Growing Rosemary: Seeds to Seasoning
Rosemary seeds are a reliable way of growing this fragrant plant which is beautiful to look at and is a flavorful herb. Rosemary belongs to the mint plants category and has pretty blue flowers and rich green leaves. The shrub is known to grow as tall as 6 feet if it is allowed to grow uncurtailed. Rosemary is a plant that is native to the warmer climates of the Mediterranean region and prefers warm temperature. Those who live in colder climates can successfully grow the plant indoors from rosemary seeds.
Rosemary seeds need to be treated with care for you to be able to make them germinate. Not all seeds with produce sprouts so start the process by working with more seeds than the plants you hope to have. You need to cover the seeds with water for about 3-4 hours prior to planting them. This softens the seeds.
Rosemary seeds need to be planted in fall and you have to allow for certain duration of warmth for the seeds to have a chance to germinate. So, it will be a good idea to plant the seeds about six weeks before you expect the first frost of winter. This does not apply if you are planning to grow the rosemary as an indoor plant.
Rosemary seeds needy loamy soil and you may have to amend clay-like soil by adding gravel and sand to it. It is also a good idea to mix in compost. Before placing your seeds in the container remember to first layer it with gravel and then add the potting soil or vegetable mix. The gravel will serve to increase the quality of drainage.
You will have to water regularly in the early days after planting the rosemary seeds as the soil will have to be damp for the seeds to sprout. You should, however, watch out against over-watering as you may well end up washing away your seeds if you do so.
It is a good idea to place the container with the rosemary seeds in a sunny and warm part of the house or garden. This will allow the seeds to get the necessary sunlight for sprouting or germination.
It is important to keep this advice in mind when transplanting the seedling also. Rosemary does well with plenty of sun. Rosemary does well as a container plant and outdoors plants as long as it has fertile and well-treated soil which has good drainage.
You will need to water the plant whenever the soil around it becomes dry. This plant is drought-resistant and so it is better to underwater rather than over-water it. Rosemary seeds and plants do not need too much fertilizer but you can add organic matter such as tea compost around the area about once every month.
Once you have the full grown rosemary you can enjoy the fruits of your labor, minimal though they are. The plant will be a refreshing sight in your garden and provide an interesting aroma to the space. Then, of course, there is the pleasure of fresh-cut rosemary which you can use in your cooking. It is best to cut the stem using a knife or clippers and make sure your blades are sharp.
If you are growing the rosemary outdoors and are worried about not having a supply in the winter months, you can collect fresh bunches of the herb and store it in the freezer in an air-tight container or plastic bag. Rosemary retains much of its flavor and smell if it is stored well and you can get the benefit of the home-grown produce well after the summer months.
Rosemary seeds are relatively easy to handle and even novice gardeners find that this process of producing the useful and elegant rosemary plant takes a minimum amount of effort.