scientific name Rosmarinus officinalisrosemary is a aromatic plant perennial native to the Mediterranean area, which can reach heights of up to 2 meters. It is a plant that, in addition to being highly valued as a culinary ingredient in the Mediterranean diet and having a long list of medicinal properties (for example, rosemary to improve memory is highly recommended and rosemary oil is often used a lot for health). rosemary), is also a great option as a decorative element and brings a very pleasant smell to any room or garden. It is especially beneficial to have rosemary in orchards and outdoor spaces, since its aroma attracts beneficial pollinating insects, while acting as a repellent against some of the most common pests that affect orchards and gardens, such as the fruit fly. the carrot. if you want to learn how to plant rosemary to have it in your home, join us in this EcologíaVerde article.
When to plant rosemary
When planting rosemary, we can do it both in a pot and directly outside. However, this aromatic plant, which has the capacity to resist somewhat low temperatures once it is adult, is more sensitive to these during its first year, so it is best to sow it indoors, and then transplant it abroad. Taking this into account, the ideal is plant rosemary seeds or cuttings in falland transplant them to their final location in spring.
If you want to plant more types of aromatic plants in your garden or in pots, you can consult this other article on Types of aromatic and medicinal plants.
How to plant rosemary in a pot step by step
You may plant the rosemary directly by seed in a pot or seedbed. The rosemary seeds they have a good chance of germinating, but the process is somewhat slow, so the most common way to multiply it is to do it by rosemary cuttings. Even so, here we are going to show you both methods.
Planting potted rosemary from seed
- The first thing will be to prepare a container or seedbed for your seeds. You do not need a very deep one, in fact, with one that offers about 15 cm of depth you will have enough. Here we explain how to make a seedbed.
- Prepare a suitable substrate for the seeds, there are many types of mixtures that work very well. We recommend a mixture of two parts of peat to one part of earthworm humus. Worm humus is an organic and natural fertilizer that provides a huge amount of nutrients and benefits to the soil and that, in addition, you can make yourself at home if you have some space.
- Let your rosemary seeds soak overnight before planting.
- Plant them the next morning. It is not necessary to bury them very deep, about 2 cm is enough.
- Locate the pot or seedbed in a well-lit area (although not in direct sunlight).
- Water the seeds regularly, maintaining a certain level of humidity in the substrate. In about 20 days you should see them germinate.
Phow to plant rosemary cuttings
- Cut the rosemary cutting about 10 or 15 cm, preferably from a semi-woody branch, one of those that are a couple of seasons old. Cut it with a tool that is as sharp as possible and properly disinfected.
- Leave the cutting to soak in rooting overnight. You can prepare your own natural rooting agent yourself with a multitude of products, such as lentils or coffee.
- In the morning, remove the rooting agent and replace it with plain water. If all goes well, in about 15 days the rosemary should have started to produce roots.
- Remove the leaves 5 or 6 cm from the base and bury the cutting at that depth in a pot, with the previously described substrate mixture, ensuring that the roots are pointing downwards.
- The first few days you can still water with the rooting agent to improve its chances.
How to plant rosemary in soil step by step
If you live in a warm weather, you can sow rosemary directly in the garden or orchard. To do this, follow this step by step to plant rosemary in the ground:
- It is advisable to start moistening the soil a little up to a week before planting and enriching the soil with some organic fertilizer, such as compost or earthworm humus.
- Leave the seeds to soak one night and sow them the next day, putting three seeds per hole and respecting about 15 cm of separation between them.
- Water regularly and in about three weeks they should have germinated.
If you go to transplant rosemary plant in spring from the pot or seedbed in which you planted in autumn, you can simply move the rosemary to its final location, requiring that the soil has a pH between 6.0 and 7.5 and that it is well loosened to offer optimal drainage. Here you can learn more tips on when and how to transplant a plant.
Rosemary Plant Care
To summarize, these are the basic rosemary care:
- Light: rosemary needs a lot of daily light, between 6 and 8 hours with direct incidence, unless you live in a climate with exceptionally intense sun.
- Land: This plant does not tolerate excess humidity, so it needs dry soil and containers with drainage holes to avoid waterlogging at all costs, which tend to cause fungal problems.
- Irrigation: as we have just said, it does not tolerate excess humidity, so watering must be measured and spaced, only when the substratum is dry.
- Subscriber: rosemary appreciates being in soils enriched with organic matter. Ecological organic fertilizers such as compost or earthworm humus are always a great option.
To expand this information, we offer you this practical guide on How to care for a potted rosemary plant and below you can see the video on this subject.
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