How to Grow Rosemary: Detailed Planting Methods and Care Tips
How to Grow Rosemary: Courtyard Cultivation
To grow rosemary at home, you can use tender branches for softwood cuttings during the plum rain season. If planting for the first time, you can propagate by sowing seeds.
Sowing and seedling cultivation: Home courtyard cultivation requires only a small number of seedlings, so small seedling trays can be used to grow seedlings.
Deep plowing, making beds, fertilizing: Before planting, plow the soil, apply decomposed organic fertilizer at 3.6 kg per sq m as base fertilizer, mix it evenly into the soil, rake the ground level and make beds. Put about 4 cm of soaked rice husk into the seedling tray, press it firm, then add 1 cm of potting soil, spread it flat, scatter the seeds, cover with another 0.5 cm of potting soil, moisten the potting soil with a sprayer, cover with plastic film, and place indoors at about 25°C for insulation. Seedlings emerge in about 12-15 days. After emergence, remove the film promptly, place on a windowsill, and maintain light exposure, moist bed soil and suitable temperature so the seedlings grow normally. When the seedlings are 2-3 cm tall, transplant them into small plastic pots 9 cm in diameter. By the end of autumn of that year the seedlings have grown larger and need repotting into slightly larger plastic pots 18 cm in diameter so the roots can develop in fresh potting soil. The following spring when the weather warms, when the plants are about 10 cm tall, they can be planted out into courtyard soil.
Given the current situation in China, it is very difficult to buy fresh rosemary seeds, and rosemary seeds have a low germination rate and slow growth, so it is recommended that flower lovers who want to grow rosemary buy seedlings directly, or share cuttings with flower lovers on various forums, which better achieves the goal of growing rosemary.
Below is the method for sowing rosemary. Rosemary can generally be germinated using the paper towel method, usually raised in a greenhouse in early spring. Both soil-based seedling cultivation and plug tray seedling cultivation can be used. For soil-based seedling cultivation, the seedbed must first be prepared. The seedbed can be a flat bed or a small raised bed. The bed soil should be broken up and raked level, with sufficient fermented base fertilizer and thorough bottom watering. Both broadcasting and drilling are acceptable. However, the seeds should be sown as thinly as possible, or mixed evenly with fine dry soil and sown on the seedbed, then given a light watering so the seeds make full contact with the soil. The seeds have a light requirement, so sow the seeds directly on the medium without covering. Build a small arched shed over the bed to ensure ground temperature and keep the soil surface from crusting. The seeds develop relying on the bottom water of the seedbed, but the soil surface must always be kept moist. Once the sprouts emerge from the soil, water again, following the principle of light and frequent irrigation.
The suitable temperature for seed germination is 15-20°C. Germination takes about 2-3 weeks. When the seedlings grow to about 10 cm, about 70 days, they can be planted out. For plug tray seedling cultivation, mix peat and vermiculite at a ratio of 3:1 and sow. Cover with a thin layer of vermiculite and water thoroughly once. Build a small arched shed, and the subsequent management is the same as soil-based seedling cultivation. The difference is that after rosemary emerges, the plug trays must be moved frequently to prevent roots from growing down through the holes in the bottom of the tray into the ground, which would damage the roots at planting time. If the plug trays are placed on shelves, this is unnecessary. The germination rate of rosemary is very low, generally only 10%-20%, and in the first year rosemary grows extremely slowly. Even by autumn, the plants are not much larger than when first planted out. Forming a large yield takes 2-3 years or more, which is very slow. Therefore, vegetative propagation is generally used in production. However, plants grown from seed have a more fragrant scent, so which propagation method to use depends on the need.
Summary: The above is the knowledge about how to sow rosemary. We hope it is helpful to everyone.
How to Grow Rosemary: The Complete Guide to Rosemary Planting Methods
Rosemary is a shrub in the Lamiaceae family. Its unique fragrance can inspire an uplifting spirit, and many friends like to grow it. So when growing rosemary, what exactly should you do? Are there any methods and precautions? Let's take a detailed look together with the editor of Yiqizhuangxiu.com.
How to Grow Rosemary: The Complete Guide to Rosemary Planting Methods
I. How to Grow Rosemary
Rosemary likes a warm climate, but in the flatlands of Taiwan, China, growth is slow during the high-temperature period. Temperatures in winter without cold waves are more suitable for its growth. In terms of water supply, since rosemary leaves are leathery, it is relatively drought-tolerant, so soil rich in sand that drains well is more conducive to its growth and development. It is worth noting that rosemary grows slowly, which also means its regenerative capacity is not strong, so special care must be taken when pruning and harvesting.
When rosemary is propagated by seed, germination is slow and the germination rate is low. According to literature records, if the germination temperature is between 20°C and 24°C, the germination rate is below 30%, and germination takes as long as 3-4 weeks. However, if it is first germinated 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 increase to 70%.
II. Rosemary Planting Methods
1. Propagation: Rosemary commonly uses propagation methods such as seed propagation, cutting propagation and layering propagation. Seed propagation generally involves raising seedlings in a greenhouse in early spring. The paper towel germination method can be used, and either soil-based or plug tray seedling cultivation 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 uses the characteristic that rosemary stems can produce adventitious roots: bend a branch close to the ground, cover it with soil, leave the top exposed to the air, and after new roots grow, cut it from the parent plant to form a new individual, then plant it out in the open field.
2. Planting out: To ensure rosemary of good quality and high yield, it is best to choose sunny, acidic sandy loam for planting out. Before planting out, remember to apply sufficient fully decomposed organic fertilizer to ensure the nutrients rosemary needs for growth.
3. Management: After planting out, the most important thing for rosemary is management. At this time, water promptly and carry out intertillage and weeding to prevent weeds from growing thickly and affecting rosemary growth. To stimulate rosemary to branch more and increase yield, pinch the tips appropriately during cultivation. Rosemary grows relatively slowly, so it does not consume much fertilizer. During cultivation, applying compound fertilizer once every 3 months is enough.
4. Harvesting: People often use rosemary branches and leaves, and timely harvesting of rosemary branches and leaves is very important. The interval between harvests should depend on the growing season: harvest densely in peak season and sparsely in off season. Generally, when the main stem of rosemary is 20-30 cm tall, the tender tips can be harvested for eating; in southern regions, harvesting is usually possible all year round, and in the north, year-round supply can also be achieved using protected cultivation.
5. Pest and disease prevention: When growing rosemary, pay attention to frequent ventilation, keep it cool, ensure sufficient light, and use appropriate amounts of water and fertilizer. It is necessary to avoid high-temperature and high-humidity climates and environments. Pests and diseases are most likely to occur in unventilated, hidden spots that sunlight cannot reach. Usually pay attention to pruning, cut off excessive and aged dead branches and leaves, and pick up dead branches and leaves on the surface of the potting soil at any time to avoid attracting pests and diseases and affecting rosemary growth.
Rosemary likes sunny places, so do not place it in a dark corner when growing it. The above is the content the editor has explained to everyone about rosemary planting methods. I believe everyone has gained some understanding. We hope this article can help you. You can also log in to Yiqizhuangxiu.com to view and subscribe to more related content and information.