Cultivation of rosemary in the open field in the middle lane

Rosemary is an evergreen subshrub with a pronounced sweetish aroma. Greenery sprouts wild on the Mediterranean coast and is often artificially planted in household plots and summer cottages. Cultivation of rosemary in open ground in the region of central Russia has become widespread due to its decorative properties and variability of use.

Specifics of growing rosemary in central Russia

There are several types of rosemary that are grown for ornamental purposes or for use as a spice. For planting in the territory of central Russia, rosemary varieties are suitable.This species is unpretentious in care and is characterized by dense vegetation.

The main feature when planting a plant in central Russia is that it is impossible to carry out comprehensive care for rosemary without observing the basic rules for frost protection To protect the bushes in winter, it is better just dig them up and transplant them into a separate container for the time of frost. Shrubs should be stored in winter in a lighted and warm room with a temperature of more than 15 degrees.

If it is not possible to overexpose the plant, then cut the vegetation and insulate the roots with sawdust mulch or dry foliage. From above, you can additionally build a dome of coniferous branches, which will maintain the temperature of the earth.

Rosemary: growing methods

Rosemary bushes can be grown in several ways - cuttings, division, layering or seeds.Propagation by cuttings is common among many gardeners due to the high chances of shrub germination. Dividing bushes is a more complex technique and is used for plants grown at home.

Growing by cuttings and seeds is only suitable for planting outdoors. With proper sowing and proper care, the first shoots appear in 1.5-2 months.

Sowing seeds

Propagation by seeds is the most practical and convenient way. Before you start sowing, you need to prepare the seeds by soaking them in warm water for several hours. Soaked seeds are embedded in a separate container to a depth of 3-4 mm. For proper growth, the soil must be pre-moistened.

The sowing container should be in a warm place with an average temperature of about 25 degrees. Periodically, it is recommended to spray the surface of the earth in order to prevent drying out.The first shoots germinate after 40-60 days. It is allowed to plant rosemary in a permanent place after reaching a height of more than 6 cm.

Rooting cuttings

Cuttings of the plant are carried out in the autumn. The most suitable time is considered the end of September - the beginning of October. For planting, small branches are cut and cut into cuttings. The length of each cutting should be about 10 cm and have 3-4 internodes.

Before planting, all leaves must be removed from the cuttings, treated with a rooting stimulator and planted in a container with nutrient soil.

After rooting the cuttings, you need to regularly monitor the humidity, spray the seedlings and prevent direct exposure to sunlight. The first roots on the shoots can be seen in a month. After the appearance of new leaves on the cuttings, they should be seated in separate containers. The diameter of each container should not exceed 10 cm.Pinching off the tips is required 7-10 days after transplanting to stimulate the branching process.

Date of planting

Rosemary should be planted after the soil has warmed up. As a rule, the optimal landing dates are at the end of May. During the season, the plant undergoes standard care. If you need to transplant bushes to a plant, you should dig up the plant in early September.

Planting rosemary

If you want to grow large decorative rosemary bushes, it is important to leave a distance of at least 0.5 m between plants from each other. In other cases, it is sufficient to maintain a minimum distance of 10 cm. Regardless of the method of planting rosemary, after planting in the ground, water the surface of the earth abundantly. When planting perennials, it is important to consider the following points:

Shrub refers to heat-loving plants and does not tolerate frost. As a landing site, it is better to choose an illuminated place on the south side.
Proper and accelerated growth is facilitated by loosened soil, which contains a high content of limestone.
To maintain the attractive appearance of the plant, it is worth providing protection from strong winds.
Rosemary does not tolerate excessive moisture and strong acidity of the soil.

In one place, a plant can germinate for several years. If necessary, replace the shrub with a vegetable crop, you should carefully uproot the plant and place it in a container. Rosemary is a suitable precursor to garlic, onions and carrots.

Features of crop care

Growing rosemary does not involve specific care requirements, and for proper growth, it is enough to follow a number of standard rules. Watering the bushes should be carried out regularly, but in moderation.If the plant does not have enough moisture, the leaves will acquire a yellowish tint. With excessive moisture, the foliage will begin to fall off.

As a fertilizer, you can use a mixture of mullein with water in a ratio of 1:5. Also, to accelerate growth, complex organic and mineral top dressings are suitable. It is recommended to fertilize rosemary no more than once a month. As an additional measure to strengthen the roots, the bushes are treated with nitrogen fertilizers in the spring, and phosphate fertilizers in the fall.

In ornamental cultivation, the plant is cut to ground level every 6-7 years. Rejuvenation of the bushes contributes to the emergence of new shoots. Formative pruning is done in mid-spring.

If the plant becomes infected with powdery mildew or whitefly, additional control measures will be required. Damaged leaves must be removed from the bushes to prevent the spread of the disease. As a preventive measure, rosemary is recommended to be treated with soapy water, and when the infection is running, use insecticidal fertilizers.

Collection and storage

Collect rosemary leaves best during the period of active flowering, when the bush accumulates the greatest amount of essential oils. It is the perennial leaves that are of value, as they find applications in various fields, including cooking. Even dried and finely chopped leaves have a bright aroma that lasts for several years.

You can store the collected rosemary in bunches, connecting and hanging several branches with the foliage down. To ensure a long shelf life, you can place chopped herbs in hermetically sealed glass containers. First, the plant must be thoroughly dried, leaving it on paper or using an electric dryer.