How to Propagate Rosemary? Master These Propagation Key Points
Rosemary has a cool, grassy fragrance and a sweet camphor scent, and Europeans have long regarded it as a stimulating herb. Cultivating rosemary artificially is not difficult, and propagation can be done by seed, cuttings, and layering.
Rosemary
Rosemary is commonly propagated by seed, cuttings, and layering. Seed propagation is generally carried out in a greenhouse in early spring for seedling raising; the paper towel germination method can be used, and either soil-based or plug-tray seedling raising is acceptable. Cutting propagation is mostly carried out from winter to early spring, selecting fresh, healthy stems that have not yet fully lignified as cuttings. Layering propagation takes advantage of rosemary's ability to produce adventitious roots on its stems: bend a branch close to the ground, cover it with soil, and leave the top exposed to the air; after new roots grow, cut it from the parent plant to form a new individual, then plant it out in the open field.
What Are the Key Cultivation Points for Rosemary?
Rosemary leaves have a tea-like aroma and a spicy, slightly bitter taste. They are often used in cooking and can also be brewed as an herbal tea. An evergreen shrub, rosemary was believed in ancient times to enhance memory, refresh the mind, regulate anemia, remove spots, reduce wrinkles, and strengthen liver and heart function. It is currently recognized as the plant with the strongest antioxidant activity. The antioxidant compounds in rosemary are mainly carnosic acid, carnosol, rosmanol, ursolic acid, rosmarinic acid, and other components. Rosemary is also often placed indoors to purify the air.Rosemary is an evergreen shrub with an upright habit and gray-green, narrow, pointed leaves that give off a pine-like fragrance; since ancient times it has been regarded as an herb that can enhance memory. It blooms small pale blue flowers in spring and summer. Rosemary originated along the Mediterranean coast and belongs to the evergreen shrubs; in summer it produces small blue flowers that look like little water droplets, which is why rosmarinus in Latin means "dew of the sea." Rosemary also symbolizes loyalty, so at European weddings the bride often wears rosemary as an accessory, proclaiming to the world that her love is unwavering.
Its English name evolved from two Latin words (ros and marinus), meaning "dew of the sea." According to an old legend, rosemary's flowers were originally white; on the way as the Virgin Mary fled to Egypt with the infant Jesus, the Virgin hung her mantle on a rosemary tree, and from then on rosemary's flowers turned blue. On the journey as Jesus fled from Judea to Egypt, he hung his washed clothes on rosemary, and because of this rosemary was endowed with many medicinal properties. Religious legends deepened rosemary's sacred power; in Europe, rosemary was widely planted around churches, and believers regarded it as a sacred offering, so rosemary is also called: the Rose of the Virgin Mary.
Rosemary leaves have a tea-like aroma and a spicy, slightly bitter taste. They are often used in cooking and can also be brewed as an herbal tea. An evergreen shrub, rosemary was believed in ancient times to enhance memory, and it is currently recognized as the plant with the strongest antioxidant activity. The antioxidant compounds in rosemary are mainly carnosic acid, carnosol, rosmanol, ursolic acid, rosmarinic acid, and other components. Rosemary is also often placed indoors to purify the air.
Planting and Cultivation
Rosemary Seed Propagation
When rosemary is propagated by seed, germination is slow and the germination rate is poor. According to literature records, if the germination temperature is between 20°C and 24°C, the germination rate is below 30%, and the germination time is as long as 3 to 4 weeks. However, if germination is first carried out at 20°C to 24°C for 1 week and then treated at 4.4°C (40°F) for 4 weeks, the germination rate can be increased to 70%.
Rosemary Cuttings
Therefore, unless new varieties are introduced from abroad, propagation by cuttings is a fast and reliable method; placed in a shaded spot, they can be transplanted after about one month. For prostrate types, you can use lying branches, wound them where they touch the soil, then bury them shallowly; after about one month, cut them from the parent plant, and it becomes another rosemary plant, but this procedure is rather troublesome.
Management After Planting and Cultivating Rosemary
Special care must be taken when pruning and harvesting, especially since old branches lignify quickly; an overly severe cut at once often causes the plant to be unable to sprout again. The safer approach is not to cut more than half the length of the branch each time you prune.
Observe the rosemary plant: although small buds appear at every leaf axil, as the branches extend, these axillary buds will also develop into branches. After they grow, the branches spread out in all directions, making the whole plant look messy; at the same time, poor ventilation easily makes it a habitat for pests and prone to disease. Therefore, regular pruning and training are very important.
Upright varieties tend to grow very tall when planted in fields. To make management easier and increase yields, pinch off the growing tips when the plants begin to grow after planting, and pinch again 2 to 3 times after the side buds sprout; this way the plants will stay low and neat.
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Key Points for Rosemary Cultivation and Management
Rosemary is an evergreen plant in the genus Rosmarinus of the mint family (Lamiaceae). It is an herbaceous ornamental plant with a long history of cultivation. Its branches and leaves are dense and its flowers are elegantly colored. It can be used as ground cover or a hedge, and can also be potted and placed indoors in a bright environment. The fragrance released by its branches and leaves helps relieve tension and depression and enhances memory.
Rosemary originates from the Mediterranean region and prefers a sunny, warm, and dry environment. It tolerates cold, poor soil, and drought, but fears waterlogging, and is suitable for growing in well-drained, calcareous sandy soil. Below are the points to note during rosemary cultivation:
Propagation
Propagation methods suitable for rosemary include sowing, cuttings, layering, and so on. Rosemary seeds germinate slowly and have a low germination rate, so they are usually used only when introducing new varieties. Conventional varieties are mostly propagated vegetatively for large-scale planting. In small-scale production, excellent plants that have grown to 30 cm to 40 cm can be used directly as mother plants; by pinching off the growing tips, the mother plants are encouraged to sprout a large number of side branches for collecting cuttings. On the mother plant, young shoots 3 cm to 5 cm long and non-lignified young tips 7 cm to 10 cm long can both be used as cuttings.
After cutting the cuttings, remove the leaves at the base and place them in a container filled with clean water for later use. In large-scale production, collecting cuttings yourself usually takes a great deal of effort; an economical and practical method is to buy unrooted cuttings directly from a seedling supplier with reliable quality.
The cutting medium can use perlite, peat soil, loess, coarse river sand, etc., or a mixed medium. To speed up rooting, rooting promoters such as indoleacetic acid or naphthaleneacetic acid can be used.
During the rooting period, the suitable temperature in the greenhouse is 22°C. The cuttings need to be misted frequently, but excessive moisture will cause the tops of the cuttings to rot and the roots produced will not be strong enough. In the first 10 to 14 days, the cuttings begin to root, and special care must be taken to prevent the cuttings from wilting.
Transplanting
After the cuttings root, transplant them. Generally, they are transplanted into pots with a diameter of 10 cm; depending on the variety and season, they are grown in 10 cm pots for 6 to 10 weeks. During this period, prune in time to allow better growth of side branches, and do not cut more than half the length of the branch each time you prune.
The fertilizer used for rosemary is generally 14-4-14, preferably at a concentration of 125 ppm. During this period, keep the medium pH at 5.8 to 6.2. If you are worried about pH changes, in winter you can switch to nitrate nitrogen instead of ammonium nitrogen. Ordinarily, using chelated iron helps maintain a suitable pH in the medium.
Watering is the most critical technique in rosemary cultivation. The basic principle is: if you are not sure whether to water today, then water tomorrow. That is, rosemary fears wetness but not dryness.
Pest and Disease Management
In humid environments, root rot, gray mold, and other diseases are common on rosemary. If the rosemary plant wilts while the growing medium is still moist, the plant needs to be moved out of the greenhouse immediately. The most common pests are red spider mites and whiteflies. At present, the most ideal method is biological control. No matter which pest or disease it is, the key is prevention. You can start with sanitation, appropriate water management, and reasonable temperature and light, and you need to observe frequently and promptly remove diseased and weak plants.