What are the latest propagation methods for rosemary?

Rosemary is a shrub plant of the Lamiaceae family, native to Europe and Africa, but it was introduced to our country several thousand years ago and has a certain ornamental value. However, rosemary is mainly used in the daily chemical industry, the pharmaceutical and the food industries, because rosemary is the main raw material for making antioxidants and rosemary essential oil. At present, rosemary is planted over a relatively wide area, so how should rosemary be propagated? Below, the editor will introduce the propagation methods of rosemary.

1. Seed propagation

Seed propagation is the most common propagation method for rosemary. Seedlings are generally raised in early spring each year, and the seedling-raising method depends on one's own habits. If using the soil method for raising seedlings, seedbed management should be done well: prepare the seedbed properly, plow the seedbed deeply and level it, then apply sufficient base fertilizer and water it well. When sowing, pay attention to the density; it should not be too dense, and sparse sowing is acceptable. Before sowing, mix the seeds with soil thoroughly and evenly, then sow, to expand the contact area between the seeds and the soil. After sowing, cover with plastic film or build a small arched shed to keep warm and prevent the soil from caking. For plug tray seedling raising, note that after emergence the trays must be moved at regular intervals to prevent the roots from extending into the ground, which would damage the roots at transplanting.

2. Cutting propagation

Cutting propagation is generally the method used for propagation in late winter. Usually, stems of rosemary plants that are disease-free and pest-free, with thick and sturdy stems and not fully lignified, are selected as cuttings. Cut the stem at about 12 cm from the top, and appropriately remove the leaves below the branch, leaving 2/3 of the leaves. After cutting, insert the branch directly into the medium and keep the soil in a moist state. With proper management, roots will generally form in about one month. Then after another month, it can be transplanted and planted out. Note the temperature during cutting, especially the nighttime temperature, which must not be lower than 14 degrees.

3. Layering propagation

Layering propagation is another propagation method that arose from the characteristics of rosemary, because rosemary often produces some adventitious roots during growth, and adventitious roots are the prerequisite for using layering propagation. The method of layering propagation is very simple: press the branch closest to the ground into the soil. Then leave the top of the branch exposed; the pressed branch will gradually take root, and after rooting, cut the branch from the mother plant, so that the branch forms a new plant, which is then transplanted and planted out.

4. Points to note

The natural germination rate of rosemary is very low, usually only about 1/5 or even lower. Moreover, rosemary grows extremely slowly, and its growing period is very long; if planted out in spring, by autumn you will find the plant is not much bigger than when it was planted out. The vigorous growth period must wait at least until about 2 years of cultivation. Therefore, when propagating rosemary, asexual propagation methods are generally used, but plants grown from seed have a stronger flavor and better quality. So which propagation method to use is mainly determined by one's own planting direction and needs.

The above is a brief introduction to rosemary propagation methods; rosemary propagation is basically these three types. However, each propagation method has different advantages and disadvantages, just as was said just now: seed propagation takes a longer time, but the quality is good. Therefore, before planting, everyone should not only consider the planting techniques but also prepare well for propagation. That is all for today's introduction. This article is for reference only. Thank you for reading and supporting.