba, a paste of the leafy stems, crushed with ginger, is put in a fold of cloth and tied on the head to overcome insomnia. The leaves are also burned as incense to ward off evil influences and misfortune.

It is used in wines as a carminative, and it is thought to act as a stimulant to the kidneys. It has also been used against rheumatism. The plant and extracts have antibacterial and antioxidant activity and can be used to extend the storage time
of fats and meats. It is said that using  fresh rosemary in cooking chicken will help it keep about 2 weeks longer than normal in the refrigerator.

The essential oil is used in food products, perfumes, cosmetics, soaps, creams, deodorants, hair tonics, shampoos and non-alcoholic beverages.

Selecting Cultivars:

This can be more difficult than trying to grow this plant. If you get the catalog from Well-Sweep Herb Farm,  you will see what I mean. It will mention the cultivars that I have grown here and some information about others that I have heard of or read about.

ARP

This is said and has been the hardiest rosemary that I have grown. It is said to take 10?to 20?below zero.  Planted in well drain soil, southern or east location and protected from the winter winds really gives it a better chance. I have heard stories of them being left out in wide open  northern locations, snow storm of 96" and heavy rains and return in the spring with very little damage. It is not a fast grower and leaves are light green. Used for cooking. Hardy.

FORESTERI

This is the most vigorous growing rosemary that I have grown. It has very dense foliage and light green in color. Use in cooking. Tender.

GORIZIA

This is my favorite. It has large leaves and most have excellent straight stems. You can make good standards from this cultivar.  Leaves are normal green. Use in cooking. Tender.

HILL HARDY or Hardy Hill

This cultivar is also said to take 10 ?to 20?below zero. Some customers have said they like the flavor of this hardy rosemary than the hardy 'Arp'. I have found them to grow neck to neck in the winter conditions. This one is also greener. The choice is yours. This is the favorite for cooking. Arp is more pine scented  Hardy.

MRS. HOWARD PROSTRATE

This prostrate cultivar  has very green leaves and a vigorous grower. I like this for topiary.  Use in cooking. Tender.

GROWING OUT-DOORS

Some herb gardeners believe that rosemary is the most difficult herb to grow. Worst if you try to move it indoors or even re-pot it. Here are my growing tips and mistakes.

Your growing site should be facing south or east. You want the south for the best indoor light and east or south for best outdoor light. If you want to grow it in the ground, you must have good drainage. If you are not sure that your soil has adequate drainage, then do this.

Dig a hole 12" wide and 12" deep, Fill with a 50/50 mixture of your soil and builders sand or smallest gravel that you can find. With this mix add (2) ounces of each of the following: Dried Kelp; Rock Phosphate; Bone Meal, Greensand and (1) heaping tablespoon of powdered Baker's Lime or whatever you can find. Be sure to mix all of this before you place it into the hole.

Take your new  or old rosemary from the container. If the bottom of roots are in a knot, cut 1/4 off and pull roots apart on the sides so that they are slightly loose. Place into hole and fill soil to 2" below ground level. Add 3" of 3/8" white gravel. Squirrels hate digging in gravel or sand. You can use a heavy, coarse sand also.

Daily rains or over watering will kill your rosemary. It must be allowed to dry out in between watering. You can't control the rains, so that is why you must have good drainage. Be sure you plant where the water runs away from the plant. If it looks like the rains are too heavy for adequate drainage, take a wire cage and place over the plant with a clear plastic garbage bag. Cut a few 1" slots on the sides only for air circulation until you can remove the cover. This will keep a lot water off the leaves,  which also turns brown if kept wet too long.

Your hardy cultivars should be in the ground. Your main protection is from the winter winds, heavy rains and ice. Use the wire cage and clear plastic bag, with a few holes in the top for some water and air. They will become accustomed to your climate and have a better chance of returning every year. I have found them not doing well when trying to grow the hardy ones indoors.

POT IN THE GROUND

The soil is so bad that its' not worth planting. The pot in the ground works 3 ways. You have no weeds to pull, less maintenance and you can bring potted plant indoors in the winter with just a few check ups.

You will make the pot up with the above mixture. The pot will be clay and its depth will be twice the height of the plant. ( 4" tall plant, 8" deep pot ). Don't worry if the pot is slightly larger, just add 1/4 more sand to the potting mix. If you don't want to pull the pot up every 4 weeks or so during the summer to check and/or re-pot it, best to have a larger pot to start with. The cultivars should be Tender.  

Add 3" inches of coarse gravel or sand. Set pot on top of the gravel and fill the rest of the hole with the gravel or sand. Be sure the rim of the pot is below the soil surface. The clay will conduct heat into the ground and dry out the soil too rapidly. Potted and ground plants are to be fed with liquid seaweed and fish every 3 weeks. This is applied mostly to the soil. The straight seaweed liquid is applied by foliar feeding. By the time the heat and humidity arrives your plant has been feeding on the minerals and micro-nutrients and will take the climate better than the conventional caring of it.
  
I have used this combination for 15 of my 17 years. I cut back on feeding them the other years because of the expense of the fertilizer. I am returning to it again because of the unpredictable weather that we are having every year. The combination really works with me in keeping the plants from becoming too stressful.                           

The other main key to planting is to get your plant into the ground as soon as the weather allows. Put tender rosemary in the ground when the night temperatures are a steady 50 degrees or more. You can do your tender potted plant earlier and place in south or east window until climate is ready.  Plant your hardy rosemary in the ground when the night temperatures are a steady 45 degrees or more.

Rosemary will get powdery mildew when lacking air circulation or too much moisture, in or outdoors. Solution: (1) quart of water, add (1) teaspoon of baking soda. Spray in early morning or late evening. I would check every 3 days and spray again. Check again in (7) days. If most of it has disappeared do not spray anymore.



HARVESTING

Begin harvesting about (6) weeks after transplanting or cut no more than 25% from each branch with new growth. In the second year, and if you do not cut the plant at all, the stem will become woody. Avoid cutting into the woody parts as it will hinder development of the plant. Herbs like to say, "You don't love me if you don't pinch and cut me." Harvest throughout the year by taking at least 1/3 cuttings from the ends of the branches for your use.  Always leave some new growth on the branch.

GROWING- IN-DOORS

So many and I have become terminators when trying to grow rosemary in-doors.
The hardy ones are in the ground, so we don't try to bring them in-doors. Bring in the tender ones.

Around early September, pull your pot out of the ground. Carefully take plant out of the pot and see if root system is knotted at the bottom. If so, cut 1/3 of root system off and re-pot with fresh soil with same mix. Place pot in another location with slightly less light and out of the ground. You are getting it acclimated to come in-doors by having lower light conditions. Cut feeding to once a month until you bring it indoors and then stop all feeding.

Do not prune much from it at this time so that you may have more to use inside. It will be slowing down and not giving as much growth. You can cut smaller pieces for a longer time.          
When the night temperatures start hanging in the low 40's, be prepare to bring inside when the first light frost is expected. Place in a south window for best results. Keep area temperature under 60. Sunny and cool is what you want. Air in the home during the winter months can become stagnant and rosemary likes air moving through her little leaves.                                                                                            

If you have dry heat, find an old 2-inch deep dish or pan, fill with gravel and water. Sit pot on top of gravel with water barely touching the bottom.

Too much water and it will die, not enough and it will die. Lift up the pot and look at drain holes. If they are damp, do not water. Allow the soil to dry out between watering.                                                                  

DIG IT UP TO BRING IN:                                                      

Start this 60 days before the first frost. This is for your tender plant, although you can still do the same for the hardy one if you want to have a pot closer to the house.

Taking an old, large plant indoors is not always advisable. Chances are better with a first year plant that has been growing all summer. You can still purchase a smaller plant in the late summer to prepare for in-doors. If you like a lot of rosemary, you may have to purchase about (3) plants for (1) pot. Rosemary grows slower in the winter and you will have more to harvest from.  Follow the same soil mix

Soak the plant's soil the day before digging up with a seaweed fertilizer ( 1  gallon of diluted seaweed ). Dig out 12" from the base and 12" down. All preparation to be done in early morning before 10 am. Clear away enough soil to fit into its new pot. Use the same soil mix to re-pot. Use same seaweed to water just enough to settle soil in the pot. Move the pot to bright area, but not in full sun. The rosemary will be very happy when you bring it indoors to its sunny, cool  southern location. An east location is second best.          

DO NOT DIG UP, POT  UP AND BRING DIRECTLY IN-DOORS. IT MUST BE ACCLIMATED FIRST IN ITS NEW POT AND LIGHT CONDITIONS WHILE OUTDOORS. THEN BRING IN WHEN DANGER OF THE KILLING FROST IS EXPECTED.
                                                  ROSEMARY PUNCH

3 tablespoons of dried or 6 tablespoons of fresh rosemary
3 tablespoons of sugar or 1 tablespoon of Stevia
1/2 cup of water
1/4 teaspoon of salt
2 cups of Apricot nectar
1 small can of Limeade
1 quart of Gingerale

Bring rosemary, sugar, water and salt to a boil and simmer for 2 minutes. Remove from heat, cover and let steep until cool. Strain. To the strained mixture, add the remaining ingredients and serve cold.

KENT & QUEEN ANNE'S  COUNTY HERB GROUP.....From Md. Herb Assn. Newsletter

Leroy

The Herbman's Newsletter

This is my first Newsletter, so I will try to make it short and interesting. After becoming sick in Aug., 2003, I have decided to take 1 year off from growing herb plants at The Smile Herb Shop. I also will not be at David's in Columbia or Sun Splash in Baltimore. I will be available for workshops. Send for details by e-mail.  I plan to be back in 2005. The Baltimore Herb Festival will also take a year off and return in 2005. I have published a book called 揟he Herbman's Journal? It is a loose leaf formatted book with lots of unusual info about your favorite herbs and the unknown ones. The Journal cost is 19.95+ 3.95 shipping and handling. Deduct $3.00 if you do not want a loose leaf cover. Send check or money order or thru PayPal.com to the address below. Your order will be sent within (3) days.
There is one for cilantro and it can't be beaten for flavor. Did you know cilantro is used to protect the body from certain metals For cilantro lovers only. It is called culantro; shad a beina; Recao plus72 more names. These are listed in the Journal. If you need more info on where to purchase it, just e-mail me. If you have problems growing some of the favorite varieties send questions. Check my web site for more info: www.askthisherbman.com. Or go to Allexperts.com E-mail [email protected]. If I did not remove your name from this list, please type 揜emove?in the subject heading. Thank you.

Leroy J. Wilton
5517 Nome Ave.
Balto., Md. 21215

410-358-0557