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The Mediterranean plant rosemary is not only a spice that enriches the taste of culinary dishes, but also beautifully flowering evergreen bushes that adorn a summer cottage or garden plot. How to grow this perennial in open ground, we will consider in this article.
How to grow properly
It is possible to grow a bushy perennial that feels wonderful in the Mediterranean climate (dry, hot summers and wet, cool winters), and in other climatic zones. The main thing is to do it right. Fragrant bush is very demanding on lighting and heat. And, although a plant that is more than three years old can tolerate frosts down to -15 degrees, it dies with a further decrease in temperature. In order for rosemary to please the eye in a mixborder or in a green fence for many years, a number of factors must be taken into account:
- the soil for its cultivation should be loose and dry (excessive moisture and drying are excluded, the soil can be any, but not acidic, preferably calcareous);
- moderate air humidity;
- requires periodic watering, without overmoistening the soil;
- shade and wind negatively affect rosemary.
Planting and care
Perennial planting in open ground is carried out using cuttings, layering, seeds – according to the standard 50×50 cm pattern. This usually happens in late spring after the end of frost, when it is warm enough – in early to mid-May. The perennial will feel good when there are sand, deciduous-soddy soil and a little humus (1: 4: 2) in moderately moist loose soil. Before planting, it is necessary to moderately moisten the soil, placing cuttings, layering or seeds to a depth of 0,4 (for seeds) – 4 (for layering and cuttings) centimeters, sprinkling with loose soil. The place should be well lit.
The spicy bush does not require any special care, it is not susceptible to diseases, pests also bypass it (apparently because of the aroma). It must be regularly and moderately watered, but do not overmoisten the soil. If the leaves begin to turn yellow, then there is not enough moisture. If the plant sheds leaves, it means, on the contrary, an excess of moisture.
Based on these signs, you can find out how much water is required for irrigation. Weeding and loosening, like any other flowers, rosemary is also necessary. Top dressing is optional, but to make it look beautiful, you can use a complex mineral and organic fertilizer containing phosphorus and nitrogen once a month. In the spring – watering with nitrogen fertilizers (they perfectly strengthen the root system), in the fall – with phosphorus.
They rejuvenate old bushes every 7 years, cutting them off in March-April to the level of the soil – this is how new beautiful shoots are formed. After flowering of a young bush, shoots can be additionally cut up to 3 cm (end of summer) to strengthen them during growth. A perennial wintering in a summer cottage or household plot in the Moscow region must be covered so that it does not freeze out. To do this, spruce cuttings are stuck around the bushes at a slight angle, pointed at the ends, thus constructing a protective “tent”. Additionally cover with a layer of dry leaves. Some summer residents transplant rosemary into pots for the winter and transfer it to a cool and bright room (it is possible to store it in the basement, sprinkling the roots with earth, but sufficient lighting must be provided). However, you should be aware that a plant grown in the open field is unlikely to survive and adapt to new conditions if it is transplanted into a pot as a permanent container culture.
Video “Helpful tips for planting rosemary”
Informative video with useful tips for gardeners.
Reproduction by cuttings
Of the cuttings, the cultivation of perennial is the most reliable, especially since an adult plant is easily cut by cuttings. The cuttings are cut and placed in a vessel with water or in river sand, covered with a jar or cling film on top to ensure a comfortable microclimate. When the roots appear (after 3-5 weeks), leaves are removed from the bottom of the cutting and planted in small containers (up to 10 cm in diameter), placing them in a warm, bright place. The plant can be sprayed so that the soil does not dry out completely. Before planting, it will be useful to dip the root of the cutting in a solution with a rooting preparation.
In addition, it is necessary to pin the top of the sprouts, which contributes to the development of a strong root system and branching. Interestingly, a perennial can be grown even from cuttings bought in a supermarket. In this case, the top is used as a seasoning, and the main branch is planted in the ground, placing the container in a bright, warm place and watering regularly. The growing branches are pinched.
We breed rosemary with layering
The cultivation of a spicy bush and layering has proven itself well. To do this, you need to find the lower shoot of the plant, which can be bent to the ground, and dig it. As soon as the top of the shoot sprouts, carefully cut off the sprout from the main branch and, having carefully dug it out, transplant it into a separate container. It is important to know that cuttings and layering should not be planted immediately in a large container, since the soil that is not mastered by the roots can turn sour, which is detrimental to the plant.
Planting Seeds
It is possible to grow a spicy perennial from seeds, which are easy to purchase at a flower shop. Seeds can be pre-soaked to speed up their spitting. Sow in pots to a depth of 0,3-0,4 cm, lightly sprinkling sand on top. The earth should always be slightly moistened – for this, the container is covered with a film or glass, thus creating a constant microclimate. In this case, the air temperature should be + 12 + 20 degrees. After about a month, shoots will appear – they must be dived in a 6×6 cm container in a timely manner.
The earth composition for growing a plant should be loose and include: leafy, humus soil, coarse sand (2: 1: 2), peat should not be added. Of course, growing rosemary from seeds is a rather lengthy process, and it will take more than one year until it turns into a large fluffy, spreading bush.
Outdoor cultivation
In order for the cultivation of a spicy bush on the site to be successful, the following points must be remembered:
- Basic basic conditions: sun, good drainage and air circulation. It is necessary to plant strong sprouts (appeared from seeds, cuttings or layering) in a well-lit area.
- Rosemary does not bloom next to a rose, and generally does not tolerate such a neighborhood (a young plant begins to bloom in the second or third year).
- He does not like drafts, therefore it is preferable to grow perennials near the walls of buildings that will become protection from winds and drafts.
- It develops well on the southern and eastern slopes (dry and open).
- Does not require spraying. In the case of drying foliage, it is necessary to slightly shade the bushes from the direct rays of the sun in the first or second half of the day.
- Does not tolerate wet and acidic soils.
- During the growth period, it requires regular watering (you can use tap water to moderate soil moisture).
Don’t be discouraged if you don’t grow beautiful rosemary the first time. Just try again, considering all the tips in this article. I wish you success!
Video “Detailed instructions”
Video instruction for planting a plant from seeds.