"Growing Rosemary"

Growing rosemary in your garden will not only add a distinct flavour to your cooking, but will also stay green throughout the year, and produce pretty blue flowers during the summer months.

Rosemary was used to preserve meat many years ago, and is still a popular herb to add to meat and fish dishes.

Planting rosemary: Choose a bright sunny spot in the garden and remember your plants may grow tall, so it's best to plant on the edge of a bed so they don't overshadow other herbs or vegetable plants. Dig over the ground and, if you have some, dig in some compost or well rotted manure. Make sure the ground is well drained.

Rosemary will often grow well near a wall, and makes a good all-year round cover plant. There are also some types that grow low and can be used as ground cover.

Growing rosemary from seed can be a bit hit and miss but it's always worth a try...

Thompson and Morgan are a great global seed supplier Growing rosemary in the UK and the US link for Thompson and Morgan: Growing Rosemary in the US For all other countries start here on their homepage and choose your country.

Planting cuttings is generally the fastest way to get your plants growing. Take cuttings and push them into prepared ground during the autumn. Plant fairly close together, and then re-plant in the spring if necessary.

They may not all work, but some will, and you don't need too many rosemary plants if you are growing it for culinary use for a regular family. A couple of well-established plants will be enough. But having said that, it is a very attractive plant with evergreen and silvery leaves, so makes an attractive and practical plant to have around the garden.

Plant at the edge of paths and walkways, so the scent is released when brushed against, or plant a couple at the back of the herb bed or outside the kitchen door in a container. If you are using containers, make sure they are well-drained and always kept watered.

Caring for Rosemary Rosemary is a hardy shrub and will tolerate many cold winters. Replace your plants every few years.

After the shrubs have flowered, trim to control the shape, and plant the cuttings to start off your new plants.

Apart from trimming and watering, rosemary needs no other maintenance. A very attractive prospect to us hard working gardeners!

Grow Your Own Pharmacy: If, like me, you want to be able to eat the best food on the planet, grow your own!

Happy Gardening!

Herb Gardening: Herbs are becoming recognised more and more as superfoods, as if we didn't know that really! 'Herb Gardening' has been beautifully put together by the publisher (Crowood Press) into a well presented book with full colour photos.

You'll also find gardening advice as well as some ideas on planning a herb garden. Order it now direct from the publisher... Herb Gardening

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