A Guide to Growing a Rosemary Tree
Two of the benefits of growing a rosemary tree are that you can grow it indoors and you can use the mature herb for flavoring food. Because this particular “tree” is so small, it can easily be grown in a container and then kept inside. Obviously, for people living in apartments or condominiums that have no yard or for homeowners that have only a small yard, this would be the ideal plant.
Along with growing a great herb with which to cook, a rosemary tree is also very attractive so it makes a nice addition to the home. In addition, the rosemary tree produces a nice fragrance all year long, which adds to its appeal. All you need is the appropriate size container, good soil, water, and a place to set the tree and then enjoy it as it grows and begins to produce a wonderful herb.
Now, the rosemary tree can also be grown outdoors in a garden if preferred. In this case, it would be vital for the plant to be dug up before the first frost hits. At that point, the tree would be placed in a container with soil and kept indoors throughout the winter. Some people prefer outdoor growing but since the rosemary tree would need to be taken in each winter, it actually makes more sense to make this an ingrown plant.
Many herbs struggle indoors but the rosemary tree thrives. This particular herb originates from the Mediterranean, with the herb used in a variety of dishes. For a strong and healthy plant, make sure you provide it with a lot of direct sunlight. If you have a windowsill, this would be the ideal location. Now, if you do not have any area of the home that would offer light needed by the rosemary tree, you could always purchase an artificial light unit.
As far as soil, the rosemary tree would need quality soil with a little fertilizer. For watering, make sure the soil becomes wet but then do not water again until it has dried out completely. Although you could place your rosemary tree in virtually any type of container, gardening experts usually suggest one made from terra cotta, which would keep the tree dry. Unfortunately, if the rosemary tree is watered too often, too much, or not allowed to dry out in between watering, it develops root rot and dies.
Once your rosemary tree has produced mature herbs, all you need to do is clip off the amount needed for cooking. Since this particular tree grows in tall shoots, some people will cut them back a little to keep the plant looking neat but this is not mandatory. If you decide to trim your rosemary tree or you want to clip off a large amount of herbs to dry and store, make sure you make the cut above the stem joint. In addition, it is critical that no more than 30% of the plant be cut at any given time.
It is also recommended that you use a humidity tray in the wintertime for this plant and indoor temperatures in the spring and summer should not exceed 80 degrees and in the fall and winter, no more than 75 degrees. Once fully grown, the rosemary tree will reach about 18 inches tall, at which time you can begin enjoying the herbs. The only concern is that sometimes, this plant will develop “powdery mildew”, which has a gray/white appearance. This fungus grows when the plant is not getting adequate ventilation.